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verb / noun HSK 4
Traditional 表現
biǎo xiàn
to show · to display · to manifest · performance · behavior · manifestation

Meaning

表现 means to show or display something outwardly, often referring to how someone behaves or performs in a given situation. It can describe both the act of demonstrating qualities or abilities (verb) and the resulting performance or behavior itself (noun). It's commonly used in evaluating how someone acts in school, work, or social settings.

Usage

Native speakers frequently use 表现 when discussing someone's behavior, academic or work performance, or how something manifests itself. It's neutral in register and appears in both formal contexts (performance reviews, reports) and casual conversation (discussing a child's behavior at school). Common patterns include '表现好/不好' (perform well/poorly) and '表现出' (to show/manifest).

Examples

  1. 01
    他今天在会议上的表现很出色。
    Tā jīn tiān zài huì yì shàng de biǎo xiàn hěn chū sè.
    His performance at today's meeting was outstanding.
  2. 02
    孩子在学校表现得很好，老师都很喜欢他。
    Hái zi zài xué xiào biǎo xiàn de hěn hǎo, lǎo shī dōu hěn xǐ huan tā.
    The child behaves very well at school, and all the teachers like him.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 表现出色
    biǎo xiàn chū sè
    outstanding performance
  • 表现良好
    biǎo xiàn liáng hǎo
    perform well
  • 表现出
    biǎo xiàn chū
    to show, to display (+ quality)
  • 工作表现
    gōng zuò biǎo xiàn
    work performance

Antonyms

Origin

表 originally meant 'outer garment' or 'surface,' while 现 means 'to appear.' Together they literally suggest 'to make appear on the surface,' hence 'to display' or 'to manifest.'

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