Meaning
舞蹈 refers to dance as both an art form and an activity. It encompasses all styles of dance, from traditional folk dances to modern ballet and contemporary dance. The word can be used as a noun meaning "dance" or "dancing," and less commonly as a verb meaning "to dance."
Usage
舞蹈 is the formal, standard term for dance and is used in educational, artistic, and professional contexts. In casual conversation, people more often use 跳舞 (tiào wǔ) as the verb "to dance." 舞蹈 appears frequently when discussing dance as an art form, dance classes, dance performances, or dance styles.
Examples
- 01她从小就学习中国古典舞蹈。.She has been studying Chinese classical dance since childhood.
- 02这场舞蹈表演非常精彩。.This dance performance is very spectacular.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个舞蹈
- 支一支舞蹈
Common collocations
- 民族舞蹈folk dance, ethnic dance
- 舞蹈演员dancer, dance performer
- 现代舞蹈modern dance
- 学习舞蹈to study dance
Origin
Both characters relate to movement: 舞 depicts dancing with flowing sleeves, while 蹈 originally meant to step or tread. Together they form a classical compound emphasizing the physical stepping and movement aspects of dance.