In Chinese opera, Jue Se and Jiao Se have quite different meanings.

Jue Se refers to which figure in the play the actor represents. Jiao Se, or Hangdan, is basically classified as Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo and Chou.

According to the age and social status of the characters, Sheng falls into three sub-groups: Laosheng, Xiaosheng and Wusheng; the Dan roles are subdivided into Zhengdan (or Qingyi), Huadan, Wudan, Laodan, Caidan, Daomadan, and Guimendan; the Jing roles, Dahualian, Erhualian, Wuer Hualian and Youhualian; the Chou roles, Wenchou and Wuchou.