“To dance” in Japanese is 踊る (おどる), pronounced odoru.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To dance. Summer Bon Odori festivals have the whole neighbourhood dancing in a circle.
Example sentences
- 一緒に踊りましょう。いっしょにおどりましょう。Let’s dance together.
- 盆踊りで踊りました。ぼんおどりでおどりました。I danced at the Bon Odori festival.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 踊る. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 踊る おどる | dance |
| Polite present | 踊ります おどります | dance |
| Polite negative | 踊りません おどりません | don’t dance |
| Polite past | 踊りました おどりました | past of “dance” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 踊らない おどらない | don’t dance (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 踊った おどった | past of “dance” (casual) |
| て-form | 踊って おどって | dance and… / please dance (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 踊りたい おどりたい | want to dance |
Quick practice
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Related words: Everyday verbs
あるto exist (things)いるto exist (people & animals)食べるto eat飲むto drink行くto go来るto come帰るto go home見るto see
FAQ
How do you say to dance in Japanese?
To dance in Japanese is 踊る (おどる), pronounced “odoru”.
How do you write to dance in Japanese?
It's written 踊る with kanji, or おどる in hiragana. Both are read odoru.