Chou (clown) is the fourth role category in Peking Opera and serves as a foil to the leading character, but it predated other role categories.

• 中国戏曲发展史上有“无丑不成戏”之说。丑行中有些是扮演阴险狡猾、贪婪私自的角色，但更多的却是扮演机警、伶俐、幽默、正直、善良的角色。分为文丑、武丑两大类，对演技要求很高。