劲舞 (jìng wǔ) — to dance energetically, to dance vigorously (especially modern dance styles)

Definition

劲 (jìn) names the energy or force behind an action; 劲舞 is a high-energy dance (literally 'force-dance'), used for vigorous modern styles rather than 跳舞, which simply means 'to dance'.

verb
to dance energeticallyto dance vigorously (especially modern dance styles)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā xǐ huan zài pài duì shàng jìng wǔ.
    He likes to dance energetically at parties.
  • 劲舞，。
    Tā jìng wǔ le yí gè xiǎo shí, yì diǎn yě bú lèi.
    She danced vigorously for an hour and wasn't tired at all.
  • 劲舞，。
    Nián qīng rén xǐ huan jìng wǔ, tiào dé hěn kāi xīn.
    Young people like to dance energetically and have a great time.

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.

劲jìnvigorous force
舞wǔdance

劲 gives vigorous force and 舞 is dance, so it means to dance energetically.

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 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →

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 →

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