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载歌载舞 (zài gē zài wǔ) — to sing and dance joyfully (as part of a festivity); festive merrymaking

Definition

An idiom that paints a vivid scene of people singing and dancing together, used for joyful festive celebrations — not a literal description of any single act.

idiom
to sing and dance joyfully (as part of a festivity)festive merrymaking

Examples

  • ，载歌载舞，。
    Jié rì lǐ, rén men zài gē zài wǔ, fēi cháng rè nao.
    During the festival, people sing and dance joyfully, and it's very lively.
  • 载歌载舞，。
    Wǎn huì shàng dà jiā zài gē zài wǔ, qìng zhù xīn nián.
    At the party, everyone sang and danced to celebrate the New Year.
  • 载歌载舞。
    Shǎo shù mín zú de jié rì wǎng wǎng yǒu zài gē zài wǔ de chǎng miàn.
    Ethnic minority festivals often feature scenes of singing and dancing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

载歌and sing
载zǎiand歌gēsing
偏正Modifier + head
载舞and dance
载zǎiand舞wǔdance
偏正Modifier + head

载歌 and 载舞 run side by side, each adding 载 'and' to 歌 or 舞, showing joyful singing and 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 載; 载 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūchariot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏載zài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 載 has 車, a chariot, and 𢦏 gives the sound; 载 is its simplified form.

Open 载 →

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
欠欠qiànblow
Sound part声符shēngfú
哥
哥gē歌gē
Same sound today

The shape 歌 uses 哥 for the sound and 欠, meaning blow. It came from a form of 哥 used for singing.

Open 歌 →

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 載; 载 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūchariot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏載zài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 載 has 車, a chariot, and 𢦏 gives the sound; 载 is its simplified form.

Open 载 →

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 & PerformanceIdioms & Set PhrasesMusic

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