A
"A" list – da wan 大腕
acrobatic fighting - wu da 武打 (movements used in Chinese opera and dance to simulate actual combat; practiced in films by actors and actresses who are not martial artists)
action film – dong zuo pian 动作片
action-adventure film – jing xian dong zuo pian 惊险动作片
actor – yan yuan 演员 (general term for performer)
actor (specifically male) – nan yan yuan 男演员
actress (specifically female) – nü yan yuan 女演员
adaptation – gai bian 改编
adventure film – jing xian pian 惊险片
(jing xian means thrilling, breathtaking)
(also see next entry)
adventure film – mao xian pian 冒险片 (mao xian means daring or risky)
allegory - yu yan 寓言
all-star cast – quan ming xing zhen rong de 全明星阵容的
animated fim – dong hua pian 动画片
appreciation (of film)– xin shang 欣赏
archive (film) - dian ying zi liao guan 电影资料馆
arrangement (musical) – gai bian qu 改编曲
artificial light – ren gong guang 人工光
assistant – zhu li 助理
assistant manager – ban li 协理
art design, art designer – mei gong 美工
art direction – mei shu 美术
art director – mei shu zhi dao 美术指导
artistic documentary – yi shu ji lu pian 艺术纪录
audience – guan zhong 观众
audio-visual – shi ting (de) 视听 (的)
audition – shi yan 试演
avant-garde – xian feng 先锋
B
background (in a scene) – hou jing 后景
background music – bei jing yin yue 背景音乐
backlight(ing) – bei guang 背光
backstage - mu hou 幕后
ballet film – wu ju pian 舞剧片 (see also dance film)
bankable star – fu you hao zhao li de ming xing 富有号召力的明星
behind the scenes - mu hou 幕后
benshi (Japanese silent film narrator) – bian shi i辩士
biographical film – zhuan ji pian 传记片
bit part -
black-and-white film – hei bai (pian) 黑白片
blue movie (porno) – se qing dian ying 色情电影
box office – piao fang 票房
box office favorite – jiao zuo yan yuan 叫座演员
box office poison – piao fang du yao 票房毒药
box office receipts – piao fang shou ru 票房收入
box office success, smash – jiao zuo 叫座
C
cameo – ke chuan yan chu 客串演出 (also guest appearance)
camera (movie) – she ying ji 摄影机 (also used for cameras in general)
camerman – she ying shi 摄影师
captions – zi mu 字幕
cartoon – dong hua pian 动画片
cast – quan ti yan yuan 全体演员
cast list - yan zhi yuan biao 演职员表
category (or categories) of film award(s) – jiang xiang 奖项
censorship – shen cha 审查 (also: to censor)
character study – ren wu zao xing she ji 人物造型设计
children’s film – er tong pian 儿童片
choreographer, choreography – bian wu 编舞 (general term)
choreography; choreographer – wu dao bian dao 舞蹈编导 (specific term)
cinema – dian ying 电影
CinemaScope - kuan yin mu dian ying 宽银幕电影
cinematography – she ying 摄影
cinepanoramic – quan jing kuan yin mu 全景宽银幕
cinerama – kuan yin mu li ti dian ying 宽银幕立体电影
clapper, clapboard – pai ban 拍板
classic - jing dian 经典
cliffhanger - xuan yi 悬疑
close shot – jin jing 近景
close-up (shot) – te xie (jing tou) 特写(镜头) (see also: facial close-up)
collaborators (on a film, excluding the director) – he zuo huo ban 合作伙伴
color – cai se 彩色
color film – cai se pian 彩色片
comedy (film) – xi ju (pian) 喜剧(片)
comedy, comic (short) – hua ji (duan pian) 滑稽 (短片)
commentary – jie shuo ci 解说词
commercial (film) – shang ye dian ying 商业电影
compose(r) – zuo qu (jia) 作曲(家)
composition (of a film) – jie gou 结构
conductor (musical) – yue dui zhi hui 乐队指挥
continuity (script) – ju wu 剧务
continuity (set or stage) – yi ji 埸记
continuity clerk – chang ji 场记
copy (of a film) – zheng pian 正片
costume – fu zhuang 服装
costume designer – fu zhuang she ji shi 服装设计师
costume research – fu zhuang kao ju 服装考据
credit titles (at start of film) – pian tou zi mu 片头字幕 (see also next entry)
credits (general term) - pei yan zhi yuan biao zi mu 配 演职员字幕
critic - ping lun jia 评论家
crime film – fan zui pian 犯罪片
crowd scene – qun zhong jing tou 群众场面
D
dance(r) – wu dao 舞蹈(家)
dance direction, director – wu dao zhi dao 舞蹈指导
dance film – wu dao pian 舞蹈片
dance film – wu ju pian 舞剧片
date of first showing or premiere - shang ying ri qi 上映日期
delineate (a character) – miao shu 描述
detailed close-up – xi bu te xie 细部特写
detective film – zhen tan pian 侦探片
develop (film) – chong xi 冲洗 (see also next entry)
develop (film) – xi pian 洗片
dialogue – dui hua 对话
direction – dao yan 导演
director – dao yan 导演
director-in-chief – zong dao yan 总导演
distribution - fa xing 发行
documentarian – ji lu pian dao yan 纪录片导演
documentary – ji lu pian 纪录片
drawing power (of stars) – mei li 魅力 (see also: glamor)
dream scene – meng huan jing tou 梦幻镜头
dubbed film – fan yi pian 故事片 (less common than pei yin pian)
dubbed film – pei yin pian 配音片
dubbing – pei yin 配音
E
edit – jian ji 剪辑 (specifically film editing)
editing – bian ji 编辑 (general term)
editing – jian ji剪辑 (specifically film)
editing – jian jie 剪接 (specifically film )
ethics film – lun li pian 伦理片
executive producer – zhi pian zong jian 制片总监
extra (i.e., a film extra) – lin shi yan yuan 临时演员
F
fable - yu yan 寓言
facial close up - ren lian te xie 人脸特写 (see also: close-up shot)
fade in – dan ru 淡如
fade out – dan chu 淡出
fairy tale (film) – tong hua (pian) 童话(片)
family movie – jia ting pian 家庭片
fan club (movie) - ying mi ju le bu 影迷俱乐部
farce – nao ju 闹剧
fast motion – kuai jing tou 快镜头
feature film – gu shi pian 故事片
female lead – nü zhu jue女主角
female supporting role – nü pei jue 女配角
film – ying pian 影片
film analysis – ying pian fen xi 影片分析
film award(s) – dian ying jiang 电影奖
film appreciation – dian ying jian shang 电影鉴赏
film archive - dian ying zi liao guan 电影资料馆
film based on a literary work – lan ben de ying pian 蓝本的影片
film circles, film community – ying tan 影坛
film clip – ying pian jian ji 影片剪辑
film commentary – ying pian jie shuo ci 影片解说词
film connections - guan lian dian ying 关联电影
film criticism – ying pian pi ping 影片批评
film developing machine – xi pian ji 洗片机
film (or movie) explainer – dian ying jie shuo yuan 电影解说员 (in the silent era, this was the Chinese counterpart of the Japanese benshi, q.v.)
(film) extra – lin shi yan yuan 临时演员
film festival – ying zhan 影展
film industry – dian ying ye 电影业
film library – ying pian ku 影片库
film on location – pai wai jing 拍外景
film preservation – ying pian bao cun 影片保存
film printing – yin pian 印片
film-printing machine – yin pian ji印片机
film review – ying ping 影评
film script – dian yin ju ben 电影剧本
film set – dian ying bu jing 电影布景
film studio – dian ying zhi pian chang 电影制片厂 (see also following entries)
film studio – ying cheng 影城
film studio (or company) – ying pian zhi pian chang 影片制片厂
film studio – zhi pian chang 制片 厂
flash – shan jing 闪景
flashback – dao xu 倒叙 (see also next entry)
flashback – shan hui jing tou 闪回镜头
flash forward – tiao xu 跳叙
foreground – qian jing 前景
freezeframe; frozen frame – ding ge 定格
full length documentary – da xing ji lu pian 大型纪录片
full set – quan jing 全景
G
general business (on a movie set) -- shi wu 事务
genre (film) – pian zhong 片种
glamour (of stars) – mei li 魅力
group shot – qun zhong jing tou 群众场面
guest appearance – ke chuan yan chu 客串演出
guest star – te yao ming xing 特邀明星
H
hand-hand camera – shou chi she ying 手持摄
hero - ying xiong 英雄
heroine – nü ying xiong 女英雄
high definition (TV) – gao qing (dian shi ) 高清(电视)
historical film – li shi pian 历史片
horror film – kong bu pian 恐怖片
I
idea – ce hua 吴业刚
illusions – huan jing 幻景
indoor set – nei jing 内景
indoor shooting, filming – nei jing she ying 内景摄影
interview film – fang tan pian 访谈片
J
jump cut – tiao yue jian ji 跳越剪辑
K
key grip – bu jing shi 布景师
L
last (final) scene – jie shu jing tou 结束镜头
layout (of a scene or set) – chen she 陈设
lead (role) – zhu jue 主角 (see also next two entries)
lead (role) – zhu yan 主演
lighting – deng guang 灯光 (more commonly used for stage lighting)
lighting – zhao ming 照明 (also used for the lighting electrician or technician)
line producer – zhi pian ren 制片人
lip-sync(hronization) – dui kou xing lu yin 对口型录音
location – wai jing 外景
location shooting (exterior, outdoor) – wai jing she ying 外景摄影
log; logkeeper – chang ji 场记
long shot – yuan jing 远景
lyrics, lyricist – zuo ci 作词 – (also used for “songwriter” in general)
M
make a movie – pai dian ying 拍电影
makeup – hua zhuang 化装
makeup expert – hua zhuang shi 化装师
male lead - nan zhu jue 南主角
male supporting role– nan pei jue 男配角
married print – sheng hua he cheng kao bei 声画合成拷贝
martial arts – wu shu 武术
martial artist (specifically a heroic or chivalrous character) – wu xia 武侠
martial arts film (usually featuring swordplay) – wu xia pian 武侠片
medical film – yi xue pian 医学片
medium shot – zhong jing 中景
melodrama (when used for genre) – wen yi 文艺
military film – jun shi pian 军事片
miniseries (TV) – lian xu ju 连续剧
mob scene – qun zhong jing tou 群众场面
montage (movie) - meng tai qi 蒙太奇
motion picture, movie – dian ying 电影 (or: ying pian 影片)
motion picture camera – dian ying she ying ji 电影摄影机
movie – dian ying 电影 (or: ying pian 影片)
movie award(s) – dian ying jiang 电影奖
movie circles – ying tan 影坛
movie critic - dian ying ping lun jia
movie fan – ying mi 影迷
movie king – ying di 影帝
movie queen – ying hou 影后
movie role (or part) – dian ying jue se 电影角色
movie star, film star – dian ying ming xing 电影明星 (also see next entry)
movie star, film star – ying xing 影星 (short form of dian ying ming xing)
movie stills - dian ying tu pian 电影图片
movie theater – (dian) ying yuan (电) 影院
movieola – yin xiang tong bu zhuang zhi 音像同步装置
musical film – ge wu pian 歌舞片 (also see next entry)
musical film – yin yue pian 音乐片
myth (film) - shen hua (pian) 神话(片)
N
narration – jiang shu 讲述 (see also next two entries)
narration – jie shuo 解说
narration – xu shu 叙述
narrative film – ju qing pian 剧情片
narrator – jie shuo zhe 解说者
negative (film) – di pian 底片
news film – xin wen pian 新闻片
newsreel – xin wen duan pian 新闻短片
O
off-screen voice – hua wai yin 画外音
overall plan (of a film project) – tong chou 統籌
P
panorama – quan jing 全景
pantomime – ya ju 哑剧
paparazzi (plural) or paparazzo (singular) - gou zi dui 狗仔队 (literally, "dog pack")
parable - yu yan 寓言
playbill, program – jie mu dan 节目单
plot - ju qing 剧情
production assistant – chang wu 场务
production (studio) - zhi zuo 制作
props – dao ju 道具
plot outline – gu shi geng gai 故事梗概
popular science film – ke pu pian 科普片
pornographic film, porn flick – se qing dian ying 色情电影
portray (a character) – miao shu 描述
program notes – shuo ming shu 说明书 (could also translate as "playbill")
projection - fangying 放映
producer – jian zhi 监制
production manager – zhi pian zhu ren 制片主任
propaganda (film) - xuan chuan (pian) 宣传 (片)
puppet film – mu ou pian 木偶片
Q
quick motion – kuai jing tou 快镜头
R
ratings system – fen jie zhi du 分级制度
recording (sound) – lu yin 录音
recording engineer – lu yin shi 录音师
reel – juan tong 卷筒
rehearse; rehearsal – pai lian 排练
related information - xiang guan zicun 相关资讯
related web sites - xiang guan wang zhan 相关网站
retake – chong pai jing tou 重拍镜头
review - ping lun 评论
romance film – ai qing pian 爱情片
rushes – gong zuo yang pian 工作样片
S
satire – feng ci 讽刺
scenario – fen chang ju ben 分场剧本 or fen chang jiao ben 分场本脚
scenic (view) - feng guang 风光
scientific and educational film – ke jiao pian 科教片
screen test – shi jing tou 试镜头
screenwriter – dian ying jiao ben zuo jia 电影脚本作家 (also see next entry)
screenwriter – dian ying ju ben zuo jia 电影剧本作家
screwball comedy – feng kuang xi ju 疯狂喜剧 (see also next entry)
screwball comedy – shen jing xi ju 神经喜剧
script – ju ben 剧本 or jiao ben 脚本 (both terms are also used for "scenario")
serial (movie) – lian xu ju 连续剧 (see also "miniseries")
sets, settings – bu jing 布景
shooting script – fen jing tou ju ben 分镜头剧本
short – duan pian 短片
silent film - mo pian 默片 (more formal usage)
silent movie – wu sheng dian ying 无声电影 (more colloquial)
slow motion – man jing tou 慢镜头
sound – shou yin 收音
sound effect(s) – yin xiang xiao guo 音响效果
sound stage, sound pavilion – she ying peng 摄影棚
special effects – te ji 特技
spectacle – chang mian 场面
spirit world (meaning films dealing with the afterlife, etc.) – ling jie 灵界
sports film – ti yu pian 体育片
squib – bao zhu 爆竹 (literally "firecracker")
stage backdrop – tian mu chen pian 天幕衬片 ["tian pian" or "tian mu" for short]
stand-in – ti shen 替身
star-studded show – ming xing hui cui de yan chu明星荟萃的演出
star system – ming xing zhi 明星制度
starlet – xiao ming xing 小明星
start filming, shooting – kai shi pai she 开始拍摄 ("kai pai" for short)
stereoscopic – li ti 立体
(still) photography – zhao xiang she ying 照相摄影
studio – she ying shi 摄影室 (filming site, not the movie company)
stunt – te ji 特技
stunt man, stunt woman – te ji yan yuan 特技演员
subtitles – zi mu 字幕
supernatural (film genre) – shen mi pian 神秘片
superstar – chao ji
ming xing 超级明星
supporting role – pei jue 配角
suspense - xuan yi 悬疑
T
technical direction, technical director – ji shu zhu ren 技术主任
TV documentary – dian shi ji lu pian 电视纪录片
TV movie – dian shi dian ying 电视电影
theater (motion picture) – dian ying yuan 电影院
theme (subject of a film) - zhu ti 主题
theme song – zhu ti ge 主题歌
three-dimensional (3-D) – li ti 立体
title (of film) – ying ming 影名
title calligraphy – shu mu 书幕
title design – hui ti 绘题 (see also next entry)
title design – ti hua 题花
title role – pian ming jue se 片名角色
track-in – tui jin jing tou 推进镜头
tragedy - bei jiu 悲剧
trailer – yu gao pian 预告片
trick camera, stunt camera – te ji she ying ji 特技摄影机
trick photography, stunt photography – te ji she ying 特技摄影
trivia - hua xu 花絮
V
viewing angle – pai she jiao du 拍摄角度
vision mix – hun he jing tou 混合镜头
W
war film – zhan zheng pian 战争片
wide-angle lens – guang jiao jing 广角镜
wide screen – kuan yin mu 宽银幕
wide-screen adjustable (or distorting) lens – kuan yin mu bian xing jing tou 宽银幕变形镜头
workshop – che jian 车间
write (a script, scenario, screenplay, etc.) – bian ju 编剧
write and direct (play, film, etc.) – bian dao 编导(also the person who performs these functions: writer-director; playwright-director; choreographer-director; scenarist-director)
Z
zoom lens – ke bian jiao ju tou jing 可变焦距透镜
