串演 (chuàn yǎn) literally combines 串 (chuàn), meaning 'to string together' or 'to connect in sequence', and 演 (yǎn), meaning 'to perform' or 'to act'. Together, they describe the act of appearing as a guest performer in a film, TV show, stage production, or variety program — typically in a brief, non-main role. It emphasizes the temporary, cross-project nature of the appearance, like 'stringing' one’s performance across different productions.

This term is commonly used in entertainment journalism and industry discussions, especially when a well-known actor appears unexpectedly in another team’s drama or joins a friend’s comedy sketch. Unlike regular casting, 串演 implies informality, flexibility, and often a friendly or promotional intent — such as supporting a colleague or adding surprise value. It’s not used for recurring secondary roles or long-term guest arcs, which would be described with terms like 客串 (kè chuàn) or 特别出演 (tèbié chūyǎn).