How to say "dance" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe everyday noun for dancing as an activity or pastime — going dancing, dance lessons, social dancing; in ordinary conversation this is usually the word you want.
- 踊るおどるgodan verb, intransitive verbThe everyday verb 'to dance'. Its original sense was a hopping dance, and it remains the default verb for dancing to music, with lively stepping or leaping movement.
- 踊りおどりnounThe noun 'a dance', the counterpart of the verb 踊る; it names a dance as an act or performance, and often suggests Japanese-style dancing.
- 舞うまうgodan verb, intransitive verbA verb for dancing with whirling, circling movement, its original sense; graceful and poetic in feel, it is seldom the word you want for everyday dancing — use 踊る.
- 舞踏ぶとうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA noun for dance, especially Western-style dancing, with a formal, written tone; in everyday conversation ダンス is the word you will usually want instead.
Use 「ダンス」 for dancing as an activity, 「踊る」 and 「踊り」 for the verb and noun of dancing itself, 「舞う」 for graceful whirling movement, and 舞踏 for formal, Western-style dance.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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