导演 (dǎo yǎn) — to direct in Mandarin
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#1364 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
导演 is pronounced dǎo yǎn. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zhè bù diàn yǐng yóu Lǐ Ān dǎo yǎn.
This film was directed by Ang Lee.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 导演 mean?+
导演 (dǎo yǎn) means "to direct" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 导演?+
导演 is pronounced dǎo yǎn. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 导演 in Mandarin?+
导演 is the #1364 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 导演 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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