There are six set roles:
- mun mo sung (文武生) martial man of letters; the clean-shaven scholar-warrior
- siu sung (小生) ‘young gentleman’; young scholar
- fa dan (花旦) ‘flower’ of the ball; young belle
- yee fa (二花) transliteration: ‘second flower’; supporting female
- chou sung (丑生) clown
- mo sung (武生) bearded male warrior
