K-Pop — Entry No. 0355
안무
choreography · noun
안무
choreography
[AHN-moo]
nounintermediate
Meaning
안무 (安舞) combines 안 (arranged/guided) and 무 (dance), meaning professionally designed and rehearsed choreography. In K-Pop, 안무 is evaluated as seriously as the music itself—groups are judged on synchronization, formation changes, facial expressions, and the memorability of signature moves.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Stray Kids is celebrated for co-choreographing much of their own 안무, including the powerful, angular formations in ‘신메뉴 (God’s Menu).’ BLACKPINK’s 안무 for ‘How You Like That’ features a sharp shoulder-point move that became a global viral trend on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, demonstrating how a single gesture can define a comeback.
Example Sentences
이 노래의 안무가 정말 어려워요.
I no-rae-ui an-mu-ga jeong-mal eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
The choreography for this song is really difficult. (Common reaction in fan communities to a complex new release)
BTS의 안무는 항상 완벽해요.
BTS-ui an-mu-neun hang-sang wan-byeok-ae-yo.
BTS’s choreography is always perfect. (Fan praise emphasizing synchronization, their most-praised performance quality)
안무 영상이 유튜브에 올라왔어요.
An-mu yeong-sang-i YouTube-e ol-la-wass-eo-yo.
The choreography video was uploaded to YouTube. (Refers to official ‘dance practice’ videos, a K-Pop content staple)
⚠️ Don’t use choreography when…
Don’t use 안무 to describe casual or freestyle dancing—it strictly refers to professionally designed, rehearsed choreography. Also note that 안무가 (an-mu-ga) means choreographer, not the dance itself; mixing the two in fan discussions will confuse Korean speakers.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Dream High (2011) — Students at a performing arts school are relentlessly drilled on perfecting their 안무, depicting the grueling training culture that sits behind every polished idol stage performance.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — 신메뉴 (God’s Menu, 2020); the group co-created this track’s 안무, and its synchronized power movements became a defining benchmark for fourth-generation boy group performance standards.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.