舞台

• Reading: ぶたい
• Romaji: butai
• Kanji breakdown: 舞 (bu) — dance; 台 (tai) — platform, stand
• Pronunciation: /bɯ.ta.i/

Meaning

Stage; theatre stage. The raised platform where performers act, or figuratively the setting of a story.

A noun with both literal and figurative uses. Literally, 舞台 is the physical stage in a theatre or concert hall. Figuratively, it can mean the setting or backdrop of a story, event, or action — as in この物語の舞台は京都だ (this story is set in Kyoto). Common collocations include 舞台裏 (backstage) and 舞台に立つ (to stand on stage).

Examples

1. 初めて舞台に立ったときはとても緊張した。 I was very nervous the first time I stood on stage.
2. この物語の舞台は江戸時代の京都だ。 The setting of this story is Kyoto during the Edo period.
3. 友達と一緒に舞台を見に行く予定だ。 I'm planning to go see a stage performance with a friend.

Usage Guide

Context: theatre, performing arts, literature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 舞 (dance) and 台 (platform, stand). Originally the platform for dancing, it came to mean the stage for all types of performance.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal