舞龙
wǔ lóng
Dragon dance · trad. 舞龍
舞龙 (wǔ lóng) is a traditional Chinese performance where a long, flexible dragon puppet is skillfully manipulated by a team of performers. It's a vibrant and energetic cultural display, most famously seen during festivals like Chinese New Year, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity.
When to use it
Neutral and descriptive. While 舞龙 specifically means "dragon dance," it's often associated with other festive activities. For example, it's commonly performed alongside 舞狮 (wǔ shī), the lion dance.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "woo-LONG." The first syllable "woo" is a dipping third tone, and the second syllable "LONG" is a rising second tone.
Other ways to say it
- 龙舞lóng wǔdragon dance (less common variant)
- 舞狮wǔ shīlion dance (a related traditional performance)
- 春节舞龙chūn jié wǔ lóngChinese New Year dragon dance
Examples
每年春节，我们都会去看舞龙表演。
měi nián chūn jié ， wǒ men dōu huì qù kàn wǔ lóng biǎo yǎn 。
Every Chinese New Year, we go to watch dragon dance performances.
舞龙是中国传统文化中非常重要的一个部分。
wǔ lóng shì zhōng guó chuán tǒng wén huà zhōng fēi cháng zhòng yào de yí gè bù fen 。
Dragon dance is a very important part of traditional Chinese culture.
舞龙象征着好运和繁荣。
wǔ lóng xiàng zhēng zhe hǎo yùn hé fán róng 。
The dragon dance symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
Pro tip: In Chinese culture, the dragon is a benevolent and powerful creature, not a fearsome monster. The dragon dance is believed to bring good luck, ward off evil spirits, and ensure a good harvest.
Related phrases
龙 · Dragon饺子 · Dumpling金龙 · Gold dragon
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