放映 (fàng yìng) is a verb meaning 'to screen' or 'to show' a film, video, or slideshow. It combines 放 (fàng), which means 'to release', 'to project', or 'to set in motion', and 映 (yìng), meaning 'to reflect', 'to project an image', or 'to appear visually'. Together, they evoke the technical act of projecting moving images onto a screen for an audience. The word is commonly used in contexts involving cinemas, classrooms, community centers, or digital platforms — anywhere visual media is formally presented.

This term carries a neutral-to-formal register and is rarely used for casual home viewing; instead, it implies organized, public, or institutional screening. It’s often paired with nouns like 电影 (diànyǐng, 'film'), 纪录片 (jìlùpiàn, 'documentary'), or 幻灯片 (huàndēngpiàn, 'slide presentation'). While historically tied to film projectors, it remains fully current for digital screenings as well — emphasizing the act of display rather than the medium.