Shàng yìng literally combines 上 (shàng, 'to go up' or 'to begin') and 映 (yìng, 'to project' or 'to reflect'), evoking the image of a film 'going up onto the screen' — hence, to premiere or begin its theatrical run. It specifically refers to the official first public screening of a movie in cinemas, not streaming releases or private showings.

This verb is commonly used in film reviews, entertainment news, and promotional materials. It’s formal but widely understood in everyday conversation when discussing movies. You’ll often see it paired with time phrases (e.g., 本周上映 'premieres this week') or location phrases (e.g., 在北京上映 'premieres in Beijing'). Unlike generic terms like 播放 (bōfàng, 'to play'), shàng yìng carries a sense of occasion and commercial release — it implies a film has entered the mainstream distribution circuit.