舞獅 / 舞狮
wǔshī
The English phrase lion dance is translated into Chinese as 舞獅 / 舞狮 (wǔshī). If unsure, use 舞獅 / 舞狮. Wiktionary also lists 獅子舞 / 狮子舞 (shīziwǔ) and 耍獅 / 耍狮 (shuǎshī).
Meaning: Chinese dance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 舞獅 / 舞狮 | wǔshī |
| 獅子舞 / 狮子舞 | shīziwǔ |
| 耍獅 / 耍狮 | shuǎshī |
What does it mean word for word?
The term 舞獅 / 舞狮 is composed of the verb 舞 (to dance) and the noun 獅 (lion).
Which one should you use?
舞獅 / 舞狮 is the standard term for the dance. 獅子舞 / 狮子舞 is a common alternative that uses the full word for lion, 獅子, instead of the single character 獅. 耍獅 / 耍狮 uses a different verb, 耍, which implies performing or playing with the lion and is often used in more traditional or folk contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
wǔshī
When do people say it?
The lion dance is traditionally performed during Chinese New Year and other auspicious occasions to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
Did you know?
- If you hear someone talking about 醒獅, they are using a specific term that means 'awakening the lion'. This refers to the ritualistic process of bringing the spirit of the lion to life before the dance begins.
- There is a distinct difference between the Northern lion, which looks like a furry dog, and the Southern lion, which has a more stylized, horn-like appearance and is linked to martial arts schools.
- In Cantonese culture, the term for performing the dance can be associated with the concept of 'winning' or 'capturing' the green vegetables, a ritual called 採青. This own name for the act of 'plucking the greens' is often more important to the dancers than the dance itself.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion dance” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
