跳舞 tiào wǔ to dance
How to remember 跳舞: 跳 jump + 舞 dance = to dance. Character breakdown 跳 (tiào): “to jump; to hop.” Radical 足 (“foot”) hints at movement. 舞 (wǔ): “dance.” Originally related to ritual movements with the body. 跳舞 literally means “to jump and dance,” i.e. to dance. Example sentences 她很喜欢跳舞。 Tā hěn xǐhuan tiào wǔ. She really likes dancing. 周末我们一起去跳舞吧。 Zhōumò wǒmen yìqǐ qù tiào wǔ ba. Let’s go dancing together this weekend. 孩子们在音乐下开心地跳舞。 Háizimen zài yīnyuè xià kāixīn de tiào wǔ. The children are happily dancing to the music. Usage notes Common verb phrase; can stand alone or take objects: 跳舞, 跳民族舞, 跳街舞. Often follows 喜欢 / 爱 / 会: 喜欢跳舞, 会跳舞. Neutral register; used in both spoken and written Mandarin.
Characters
Story
Character breakdown 跳 (tiào): “to jump; to hop.” Radical 足 (“foot”) hints at movement. 舞 (wǔ): “dance.” Originally related to ritual movements with the body. 跳舞 literally means “to jump and dance,” i.e. to dance. Example sentences 她很喜欢跳舞。 Tā hěn xǐhuan tiào wǔ. She really likes dancing. 周末我们一起去跳舞吧。 Zhōumò wǒmen yìqǐ qù tiào wǔ ba. Let’s go dancing together this weekend. 孩子们在音乐下开心地跳舞。 Háizimen zài yīnyuè xià kāixīn de tiào wǔ. The children are happily dancing to the music. Usage notes Common verb phrase; can stand alone or take objects: 跳舞, 跳民族舞, 跳街舞. Often follows 喜欢 / 爱 / 会: 喜欢跳舞, 会跳舞. Neutral register; used in both spoken and written Mandarin.
How it is used
- To dance: 我喜欢跳舞 (wǒ xǐhuan tiàowǔ) I like dancing.
- It's a verb-object compound (跳 leap + 舞 dance), so modifiers split it: 跳了一支舞 (tiàole yì zhī wǔ) danced a dance, 跳中国舞 (tiào Zhōngguó wǔ).
- Contrast 舞蹈 (wǔdǎo), the noun 'dance' as an art form or discipline.
Example sentences
- 我想要跳舞。 Wǒ xiǎngyào tiàowǔ.I'd like to dance.
- 我会唱歌跳舞。 Wǒhuì chànggētiàowǔ.I can sing and dance.
- 她跳舞时的姿态很美。 Tā tiàowǔ shí de zītài hěn měi.Her motions when dancing are lovely.