# 手舞足蹈

shǒu wǔ zú dǎo

Show joy through excited movement

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wave hands and stamp feet in dance

**Register:** Cheerful · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe visible delight or animated excitement.

Usually joyful, not every involuntary movement.

## Understanding the expression

Hands and feet both join the movement, making the emotion visible throughout the body. In everyday use the phrase usually describes great excitement or delight that cannot be contained in quiet words. Children celebrating and adults reacting to good news are common subjects. It can also suggest animated gestures during speech. The expression is figurative and cheerful in ordinary contexts, rather than a technical description of a medical symptom.

## Examples

孩子高兴得手舞足蹈。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子高興得手舞足蹈。

hái zi gāo xìng dé shǒu wǔ zú dǎo 。

The child danced with excitement.

听到录取消息，她手舞足蹈。

### Traditional Chinese

聽到錄取消息，她手舞足蹈。

tīng dào lù qǔ xiāo xī ， tā shǒu wǔ zú dǎo 。

She jumped with joy at the acceptance news.

球迷手舞足蹈地庆祝进球。

### Traditional Chinese

球迷手舞足蹈地慶祝進球。

qiú mí shǒu wǔ zú dǎo dì qìng zhù jìn qiú 。

Fans celebrated the goal with excited movement.

他讲趣事时手舞足蹈。

### Traditional Chinese

他講趣事時手舞足蹈。

tā jiǎng qù shì shí shǒu wǔ zú dǎo 。

He gestured animatedly while telling the funny story.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%89%8B%E8%88%9E%E8%B6%B3%E8%B9%88)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=171&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [数典忘祖 shǔ diǎn wàng zǔ Forget one's origins while discussing achievements ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shu-dian-wang-zu)

- [肆无忌惮 sì wú jì dàn Act without restraint or scruples ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/si-wu-ji-dan)

- [堂堂正正 táng táng zhèng zhèng Act openly, uprightly, and with dignity ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tang-tang-zheng-zheng)

- [滔滔不绝 tāo tāo bù jué Speak in a continuous flowing stream ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tao-tao-bu-jue)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 守望相助 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shou-wang-xiang-zhu) [Next idiom 守株待兔 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shou-zhu-dai-tu)