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March 24, 2026
舞wǔ(wu3)
The character 舞 (wǔ) primarily means 'to dance' and can also imply 'to wield' or 'to brandish'. It is commonly used in contexts related to performing arts, especially in traditional Chinese dance and modern choreography, as well as in martial arts when referring to the movement of weapons.
Strokes14Radical舛Frequency#452DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dance is often seen as a form of expression and celebration, with traditional dances playing a vital role during festivals and ceremonies. The art of dance is historically significant, with various regional styles representing different cultural identities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful dancer with arms outstretched, brandishing a sword, creating elegant shapes in the air. The character 舞 contains the radical for 'dance' (舞) and can be remembered as a dancer wielding their body gracefully, with 'wǔ' sounding like 'woo'—as if you are captivated by their performance.
Meanings of 舞
wǔ(wu3)
1to dance
2to wield
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 舞
舞Simplified
14Strokes
舛Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#452Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2
Podcast: 舞
Podcast: 舞
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AI Study Notes for 舞
Quick Contrast
舞 (wǔ, to dance) vs 扭 (niǔ, to twist) — use 舞 for dance movements, while 扭 implies twisting or turning movement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a graceful dancer with arms outstretched, brandishing a sword, creating elegant shapes in the air. The character 舞 contains the radical for 'dance' (舞) and can be remembered as a dancer wielding their body gracefully, with 'wǔ' sounding like 'woo'—as if you are captivated by their performance.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 舞 with similar-looking characters like 舞 and 走 (zǒu, to walk). It's important to use 舞 specifically for dance contexts. This word is neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal situations, but it is often used in artistic settings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 舞 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects closely with HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to activities and hobbies. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe dance or movements and practice its pronunciation to distinguish it from similar tones.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dance is often seen as a form of expression and celebration, with traditional dances playing a vital role during festivals and ceremonies. The art of dance is historically significant, with various regional styles representing different cultural identities.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is using 舞 in contexts where other words like 跳 (tià, to jump) would be more appropriate, such as saying '我喜欢舞' instead of '我喜欢跳舞'. Remember, 舞 is specifically for dance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 舞
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Grammar Patterns of 舞
舞 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He produced "A Chorus Line", Broadway's longest running show.
10
他称曼德拉先生为鼓舞了数百万民众的英雄。
tā chēng màn dé lā xiān shēng wéi gǔ wǔ le shù bǎi wàn mín zhòng de yīng xióng。
He called Mr Mandela a hero who had inspired millions.
Cultural Notes for 舞
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, dance is often seen as a form of expression and celebration, with traditional dances playing a vital role during festivals and ceremonies. The art of dance is historically significant, with various regional styles representing different cultural identities.
Word Family of 舞
Compounds1
儛
Words Containing This Character20
舞wǔto dance
舞台wǔtáistage舞臺
舞蹈wǔdǎodancing
跳舞tiàowǔto dance
舞会dance舞會
鼓舞gǔwǔheartening (news)
歌舞gēwǔsinging and dancing
独舞solo dance獨舞
挥舞to brandish揮舞
舞步dance steps
舞动to flourish舞動
脱衣舞striptease脫衣舞
飞舞to flutter飛舞
舞伴dancing partner
芭蕾舞ballet (loanword)
现代舞modern dance現代舞
舞厅wǔtīngdance hall舞廳
舞曲dance music
街舞street dance (e.g. breakdance)
舞姿dancer's posture and movement
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 舞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 舞
You can say '我喜欢跳舞' (Wǒ xǐhuān tiàowǔ) meaning 'I like to dance'.
No, 舞 can refer to any form of dancing, including modern dance styles.
While both mean 'to dance', 舞 (wǔ) often refers to a more structured form, while 跳 (tià) can mean 'to jump' or 'to leap', often in a less formal context.
