Definitions

(verb) to dance
(verb) to wave; to brandish

Etymology

Originally written as , which is a pictograph of a person dancing, with ox tails or bird feathers hanging from his arms, to pray for rain. The (two feet) component was later added to emphasize the action of dancing after was phonetically borrowed for different meanings.

About

The character 舞 means to dance or move rhythmically, often while wielding objects like branches or ornaments. It originated as a pictograph of a person performing a ceremonial dance. Its modern form is complex: the lower component 舛 (chuǎn), meaning "opposed feet", depicts the alternating steps of the lower body, while the upper part represents the dancer's torso and the decorative items being waved. Over time, its meaning expanded from specific ritual performances to include all artistic dance, choreography, and even the skilled handling of weapons in martial arts.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她在台上跳

Tā zài wǔtái shàng tiàowǔ.

She dances on the stage.

妹妹喜欢跳芭蕾

Mèimei xǐhuan tiào bālěiwǔ.

My younger sister likes to dance ballet.

我们一起学习这支蹈。

Wǒmen yīqǐ xuéxí zhè zhī wǔdǎo.

Let's learn this dance together.

那位蹈家的表演很精彩。

Nà wèi wǔdǎojiā de biǎoyǎn hěn jīngcǎi.

That dancer's performance was brilliant.

雪花在寒风中飞

Xuěhuā zài hánfēng zhōng fēiwǔ.

Snowflakes are dancing in the cold wind.

他激动得手足蹈起来。

Tā jīdòng de shǒu wǔ zú dǎo qǐlái.

He became so excited that he started dancing with joy.

这个节日有传统的鼓表演。

Zhège jiérì yǒu chuántǒng de gǔwǔ biǎoyǎn.

This festival features traditional drum dances.

火焰在黑暗中诡异地动着。

Huǒyàn zài hēi'àn zhōng guǐyì de wǔdòng zhe.

The flames danced eerily in the darkness.