Usage note
电影院是专门放映电影的地方，人们可以买票进去观看。
Diànyǐngyuàn shì zhuānmén fàngyìng diànyǐng de dìfāng, rénmen kěyǐ mǎi piào jìnqù guānkàn.
This word refers to a place where films are shown on a big screen, and people buy tickets to watch them.
Context note
电影院是人们一起看大屏幕电影的地方，属于娱乐场所。
Diànyǐngyuàn shì rénmen yīqǐ kàn dà píngmù diànyǐng de dìfāng, shǔyú yúlè chǎngsuǒ.
This word is used to talk about a place where people go to watch movies on a big screen, often as a fun outing.
5 examples
我们周末常去电影院看电影
wǒmen zhōu末kěnɡ常qù去dìnɡ影yuàn院kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片
We often go to the cinema on weekends to watch movies.
电影院里有很多电影
diànyǐnɡyuàn 里边liánɡ有yǒu很多duō多 diànyǐnɡ映piàn片
There are many movies in the cinema.
妈妈带我去电影院看电影
māma 妈妈dài带qù去diànyǐnɡyuàn影yuàn院kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片
Mom took me to the cinema to watch a movie.
电影院很大，有很多座位
diànyǐnɡyuàn 电影yuàn院很hěn大dà, 很hěn多duō有yǒu很多duō多 zuò坐zuò位wèi座
The cinema is very big and has many seats.
我们喜欢在电影院看电影
wǒmen 我们xǐ欢qù去diànyǐnɡyuàn影yuàn院kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片
We like to watch movies in the cinema.
5 mini stories
妈妈带我去电影院看电影。电影很好看。
māma 妈妈dài带qù去diànyǐnɡyuàn影yuàn院kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片。 diànyǐnɡ 电影hěn很 hǎokàn好看。
Mom took me to the cinema to watch a movie. The movie was very good.
爸爸带我去电影院看电影。电影是动画片。
bāba 爸爸dài带qù去diànyǐnɡyuàn影yuàn院kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片。 diànyǐnɡ 电影shì是 huà 动huà动piàn片片。
Dad took me to the cinema to watch a movie. The movie was an animated film.
我们去电影院看电影。电影很好笑。
wǒmen 我们qù去diànyǐnɡyuàn影yuàn院kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片。 diànyǐnɡ 电影hěn很 hǎoxiào好笑。
We went to the cinema to watch a movie. The movie was very funny.
电影院有很多座位。我们坐在里面看电影。
diànyǐnɡyuàn 电影院yǒu有hěn多duō很 多座zuò位wèi座位。 wǒmen 我们zài在lǐ里边liànɡ内看kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片。
The cinema has many seats. We sat inside and watched the movie.
电影院晚上很热闹。很多人去看电影。
diànyǐnɡyuàn 电影院wǎn晚上rénren人renren们rén常常去qù看kàn看diànyǐnɡ映piàn片。
The cinema is very lively at night. Many people go to watch movies.
Mini dialogue
电影院在哪
A
请问，电影院在哪里？
Qǐngwèn, diànyǐngyuàn zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the cinema?
B
电影院在超市的旁边。
Diànyǐngyuàn zài chāoshì de pángbiān.
The cinema is next to the supermarket.
去电影院
A
我们怎么去电影院？
Wǒmen zěnme qù diànyǐngyuàn?
How do we get to the cinema?
B
我们坐公交车去电影院。
Wǒmen zuò gōngjiāochē qù diànyǐngyuàn.
We take the bus to the cinema.
Related words and contrasts
related
电影
diànyǐng
movie
You watch a movie at the cinema.
contrast
学校
xuéxiào
school
School is for learning; cinema is for watching movies.