Abstract: A method and a system for playing a message that are applicable to the field of communications technologies. The message playing method includes: receiving, by a receiving terminal, a message that includes a user identifier and text information, obtaining a speech identifier and an image identifier corresponding to the user identifier, generating or obtaining a speech animation stream according to a speech characteristic parameter indicated by the speech identifier, an image characteristic parameter indicated by the image identifier, and the text information, and playing the speech animation stream. In this way, the text information in the message can be played as a speech animation stream according to the user identifier, the text information in the message can be presented vividly, and the message can be presented in a personalized manner according to the speech identifier and the image identifier corresponding to the user identifier.