| 演员 | yǎn yuán | actor / actress / performer |   |
| 演奏者 | yǎn zòu zhě | performer / musician | |
| 演出者 | yǎn chū zhě | performer | |
| 演艺人员 | yǎn yì rén yuán | entertainer / performer | |
| 捧场 | pěng chǎng | to show one's support for a performer or theatrical troupe etc by attending their show / to attend an event to cheer on the participants / to patronize a restaurant or store / to sing the praises of | |
| 乐手 | yuè shǒu | instrumental performer | |
| 评书 | píng shū | pingshu, a folk art where a single performer narrates stories from history or fiction | |
| 双簧 | shuāng huáng | a form of theatrical double act in which one performer speaks or sings while the other, in front, pretends to be doing the speaking or singing / double reed (as in an oboe or bassoon) | |
| 处子秀 | chǔ zǐ xiù | debut (by a male performer or sports player) | |
| 台柱 | tái zhù | pillar / mainstay / star performer | |
| 跑江湖 | pǎo jiāng hú | to make a living as a traveling performer etc | |
| 包金 | bāo jīn | to gild / (old) wages paid to a performer or a troupe by a theater | |
| 特别客串 | tè bié kè chuàn | special guest performer (in a show) / special guest appearance (in film credits) | |
| 雪藏 | xuě cáng | to keep sth in cold storage / (fig.) to suspend a performer or sports player (as punishment) / to keep sb or sth out of sight until the right moment (e.g. a key player on a sports team) | |
