Meaning
The kanji 踊 (おどる/ヨウ) means "to dance" or "to leap with joy." It represents rhythmic movement performed with the feet, often expressively and joyfully. This kanji captures an action central to many cultures and forms of celebration.
The kanji's visual structure offers clear hints about its meaning. The left side is the radical 足 (あし), meaning "foot" or "leg." This component immediately tells us that the action described by 踊 involves the lower limbs. The right side, 甬 (ヨウ), provides the kanji's On'yomi reading. Historically, 甬 depicted a bell or a tube, and sometimes conveyed the idea of 'going through' or 'straight up.' When combined with 足, 甬 suggests continuous, flowing, or energetic movement, aligning well with the act of dancing. Together, these parts depict feet moving rhythmically and continuously.
This kanji has 18 strokes, making it moderately complex to write. It is designated as a Grade 8 kanji within the Joyo Kanji list, meaning it is taught in secondary education in Japan. It is also a crucial character for those aiming for the JLPT N2 level, highlighting its common usage and importance in everyday Japanese vocabulary.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading of 踊 comes from its historical pronunciation in Chinese. For 踊, the primary On'yomi is ヨウ (YŌ). This reading is generally less common when the kanji stands alone as a verb or noun. However, it appears in specific, often more formal or compound words, usually related to types of dance or enthusiastic movement.
ヨウ (YŌ)
舞踊 (buyō) — dance (as an art form, especially traditional or classical dance). This compound combines 舞 (mai, to dance) with 踊, forming a broader term for dance. For example, 日本舞踊 refers to traditional Japanese dance.
踊躍 (yōyaku) — jumping for joy, leaping, frisking. This word describes an act of exuberant movement, reflecting the "leap" aspect of 踊's meaning.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations that are typically used when the kanji stands alone as a verb or noun, often with okurigana (送り仮名) – the trailing hiragana characters. These are the most frequently encountered readings of 踊 in everyday Japanese.
おど・る (odo-ru)
踊る (odoru) — to dance. This is the most common verb form, used for dancing in various contexts, from club dancing to traditional festivals.
踊り出す (odoridasu) — to start dancing, to break into a dance. This compound verb implies the initiation of dancing, often spontaneously.
おど・り (odo-ri)
踊り (odori) — a dance (noun), dancing. This can refer to the act of dancing itself, or a specific type of dance. For instance, 盆踊り is a specific type of dance performed during the Bon Festival.
踊り子 (odoriko) — a dancer (often a female dancer). This noun specifically refers to a person who dances, particularly in performance or traditional settings.
踊り場 (odoriba) — a landing (on a staircase), a place for dancing. While often referring to a staircase landing, its literal meaning is a "dancing place," hinting at its original use or suggesting a spacious area.
Common Words & Compounds
You'll find 踊 in many Japanese words and expressions, mostly centered around dance and movement. This highlights its versatility and importance in daily communication.
Verbs of Dancing:
踊る (odoru) — to dance (the basic verb form).
踊り出す (odoridasu) — to start dancing; to break into a dance.
踊り明かす (odoriakasu) — to dance all night long until morning.
踊り狂う (odorikurū) — to dance wildly or madly.
Nouns related to Dance:
踊り (odori) — a dance (the act or a specific type of dance).
踊り子 (odoriko) — a dancer (especially female or traditional).
舞踊 (buyō) — dance (as an art form or genre).
日本舞踊 (nihon buyō) — traditional Japanese dance.
社交ダンスを踊る (shakō dansu o odoru) — to do ballroom dancing.
Places & Events:
盆踊り (bon-odori) — Bon Festival dance.
踊り場 (odoriba) — a landing (on a staircase); a place for dancing.
Example Sentences
みんなで音楽に合わせて踊りました。
Minna de ongaku ni awasete odorimashita.
Everyone danced to the music.
彼女はとても上手に踊ります。
Kanojo wa totemo jōzu ni odorimasu.
She dances very well.
祭りで盆踊りを見ました。
Matsuri de bon-odori o mimashita.
I saw the Bon Festival dance at the festival.
この曲を聞くと、踊りたくなります。
Kono kyoku o kiku to, odoritaku narimasu.
When I hear this song, I feel like dancing.
彼は嬉しくて思わず踊り出しました。
Kare wa ureshikute omowazu odoridashimashita.
He was so happy he spontaneously started dancing.
友人と朝まで踊り明かしました。
Yūjin to asa made odoriakashimashita.
I danced all night until morning with my friends.
日本舞踊は、美しい伝統的な踊りです。
Nihon buyō wa, utsukushii dentōteki na odori desu.
Japanese traditional dance is a beautiful traditional dance.
階段の踊り場で少し休みました。
Kaigan no odoriba de sukoshi yasumimashita.
I rested a little at the staircase landing.
彼の踊りは、観客を魅了しました。
Kare no odori wa, kankyaku o miryō shimashita.
His dance captivated the audience.
子どもたちは音楽に合わせて無邪気に踊り続けていました。
Kodomo-tachi wa ongaku ni awasete mujaki ni odoritsudzukete imashita.
The children innocently continued to dance to the music.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 踊, visualize its components: 足 (foot) on the left and 甬 (a phonetic component, here imagine a "tube" or "flow") on the right. Think of someone using their feet (足) to move in a fluid, rhythmic flow (甬) as they dance. Picture a dancer gracefully moving their feet through an invisible tube or following a flowing path on the dance floor. The character clearly shows the 'foot' as the active agent in the movement. This mnemonic helps you directly link the visual elements to the core meaning of dancing and lively movement.