踊る|おどるodoru[0]heiban (flat)
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- godan verb, intransitive verbto dance (orig. a hopping dance)
- 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.
- 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


