歌舞

• Pinyin: gē wǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 歌 = 哥 + 欠 (vocal/song); 舞 = 舛 + 无 (dance — feet in motion, based on ancient pictograph of dancer)

Meaning

Song and dance; a performance art combining singing and dancing. Also used to describe festive, celebratory occasions.

Refers to integrated performances featuring both vocal music and choreographed movement. Important in Chinese cultural traditions, folk arts, and formal entertainment. 歌舞升平 is an idiom meaning 'to revel in peace and prosperity' — or sarcastically, 'to celebrate while ignoring problems.' 歌舞团 refers to a song-and-dance troupe.

Examples

1. 春节联欢晚会上，来自全国各地的演员以精彩的歌舞表演拉开了新年的序幕。 At the Spring Festival Gala, performers from across the country opened the new year with a spectacular song-and-dance performance.
2. 这支民间歌舞团长期深入农村，用群众喜闻乐见的形式传播优秀传统文化。 This folk song-and-dance troupe has long gone deep into rural areas, using forms people love to spread outstanding traditional culture.
3. 宏大的歌舞史诗呈现了中华民族五千年文明发展的壮阔历程，令观众深受震撼。 The grand song-and-dance epic presented the sweeping course of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, leaving the audience deeply moved.

Usage Guide

Context: arts, festivals, culture, entertainment

Tone: celebratory

Do Say

• 演出以大型歌舞表演开场，宏大的气势令全场观众为之振奋。(The performance opened with a large-scale song-and-dance show — its grand scale inspired the entire audience.)
• 该地区少数民族的传统歌舞至今保留着数百年前的原始风貌，极具研究价值。(The traditional song-and-dance of ethnic minorities in this region has preserved its original form from hundreds of years ago — it is of great research value.)

Don't Say

• 歌舞升平 is often used ironically — avoid using it as a straightforward compliment in critical contexts where problems are being glossed over

Origin & History

歌 = 哥 + 欠 (song); 舞 = from 巫 (shaman dancing) — dance

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal