Catch Phrase | 杀青(shāqīng)

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Stephanie Yang  | From:  | Updated: 2018-11-29

Meaning:

“杀” means “to kill,” and “青” is the color “green.” This term literally means “degreening,” a process to treat fresh tea leaves. The term was also used to depict a method some 2,000 years ago of baking bamboo slips in preparation for them to be written on. Today, however, it is often used to describe wrapping up a film shoot or clinching a project in the general sense.

Example:

A: 你喜欢的女神又有新片杀青。

Nǐ xǐhuān de nǚshén yòu yǒu xīnpiān shāqīng。

Your idol just had a new movie shot.

B: 你是说刘亦菲吗?

Nǐ shì shuō liúyìfēi ma?

Do you mean Crystal Liu?

A: 是啊,不过后期制作可能还要几个月,因为档期排在明年夏天。

Shì a, bùguò hòuqī zhìzuò kěnéng hái yào jǐgè yuè, yīnwèi dàngqī pái zài míngnián xiàtiān。

Sure. But post-production may take a few months, and the film is set to be released next summer.