舞剧 (wǔ jù) — dance drama; ballet

Definition

noun
dance dramaballet
Measure word · 部

Examples

  • 舞剧。
    Zhè bù wǔ jù shì yóu zhù míng biān dǎo chuàng zuò de.
    This dance drama was created by a famous choreographer.
  • 舞剧。
    Zhōu mò wǒ men qù kàn wǔ jù ba.
    Let's go watch a dance drama this weekend.
  • 舞剧。
    Zhè bù wǔ jù de wǔ dǎo fēi cháng yōu měi.
    The dancing in this dance drama is very beautiful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

舞wǔdance
剧jùdrama

舞 describes the kind of 剧, a drama carried out through dance.

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
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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 劇; 剧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
豦
豦jù劇jù
Same sound today

The traditional form 劇 pairs 豦, which gives the sound, with 刀, a knife; the simplified 剧 is a later shorthand.

Open 剧 →

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