配角 pèijué supporting role
supporting role; minor role; (of actors) to perform together
How to remember 配角: 配 to blend + 角 horn = supporting role.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Supporting role / minor character' - 他只是个配角 (tā zhǐshì ge pèijué) he's just a supporting player.
- Both literal (film/theater) and figurative - being sidelined, playing second fiddle. Antonym 主角 (zhǔjué, lead), 当主角 (dāng zhǔjué) play the lead.
- Note the reading jué (配角), the theatrical 角; pairs with 甘当配角 willingly take a backseat.