Explore 踊 in words for dancing and leaping, and connect each reading with a complete word.

The idea

踊 has 14 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 踊る（おどる） means to dance, while 舞踊（ぶよう） means dance as an art. 踊り（おどり） is a dance.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
踊るおどるWe dance at the festival.
踊りおどりI learned a traditional dance.
舞踊ぶようI watched a Japanese dance performance.
踊り上がるおどりあがるShe jumped for joy.

Examples

  • 祭まつりで私わたしたちは踊おどります。We dance at the festival.
  • 子こどもたちが音楽おんがくに合あわせて踊おどっています。The children are dancing to the music.
  • 伝統的でんとうてきな踊おどりを習ならいました。I learned a traditional dance.
  • 日本にほんの舞踊ぶようの公演こうえんを見みました。I watched a Japanese dance performance.
  • 彼女かのじょは喜よろこんで踊おどり上あがりました。She jumped for joy.
  • 友達ともだちと一緒いっしょに踊おどりたいです。I want to dance with my friend.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

踊る usually means to dance, not simply to jump. For an ordinary jump, use 飛ぶ（とぶ）; 踊り上がる describes leaping up, often with emotion.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 踊る in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    おどる

    踊る is おどる: the verb means to dance. Remember the reading with the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 舞踊 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    ぶよう

    舞踊 is ぶよう: this compound refers to dance as an art.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿り（おどり）［踊／足］.

    Show answer or example answer

    踊

    踊 completes 踊り, read おどり; it means a dance.

Use it today

Write 踊 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 踊る and 舞踊, then make a sentence with one.