The word 秀(xiù) comes from the transliteration of the English word “show.” Literally, it means handsome and elegant. But now it is more commonly used as the verb “to show.”
Tā yòu zài xiù zìjĭ de xīn fāmíng.
他 又 在 秀 自己的 新 发明。
He shows his new invention to us again.
Dàjiā kuài lái xiù yi xiù zìjĭ de xiǎngfǎ, kàn shuí de zuì bàng.
大家 快 来 秀 一 秀 自己的 想法， 看 谁 的 最 棒！
Let’s all show our ideas and see which one is the best.
做/作秀(zuòxiù) Make a Show
The phrase 做/作秀(zuòxiù), or “make a show,” originates from the entertainment circles in Hong Kong and Taiwan and means “to perform.” Now people usually use the phrase to describe someone who does something superficially in order to gain others’ approval. 做/作(zuò) means “to make” here. You can say: “别做/作秀了,你那点儿花花肠子我还不了解吗? (Bié zuòxiù le, nĭ nà diǎnr huāhuā chángzi wǒ hái bù liáojiě ma?)” Don’t pretend (make a show), you think I don’t know what you’re plotting.
脱口秀(tuōkǒuxiù), or “talk show,” is a kind of TV program. The Chinese phrase originates from the transliteration of the English phrase “talk show.” 脱(tuō) literally means to take off, but here it means to say something quickly and fluently. 口(kǒu) refers to mouth. 秀(xiù) means to show.
时装秀(shízhuāngxiù) Fashion Show
时装秀(shízhuāngxiù), or fashion show, is a kind of stage art. 时(shí) literally refers to time, but here it means fashion. 装(zhuāng) means costume and dress.
Now 模仿秀(mófǎngxiù), or imitation show, is a very popular TV program in China in which many people try to imitate the stars they adore. 模(mó) refers to a model, or someone trying to imitate, and 仿(fǎng) means to imitate.