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March 24, 2026
跳舞tiàowǔ(tiao4wu3)
跳舞 (tiao4 wu3) means 'to dance' and is used to describe the action of dancing in various contexts, whether socially, professionally, or recreationally. It can refer to different styles of dance and is commonly used in informal settings where people enjoy music and movement together.
Frequency#897DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
Dancing is an important aspect of many Chinese celebrations, such as weddings and festivals, where traditional dances play a significant role. For example, the dragon dance performed during the Lunar New Year symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person '跳' (jumping) joyfully as they '舞' (dance) to the rhythm of music. The character '跳' resembles someone leaping into the air, while '舞' has a flowing, graceful appearance, similar to a dancer's movements. Together, they create a vivid image of energetic dancing.
Meanings of 跳舞
tiàowǔ(tiao4wu3)
1to dance
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About 跳舞
跳舞Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#897Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 跳舞
Podcast: 跳舞
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AI Study Notes for 跳舞
Quick Contrast
舞蹈 (wǔdǎo) refers to 'dance' as an art form or structured performance, while 跳舞 (tiàowǔ) emphasizes the action of dancing itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person '跳' (jumping) joyfully as they '舞' (dance) to the rhythm of music. The character '跳' resembles someone leaping into the air, while '舞' has a flowing, graceful appearance, similar to a dancer's movements. Together, they create a vivid image of energetic dancing.
Usage Notes
When using 跳舞, be mindful of the tone: '跳' (tiao4) has a falling tone while '舞' (wu3) has a low tone. A common mistake is to confuse it with other verbs like '跳' (jump) which can change the meaning. The phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but typically is more casual.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 2, 跳舞 is a practical word that connects with other vocabulary related to activities and hobbies. Students should focus on using it in sentences about leisure activities, and practice its pronunciation to avoid tone errors.
Cultural Note
Dancing is an important aspect of many Chinese celebrations, such as weddings and festivals, where traditional dances play a significant role. For example, the dragon dance performed during the Lunar New Year symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the correct tones, saying 'tiao3 wu3' instead of 'tiao4 wu3'. Additionally, some may confuse 跳舞 with '舞蹈' (wǔ dǎo), which refers to dance as a concept rather than the action of dancing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 跳舞
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Grammar Patterns of 跳舞
跳舞 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. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
She was, and remained, extremely sociable, enjoying dancing, golf, tennis, skating and bicycling.
9
跳舞者表演了脱衣舞.
tiào wǔ zhě biǎo yǎn le tuō yī wǔ.
The dancer did a strip.
10
维罗妮卡: 好极了. 我们和一些很帅的男人跳舞.
wéi luó nī kǎ: : hǎo jí. le . wǒ mén hé yī xiē hěn shuài de nán rén.
Veronica : Not half . We got to dance with some really dishy guys.
Cultural Notes for 跳舞
🏮Cultural insight
Dancing is an important aspect of many Chinese celebrations, such as weddings and festivals, where traditional dances play a significant role. For example, the dragon dance performed during the Lunar New Year symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While dancing is celebrated in both Chinese and Western cultures, social dances in China often involve more structured group performances, whereas Western styles may emphasize individual expression and improvisation.
Frequently Asked Questions about 跳舞
You can say '我想跳舞' (wǒ xiǎng tiàowǔ).
No, 跳舞 can refer to any kind of dancing, including modern styles and social dancing.
You might also want to learn 舞蹈 (wǔ dǎo), which means 'dance' as a noun.
