ballet

ballet — 名詞

1. a graceful style of dance, usually performed on stage, in which dancers use prec

1.名詞B1
釋義

芭蕾舞

用精準動作敘事的舞蹈藝術

a graceful style of dance, usually performed on stage, in which dancers use precise steps, jumps, and arm positions to communicate feelings or tell a tale.

例句

Nikolai started learning ballet when he was four years old.

Nikolai 四歲就開始學芭蕾舞。

uncountable: study/learn ballet

Russia is famous around the world for its tradition of classical ballet.

俄羅斯以悠久的古典芭蕾舞傳統聞名世界。

collocation: classical ballet

同義詞
  • dance

    much broader; ballet is one specific style of dance

用法筆記

Uncountable when it refers to the art form itself; takes no article when treated as a school subject or activity (study ballet, teach ballet). Distinguish from sense 2, which is countable and refers to a specific staged work.

常見錯誤

❌She studies a ballet at the academy.
✅She studies ballet at the academy.
💡When you mean the art form, no article is used.

2. a single show on stage that presents a story through ballet dancing, usually wit

2.名詞B1
釋義

芭蕾舞劇

在劇場演出的單部芭蕾作品

a single show on stage that presents a story through ballet dancing, usually with an orchestra playing music but no spoken or sung words.

例句

Tchaikovsky wrote three famous ballets, including Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

柴可夫斯基寫過三部著名的芭蕾舞劇，包括《天鵝湖》和《胡桃鉗》。

countable: a/three ballet(s)

We saw a beautiful ballet at the Royal Opera House last Saturday.

我們上週六在皇家歌劇院看了一齣很美的芭蕾舞劇。

see / watch / attend a ballet

同義詞
  • dance production

    more general; covers any kind of staged dance work, not only ballet

  • show

    very general everyday word; loses the artistic and musical meaning

用法筆記

Countable in this sense: 'a ballet', 'two ballets'. Often paired with verbs like stage, perform, choreograph, or watch. Distinguish from sense 1: here ballet refers to one specific work (e.g. Swan Lake), not the art form in general.

常見錯誤

❌I watched ballet last night about a swan princess.
✅I watched a ballet last night about a swan princess.
💡When you mean one particular show, use the article.

3. the piece of music that a composer creates so that dancers can perform a ballet

3.名詞
釋義

芭蕾舞曲

為芭蕾舞創作的配樂

the piece of music that a composer creates so that dancers can perform a ballet to it.

例句

Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring shocked listeners at its 1913 Paris premiere.

Stravinsky 的芭蕾舞曲《春之祭》在 1913 年巴黎首演時震驚了聽眾。

composer + 's ballet + title

The orchestra recorded a new version of the ballet for the radio show.

管弦樂團為廣播節目錄製了這首芭蕾舞曲的新版本。

同義詞

用法筆記

Refers to the musical score, not the staged dance. Common in music criticism and academic writing. Often the same title (e.g. Swan Lake) covers both senses 2 and 3, so context decides whether the speaker means the show or the music.

4. an organized group of professional dancers who train, rehearse, and put on balle

4.名詞
釋義

芭蕾舞團

共同訓練演出的職業舞團

an organized group of professional dancers who train, rehearse, and put on ballet shows together, often under one famous name.

例句

The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the oldest dance companies in Europe.

巴黎歌劇院芭蕾舞團是歐洲歷史最悠久的舞團之一。

proper noun: [City] Ballet

Mira joined the New York City Ballet straight after finishing dance school.

Mira 從舞蹈學校畢業後就直接加入了紐約市芭蕾舞團。

join / leave a ballet

同義詞
  • ballet company

    the most common everyday phrase; clearer than bare 'ballet'

  • troupe

    any travelling performance group, not only dancers

用法筆記

Often part of a proper name: the Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet. British English commonly uses a plural verb ('the Royal Ballet are touring'); American English usually keeps the singular verb. Distinguish from sense 2: here ballet means the troupe, not a single show.

常見錯誤

❌She dances for a ballet of twenty people.
✅She dances in a ballet company of twenty people.
💡When you describe the troupe in plain English, 'ballet company' is clearer; bare 'ballet' usually appears inside a proper name.