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芭蕾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
芭蕾bālěiballet (loanword)HSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #5938, Very Hard
bālěi(ba1lei3)ba lei T1
  1. 1ballet (loanword)
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March 24, 2026

芭蕾bālěi(ba1lei3)

芭蕾 (bā lěi) refers to ballet, a highly technical form of dance that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts and developed further in France and Russia. This word is a loanword in Chinese, often used in discussions about dance, performing arts, and cultural events. It carries connotations of grace, elegance, and artistic expression.

Strokes23Frequency#5938DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Ballet has become increasingly popular in China, with many prestigious ballet schools and companies emerging in recent decades. 芭蕾 performances often feature classical Western stories adapted to Chinese culture, highlighting the blend of artistic influences.

Memory tip

Imagine a graceful ballerina dancing on a stage made of bamboo (芭, bā) and lotus flowers (蕾, lěi) to remember 芭蕾. The bamboo suggests the 'bā' sound, while the lotus flowers symbolize beauty and elegance, key attributes of ballet.

Meanings of 芭蕾

bālěi(ba1lei3)
1ballet (loanword)
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About 芭蕾

芭蕾Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 芭蕾

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AI study notes for 芭蕾

Quick Contrast

芭蕾 (bā lěi) vs 舞蹈 (wǔdǎo) — use 芭蕾 specifically for the ballet form of dance, while 舞蹈 is a general term for dance.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 芭蕾 with similar-sounding words that refer to other forms of dance or art. This term is primarily used in formal contexts, such as performances or dance education, rather than casual conversation. It is often collocated with terms like 舞蹈 (wǔ dǎo, dance) and 表演 (biǎo yǎn, performance).

HSK Study Tips

芭蕾 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it can be a useful term for learners interested in the arts. Students at lower HSK levels might focus on basic dance vocabulary, while higher levels can explore more complex descriptions of performances and styles.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly write 芭雷 (bā léi) instead of 芭蕾 (bā lěi), confusing the character for 'lei' with another character. Remember that the correct character for 'lei' in this context is 蕾.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 芭蕾

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Component characters

芭bāa plantain or banana palm
7 strokes艹
View full entry
蕾lěibud
16 strokes艹
View full entry

How to say ballet (loanword) in Chinese

“ballet (loanword)” in Chinese is芭蕾bālěi

芭蕾 (bā lěi) refers to ballet, a highly technical form of dance that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts and developed further in France and Russia. This word is a loanword in Chinese, often used in discussions about dance, performing arts, and cultural events. It carries connotations of grace, elegance, and artistic expression.

When to use 芭蕾

Be careful not to confuse 芭蕾 with similar-sounding words that refer to other forms of dance or art. This term is primarily used in formal contexts, such as performances or dance education, rather than casual conversation. It is often collocated with terms like 舞蹈 (wǔ dǎo, dance) and 表演 (biǎo yǎn, performance).

芭蕾 or something close to it

芭蕾 (bā lěi) vs 舞蹈 (wǔdǎo) — use 芭蕾 specifically for the ballet form of dance, while 舞蹈 is a general term for dance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly write 芭雷 (bā léi) instead of 芭蕾 (bā lěi), confusing the character for 'lei' with another character. Remember that the correct character for 'lei' in this context is 蕾.

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芭
蕾

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Frequently asked questions about 芭蕾

Yes, 芭蕾 is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts, especially in discussions about dance.

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