How to Write 舞 (wǔ) — Meaning “To dance; dance”

Imagine a dancer saying "Woo!" (wǔ) as they raise both arms (the top part) and step with opposite feet (the bottom part). You can also think of the 14 strokes as steps in a dance routine.

Start with the top section: write the left side, then the right side, then the horizontal line across, and finish with the bottom 舛. A common mistake is making the top too wide or forgetting the small vertical strokes inside; keep the lower part centered under the top.

Both characters share the bottom 舛, but 舞 has a complex top with a horizontal stroke and vertical elements, while 舜's top is simpler (like two '夕' stacked). In meaning, 舞 is about dance, whereas 舜 is the name of an ancient Chinese ruler.

舞 appears in common words like 跳舞 (to dance), 舞蹈 (dance as an art), and 舞台 (stage). Culturally, it is key to traditional dances such as 舞狮 (lion dance) and 舞龙 (dragon dance), performed during festivals like Chinese New Year.

Common words containing 舞 include: 跳舞 (tiào wǔ) — To dance.; 舞蹈 (wǔ dǎo) — Dance; 舞台 (wǔ tái) — Stage.