Readings: ブ (Onyomi), ま.う, まい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Dance, flit, whirl
The character depicts a person with long sleeves dancing. It is thought to be derived from an ancient depiction of a dancer with large, flowing sleeves.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 舞 starts with the two horizontal strokes at the top, followed by the vertical and diagonal strokes, then the elements on the left and right, and finally the bottom part.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 舛 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 15 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- 舞 (bu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 舞う (mau)
- 舞 (mai)
Common Words Using 舞
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 舞台 | ぶたい | stage |
| 舞踏 | ぶとう | dancing, a dance |
| 舞踊 | ぶよう | dance (as an art form) |
| 歌舞伎 | かぶき | Kabuki (traditional Japanese theatrical art) |
| 舞踏会 | ぶとうかい | ball (dance party) |
| 舞楽 | ぶがく | court music and dance |
| 舞曲 | ぶきょく | dance music |
| 乱舞 | らんぶ | wild dance, chaotic dance |
| 演舞 | えんぶ | demonstration of a dance/performance |
| 剣舞 | けんぶ | sword dance |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 舞う | まう | to dance, to flutter, to whirl |
| 舞い上がる | まいあがる | to soar, to fly up, to be whirled up |
| 舞い降りる | まいおりる | to descend, to alight, to flutter down |
| 雪舞う | ゆきまう | snow flutters |
| 花舞う | はなまう | flowers flutter/dance (e.g., cherry blossoms) |
| 舞妓 | まいこ | geisha apprentice |
| 舞 | まい | dance (a traditional dance) |
| 独り舞い | ひとりまい | solo dance |
| 神楽舞 | かぐらまい | Kagura dance (sacred Shinto dance) |
| 獅子舞 | ししまい | lion dance |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼女は優雅に舞台で舞った。
Kana: かのじょはゆうがにぶたいでまった。
Romaji: Kanojo wa yūga ni butai de matta.
English: She danced gracefully on the stage.
Japanese: 桜の花びらが風に舞っている。
Kana: さくらのはなびらがかぜにまっている。
Romaji: Sakura no hanabira ga kaze ni matte iru.
English: Cherry blossom petals are fluttering in the wind.
Japanese: 彼は舞踏会で美しい女性と踊った。
Kana: かれはぶとうかいでうつくしいじょせいとおどった。
Romaji: Kare wa butōkai de utsukushii josei to odotta.
English: He danced with a beautiful woman at the ball.
Japanese: 日本の伝統的な舞踊は素晴らしい。
Kana: にほんのでんとうてきなぶようはすばらしい。
Romaji: Nihon no dentōteki na buyō wa subarashii.
English: Traditional Japanese dance is wonderful.
Japanese: 舞妓さんがお座敷で舞を披露した。
Kana: まいこさんがおざしきでまいをひろうした。
Romaji: Maiko-san ga ozashiki de mai o hirō shita.
English: The maiko performed a dance in the parlor.
Japanese: 紙吹雪が空高く舞い上がった。
Kana: かみふぶきがそらたかくまいあがった。
Romaji: Kamifubuki ga sora takaku maiagatta.
English: Confetti soared high into the sky.
Japanese: 雪が静かに舞い降りてきた。
Kana: ゆきがしずかにまいおりてきた。
Romaji: Yuki ga shizuka ni maiorite kita.
English: Snow fluttered down quietly.
Japanese: 彼の演舞は観客を魅了した。
Kana: かれのえんぶはかんきゃくをみりょうした。
Romaji: Kare no enbu wa kankyaku o miryō shita.
English: His dance performance captivated the audience.
Japanese: 歌舞伎は日本を代表する伝統芸能です。
Kana: かぶきはにほんをだいひょうするでんとうげいのうです。
Romaji: Kabuki wa Nihon o daihyō suru dentō geinō desu.
English: Kabuki is a traditional Japanese performing art representing Japan.
Japanese: 神社で神楽舞が行われた。
Kana: じんじゃでかぐらまいがおこなわれた。
Romaji: Jinja de Kaguramai ga okonawareta.
English: A Kagura dance was performed at the shrine.
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