踊る|おどるodoru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, intransitive verbto dance (orig. a hopping dance)
    なぜ彼かれと踊おどらなかったの?↗
    Why didn't you dance with him?
  2. godan verb, intransitive verbto be manipulated; to dance to someone's tune
Conjugation
Dictionary form踊る(おどる)
Polite (masu)踊ります(おどります)
Negative (nai)踊らない(おどらない)
polite (masen)踊りません(おどりません)
classical zu / nu踊らず・踊らぬ(おどらず・おどらぬ)
Past (ta)踊った(おどった)
polite (mashita)踊りました(おどりました)
Past negative (nakatta)踊らなかった(おどらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)踊りませんでした(おどりませんでした)
Te form踊って(おどって)
Potential踊れる(おどれる)
Passive踊られる(おどられる)
Causative踊らせる(おどらせる)
Causative passive踊らせられる・踊らされる(おどらせられる・おどらされる)
Conditional (ba)踊れば(おどれば)
tara踊ったら(おどったら)
Volitional踊ろう(おどろう)
polite (mashou)踊りましょう(おどりましょう)
Imperative踊れ(おどれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym舞うまうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Used for traditional Japanese dance, as in 「能を舞う」, and also for snowflakes fluttering; more elegant than 「踊る」.
  • SynonymダンスCasualColloquial loanword for Western-style dance, as in 「ダンス教室」; sounds trendier than 「踊る」.
  • Related舞踏ぶとうFormalFormal term for Western-style dance, as in 「舞踏会」; carries a classical, dignified feel.
  • Related演舞えんぶWrittenWritten/formal prose for performing a dance before an audience, as in 「よさこい演舞」.
  • Related舞い躍るまいおどるWrittenWritten/formal prose meaning to dance while leaping; less common, with an exuberant, festive feel.
  • Related舞蹈ぶとうFormalFormal term for dance as a performing art; sounds identical to 「舞踏」 and is rarely used today.

For dancing in general, 「踊る」 is the default. Use 「舞う」 for traditional Japanese dance or fluttering, 「ダンス」 for Western-style dance, 「舞踏」 as a formal word for Western dancing, and 「演舞」 for a dance performed before an audience.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 儀式ぎしきまたは享楽きょうらくなどのために、リズムに合あわせてからだを動うごかす。
  2. ものがゆらゆらと動うごいて見みえる。
  3. 他人たにんの意思いしで行動こうどうする。あやつられる。そそのかされる。
  4. 利息りそくを二に重じゅうに取とる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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