Meaning
芭蕾舞 refers to the classical Western dance form known as ballet. It combines the transliterated term 芭蕾 (ballet) with the native Chinese word 舞 (dance). This term entered Chinese vocabulary as Western performing arts became more widely known in China during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Usage
This is the standard term used in mainland China for ballet. It can refer to both the dance form itself and ballet performances. Native speakers typically use it when discussing Western classical dance, ballet performances, or ballet training. The word is commonly seen in contexts involving performing arts, dance education, and cultural events.
Examples
- 01她从小就开始学习芭蕾舞。.She started learning ballet when she was young.
- 02今晚我们去看芭蕾舞表演《天鹅湖》。' '.Tonight we're going to watch the ballet performance 'Swan Lake.'
Characters
Measure words
- 场一场芭蕾舞
- 出一出芭蕾舞剧
Common collocations
- 芭蕾舞演员ballet dancer
- 芭蕾舞团ballet troupe/company
- 跳芭蕾舞to dance ballet
- 芭蕾舞鞋ballet shoes
Origin
芭蕾 is a phonetic transliteration of the French word 'ballet.' The characters 芭 and 蕾 were chosen for their pronunciation rather than meaning. The character 舞 (dance) was added to clarify that it refers to a type of dance.