‘杂技’ (zá jì) literally combines ‘杂’ (zá), meaning ‘miscellaneous’ or ‘varied’, and ‘技’ (jì), meaning ‘skill’ or ‘art’. Together, they refer to the traditional Chinese performing art of acrobatics — a broad category including contortion, balancing, juggling, tumbling, aerial feats, and often animal-assisted acts. Unlike Western circus arts, which emphasize spectacle and narrative, Chinese zájì places strong emphasis on precision, discipline, physical control, and centuries-old training methods passed down through generations.

The term is used broadly in modern contexts: it appears in cultural discussions, tourism promotions (e.g., ‘Chinese acrobatic troupes’), and education about intangible cultural heritage. While historically linked to street performance and temple fairs, today zájì is performed professionally in theaters, on television, and internationally. It’s considered a national treasure in China and was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023.