<p><a href="https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%84%9A%E8%89%B2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">脚色</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;脚色&quot; /juésè/ is often written as &quot;角色&quot;/juésè/</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>演员根据[<strong>脚</strong>]本演绎各[<strong>色</strong>]人物 - The actors play various characters according to the script.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%84%9A%E6%9C%AC/1591252" rel="nofollow noreferrer">脚本</a> = script</p>
<p>各色人物 = various characters</p>
<p>脚色/ 角色 = role</p>
<p>Note:</p>
<p>脚 = base</p>
<p>本 = script</p>
<p>As far as I know, 角色 is the more commonly used word for &quot;role&quot; than 脚色 for the general public</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-08T20:31:28.940Z
主角 or 主脚? Here is a discussion about them. https://www.sohu.com/a/494294498_121080240
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-08T20:33:55.390Z
It said: 最初， “脚色”与“角色”的意思是相同的 - I suppose 角色 is not a mistake for 脚色
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-08T20:59:49.907Z
But your first quote says otherwise :)
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-08T23:00:52.567Z
What's your take on this? https://www.chinanews.com.cn/hwjy/news/2010/03-23/2186104.shtml  It seems to suggest that 脚色 predates 脚本. It does of course agree with you that 角色 is a later variant.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-09T12:38:35.737Z
@StumpyJoePete Check out this article - "在这里，脚色与角色的意思就已经发生了变化，**“脚色”指的是戏剧行当**，是根据戏班演员的技艺工种进行区别的；**而“角色”则是指代剧中的各类任务形象**。例如著名的戏剧《张协状元》中，张协、贫女、汉元帝、王昭君等人物是角色，而扮演他们的“生”、“旦”、“末”则是“脚色”，一个“脚色”可以扮演很多“角色”，反之则不能。(https://www.sohu.com/a/494294498_121080240#)". Also, you shall check out the dictionary for the definition and usage of 脚(https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E8%84%9A) and 角(https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E8%84%9A)
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-09T13:56:27.650Z
@StumpyJoePete In the Classic Chinese plays, each role had to act in a certain way based on the 造形/型(脚色) - 生/旦/净/末/丑, the role(角色) called for.  Note that "生旦净末丑"是中国京剧戏曲里的**人物角色行当(造形/型)分类**, 而不是戏曲里的**人物角色**.
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-08T20:18:06.853Z
2024-03-08T21:09:57.293Z
2024-03-08T21:09:57.293Z
Tang Ho
<p>角 - 演员(actor) - 名角(famous actor).</p>
<p>色 - 种类(type) - 各色用品(Various types of supplies); 形形色色(all kinds).</p>
<p>角色 - 指演员在戏剧中所扮演的人物(role or character in a novel/movie/play), 或某一类型的人物(a/certain type/kind of person).</p>
<ul>
<li><p>在電影中他演什麼角色? - What &quot;<strong>role/character/persona</strong>&quot; does he play in the movie?</p>
</li>
<li><p>他是什麼角色竟敢替你出頭? - What kind of &quot;<strong>character</strong>&quot; is he who dares to stand up for you?</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-08T20:24:03.030Z
2024-03-08T21:13:37.263Z
2024-03-08T21:13:37.263Z
r13
<p>personally it's easier for me to study words/phrases to understand the roots, but I have an interesting word that I can't figure out why it was derived from</p>
<p>角色</p>
<p>Corner and Color... how did that become to mean someone's Role?</p>

<etymology>
What is the etymology behind 角色?
# What is the etymology behind 角色?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-08)

personally it's easier for me to study words/phrases to understand the roots, but I have an interesting word that I can't figure out why it was derived from

角色

Corner and Color... how did that become to mean someone's Role?

**Tags:** etymology


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-03-08. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

[脚色](https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%84%9A%E8%89%B2)

> "脚色" /juésè/ is often written as "角色"/juésè/

> 演员根据[**脚**]本演绎各[**色**]人物 - The actors play various characters according to the script.

[脚本](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%84%9A%E6%9C%AC/1591252) = script

各色人物 = various characters

脚色/ 角色 = role

Note:

脚 = base

本 = script

As far as I know, 角色 is the more commonly used word for "role" than 脚色 for the general public

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: 主角 or 主脚? Here is a discussion about them. https://www.sohu.com/a/494294498_121080240  
> **username_1**: It said: 最初， “脚色”与“角色”的意思是相同的 - I suppose 角色 is not a mistake for 脚色  
> **username_2**: But your first quote says otherwise :)  
> **username_3**: What's your take on this? https://www.chinanews.com.cn/hwjy/news/2010/03-23/2186104.shtml  It seems to suggest that 脚色 predates 脚本. It does of course agree with you that 角色 is a later variant.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Check out this article - "在这里，脚色与角色的意思就已经发生了变化，**“脚色”指的是戏剧行当**，是根据戏班演员的技艺工种进行区别的；**而“角色”则是指代剧中的各类任务形象**。例如著名的戏剧《张协状元》中，张协、贫女、汉元帝、王昭君等人物是角色，而扮演他们的“生”、“旦”、“末”则是“脚色”，一个“脚色”可以扮演很多“角色”，反之则不能。(https://www.sohu.com/a/494294498_121080240#)". Also, you shall check out the dictionary for the definition and usage of 脚(https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E8%84%9A) and 角(https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E8%84%9A)  
> **username_2**: @username_3 In the Classic Chinese plays, each role had to act in a certain way based on the 造形/型(脚色) - 生/旦/净/末/丑, the role(角色) called for.  Note that "生旦净末丑"是中国京剧戏曲里的**人物角色行当(造形/型)分类**, 而不是戏曲里的**人物角色**.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-03-08. Score: 0

角 - 演员(actor) - 名角(famous actor).

色 - 种类(type) - 各色用品(Various types of supplies); 形形色色(all kinds).

角色 - 指演员在戏剧中所扮演的人物(role or character in a novel/movie/play), 或某一类型的人物(a/certain type/kind of person).

* 在電影中他演什麼角色? - What "**role/character/persona**" does he play in the movie?
* 他是什麼角色竟敢替你出頭? - What kind of "**character**" is he who dares to stand up for you?


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