Translation guide
A song that becomes very popular and sells many copies or gets many streams.
A song that is currently very popular or was a big success.
The most common and neutral term for a hit song. Used for both current and past hits.
This singer has many hit songs.
His new song became a hit.
A slightly more casual or trendy term, often used in media. Essentially synonymous with ヒット曲.
We'll introduce this summer's hit songs.
Literally 'popular song', but this term feels dated and is rarely used in modern conversation. It may appear in historical contexts.
A CD collecting popular songs from the Showa era.
A song that is a massive, chart-topping success.
A song that reached number one on the charts.
The most famous song associated with an artist.
Means 'representative song' or 'signature song'. Used for an artist's most well-known hit.
This song is her signature hit.
The direct translation '当たり歌' or '命中歌' does not exist in Japanese. Always use ヒット曲 or related terms.
Tell me a song that was a big hit last year.