舞蹈

• Pinyin: wǔ dǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 舞 = depicts a person with sleeves dancing; 蹈 = 足 (foot) + 舀 (ladle), meaning to step or tread

Meaning

Dance; dancing. The art form of expressive movement to music.

Refers to dance as an art form or activity, encompassing various styles from ballet to folk dance to modern dance. More formal than 跳舞 (tiàowǔ, to dance). Used in artistic, educational, and performance contexts. Related: 舞蹈家 (dancer/choreographer), 舞蹈课 (dance class).

Examples

1. 她从小就学习舞蹈，现在已经是专业舞者了。 She has been learning dance since childhood and is now a professional dancer.
2. 这场舞蹈表演融合了现代舞和民族舞元素。 This dance performance combines elements of modern dance and folk dance.
3. 舞蹈不仅是艺术，也是很好的健身方式。 Dance is not only an art but also a great way to exercise.

Usage Guide

Context: arts, performance, education, fitness

Tone: artistic

Do Say

• 她是舞蹈专业的学生。(She is a dance major student.)
• 今晚有一场舞蹈演出。(There's a dance performance tonight.)

Don't Say

• 我们一起去舞蹈吧 — 应该说'我们一起去跳舞吧'，舞蹈通常不用作动词

Origin & History

Compound of 舞 (to dance) + 蹈 (to step, tread). Both characters relate to physical movement, together emphasizing the art of dance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal