1.
dancer; dancing girl
A person, especially a young woman, who dances professionally or as a performer. Often evokes a traditional or literary image.
舞台の踊り子が美しかった。
The dancer on stage was beautiful.
祭りで踊り子たちが華やかに踊った。
The dancers performed brilliantly at the festival.
川端康成の『伊豆の踊り子』は日本文学の名作として広く知られている。
Kawabata Yasunari's 'The Izu Dancer' is widely known as a masterpiece of Japanese literature.
Compound of 踊り (dancing) + 子 (person, child). The word carries a traditional, somewhat romantic connotation compared to the modern loanword ダンサー.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 祭りの踊り子 (festival dancer)
- 踊り子たちが舞う (dancers perform)
CULTURAL NOTE:
川端康成の短編小説『伊豆の踊り子』(The Izu Dancer, 1926) is one of the most famous works in Japanese literature, telling the story of a student's encounter with a troupe of traveling performers. The word 踊り子 is strongly associated with this work.