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伴舞 (bàn wǔ) — to accompany in dancing; to be a dance partner

Definition

伴舞 (bànwǔ) is a verb meaning 'to be someone's dance partner' — usually a paid role at a dance hall, not an equal social dance. The 伴 frames the role as accompaniment, not lead.

verb
to accompany in dancingto be a dance partner

Examples

  • 伴舞。
    Tā zài yì jiā wǔ tīng gěi kè rén bàn wǔ.
    She accompanies guests in dancing at a dance hall.
  • 伴舞。
    Tā men qǐng le yí wèi zhuān yè de wǔ zhě lái bàn wǔ.
    They hired a professional dancer to be their dance partner.
  • ，伴舞。
    Zài wǔ huì shàng, nán shì cháng cháng qǐng nǚ shì bàn wǔ.
    At dance parties, men often invite women to dance with them.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

伴bànaccompany
舞wǔdance

伴 gives the idea of accompanying and 舞 the activity of dancing, together meaning to accompany someone in dancing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
半
半bàn伴bàn
Same sound today

伴 puts 亻 (person) beside 半. The person part fits the meaning of companion, and 半 gives the sound.

Open 伴 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
舛舛chuǎnsteps, feet in convergent direction
Sound part声符shēngfú
無
無wú舞wǔ
Same sound today

舞 combines 舛, showing feet in converging steps, with 無 above. 無 gave the sound and also preserved its older meaning of dancing, so the shape points to dancing.

Open 舞 →
Appears in
Dance & Performance

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