There are six set roles:

  1. mun mo sung (文武生) martial man of letters; the clean-shaven scholar-warrior
  2. siu sung (小生) ‘young gentleman’; young scholar
  3. fa dan (花旦) ‘flower’ of the ball; young belle
  4. yee fa (二花) transliteration: ‘second flower’; supporting female
  5. chou sung (丑生) clown
  6. mo sung (武生) bearded male warrior