Usage patterns 舞ぶ 踊よう を 踊おど る to perform a dance
She performed a traditional Japanese dance on stage.
舞ぶ 踊よう を 習なら う to learn/study dance
She has been studying dance since childhood.
舞ぶ 踊よう の 稽けい 古こ をする to practice/train in dance
I practice dance every Saturday.
Related words 踊り is the everyday native Japanese word for dance, including folk and festive dancing, while 舞踊 is a more formal, artistic term used for theatrical or traditional performance dance.
ダンス is a general loanword covering Western and social dance styles, whereas 舞踊 is a formal term reserved for artistic or traditional performance dance.
舞踊 is the broad artistic term for dance itself, while 演舞 focuses on the act of performing a dance at a specific event or show.
舞踊 is a similarly formal term but usually implies traditional Japanese dance (as in 日本舞踊 ), while 舞踏 leans toward Western-style dance forms.
Word family· 8 dance troupe; dance company
dance drama
dancer; dance artist
dance music; ballet music
traditional Japanese dance
Show 3 more Show fewer Etymology Compound of 舞 (mai, 'dance with slow, elegant movements') and 踊 (odori, 'dance with lively, leaping movements'). The combination emphasizes dance as a comprehensive performing art.
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