“水袖功”是中国戏曲中极具诗意的一种表演语言，常用来外化人物内心的波澜，或表现其身份气度。

The Water Sleeve technique is a poetic art in Chinese opera. It shows a character's inner feelings, status and bearing.

水袖是戏装袖口缀有的白色绸布道具，它没有固定长度规定，一般会根据演员身高比例或角色形象而定。抛袖、扬袖、冲袖......水袖功光是基本动作就有10种。由不同基本功相互搭配衍生的组合动作更是不胜枚举。

The sleeves are made of white silk. They have no fixed length, but are customized to the performer or the role's needs. There are ten basic moves, like tossing, lifting, or thrusting the sleeves, and from these, countless combinations can be created.

水袖修炼的是一份“以柔克刚”的功力，从最初绸缎的纠缠不听使唤，到后来挥洒自如、意到袖随，演员需经年累月地练习，使肩、肘、腕、指节节贯通，方能让一抛一掷皆成情绪，一收一放俱是文章。

Mastering the water sleeve skill is all about “softness overcoming hardness.” At first, the silk feels tangled and stubborn. It takes years of practice for the performers to fully coordinate their shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers. Only then does every flick and flow convey emotion, and every movement tell a story.