# 跑龙套 (pǎo lóngtào): to play a minor, unimportant role | HSK 7-9 Vocabulary | HSKReady

Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/paolongtao-8426
Language: en
Content ID: hsk-7-9-8426
HSK levels: 7-9
Updated: 2026-10-23T04:52:19.690Z
Scope: approved public sample; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app.

Learn 跑龙套 (pǎo lóngtào), HSK 7-9: to play a minor, unimportant role; to act as a bit player. Hear standard pronunciation and read a Chinese example with its English meaning.

# 跑龙套

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-7-9-8426/word.mp3)

pǎo lóngtào

to play a minor, unimportant role; to act as a bit player

HSK 7-9

## Pronunciation

pǎo lóngtào

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-7-9-8426/word.mp3)

## Example sentence

他刚出道时只能跑龙套，但现在已经成了影帝。

Tā gāng chūdào shí zhǐ néng pǎo lóngtào, dàn xiànzài yǐjīng chéng le yǐngdì.

When he first started out he could only play minor roles, but now he has become a top film star.

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-7-9-8426/ex-0.mp3)

### Read and choose an answer

One fixed sample

[Explore a sample](https://hskready.app/en/learn/question-types/r11-passage-choice)

## Related vocabulary

[**胸有成竹**xiōngyǒuchéngzhúto have a well-thought-out plan in mind; confident of success](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/xiongyouchengzhu-10010)[**汹涌**xiōngyǒngto surge up violently (of water); turbulent; raging](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/xiongyong-10009)[**胸怀**xiōnghuáibosom; broad-mindedness; to cherish (ambition, etc.)](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9/xionghuai-10005)[Vocabulary HSK 7-9](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-7-9)

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