Awards shows & the red carpet in Chinese 颁奖典礼
bānjiǎng diǎnlǐ
Awards ceremony in Chinese is 颁奖典礼 (bān jiǎng diǎn lǐ).
Also searched for as: Oscars, film awards, red carpet, award ceremony, best actor.
Gowns, speeches and who takes home the trophy. 15 essential awards shows & the red carpet words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The word for an awards ceremony in Chinese is 颁奖典礼 (bān jiǎng diǎn lǐ), and the red carpet is simply 红毯 (hóng tǎn). Chinese entertainment news has its own shorthand for winners: a best actor is the 影帝 (yǐng dì), literally 'film emperor', and a best actress is the 影后 (yǐng hòu), 'film empress'. These words let you follow the nominations, speeches and fashion at any ceremony.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 颁奖典礼 | bān jiǎng diǎn lǐ | awards ceremony |
| 红毯 | hóng tǎn | red carpet |
| 提名 | tí míng | nomination; to nominate |
| 获奖 | huò jiǎng | to win an award |
| 影帝 | yǐng dì | best actor winner |
| 影后 | yǐng hòu | best actress winner |
| 最佳导演 | zuì jiā dǎo yǎn | best director |
| 奖杯 | jiǎng bēi | trophy |
| 获奖感言 | huò jiǎng gǎn yán | acceptance speech |
| 陪跑 | péi pǎo | to be nominated but never win |
| 礼服 | lǐ fú | evening gown; formal wear |
| 明星 | míng xīng | star; celebrity |
| 电影节 | diàn yǐng jié | film festival |
| 颁奖嘉宾 | bān jiǎng jiā bīn | award presenter |
| 实至名归 | shí zhì míng guī | well-deserved |
Usage tips
- 获奖 (huò jiǎng) means to win an award, while 颁奖 (bān jiǎng) means to present one; the presenter is the 颁奖嘉宾 (bān jiǎng jiā bīn).
- 陪跑 (péi pǎo), literally 'running alongside', is used for someone nominated again and again without winning, usually with a note of sympathy.
- 实至名归 (shí zhì míng guī) is a set phrase for a thoroughly deserved honour, and it's what commentators say when a favourite finally wins.
Common mistakes
- Saying 赢了一个奖 for 'won an award' is understandable but unidiomatic → say 获奖 (huò jiǎng), 得奖 (dé jiǎng) or 拿了奖 (ná le jiǎng).
- Using 影帝 (yǐng dì) for any famous actor → it specifically means a best actor winner; a general star or celebrity is 明星 (míng xīng).
Mini dialogue
- A今晚的颁奖典礼你看了吗？Jīn wǎn de bān jiǎng diǎn lǐ nǐ kàn le ma?Did you watch the awards ceremony tonight?
- B看了，红毯上的礼服都太美了。Kàn le, hóng tǎn shàng de lǐ fú dōu tài měi le.Yes, the gowns on the red carpet were all gorgeous.
- A最佳男主角是谁？Zuì jiā nán zhǔ jué shì shéi?Who won best actor?
- B就是陪跑了好几年的那位，他终于获奖了！Jiù shì péi pǎo le hǎo jǐ nián de nà wèi, tā zhōng yú huò jiǎng le!The one who'd been nominated for years without winning; he finally got it!
- A太好了，实至名归。Tài hǎo le, shí zhì míng guī.Great, he really deserved it.
Example sentences
- 今晚有颁奖典礼直播。The awards ceremony is on live tonight.
- 她走红毯的时候穿了一条白裙子。She wore a white dress on the red carpet.
- 这部电影获得了五项提名。This film got five nominations.
- 他终于获奖了！He finally won an award!
- 他三十岁就成了影帝。He won best actor at just thirty.
- 她是两届影后。She's a two-time best actress winner.
- 今年的最佳导演是谁？Who won best director this year?
- 他激动地举起了奖杯。He lifted the trophy, overcome with emotion.
- 她的获奖感言特别感人。Her acceptance speech was really moving.
- 他已经陪跑好几年了。He's been nominated for years without winning.
- 她今天的礼服太美了。Her gown tonight is gorgeous.
- 红毯上来了好多明星。Lots of stars turned up on the red carpet.
- 她去参加了一个国际电影节。She went to an international film festival.
- 颁奖嘉宾念出了他的名字。The presenter read out his name.
- 这个奖他拿得实至名归。He thoroughly deserved this award.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Awards shows & the red carpet speaking island has 8 everyday questions about awards shows & the red carpet to prepare your own answers to.