Translation guide
The English word "verse" covers several distinct concepts: a line of poetry, a stanza, a section of a song, and a numbered passage from a religious text. Each meaning has different natural Japanese equivalents.
The learner wants to refer to a single line in a poem.
General word for a line of text, including a line of poetry. Use with a counter or number.
The first line of this poem is very beautiful.
Specifically a line of poetry. More literary than 行 alone.
彼は数行の詩行を暗唱した。
He recited a few lines of verse.
The learner wants to refer to a stanza or a short section of a poem.
Stanza in poetry. Used with numbers: 第一連 (first stanza).
この詩は四つの連から成っている。
This poem consists of four verses (stanzas).
Loanword from English 'stanza'. Common in music and poetry contexts.
The learner wants to refer to the verse part of a song, as opposed to the chorus.
Common term in Japanese pop music for the verse section. Literally 'A-melody'. Used alongside Bメロ (pre-chorus) and サビ (chorus).
この曲のAメロは静かだけど、サビで盛り上がる。
The verse of this song is quiet, but it gets exciting at the chorus.
Loanword from English 'verse', used in music contexts. Less common than Aメロ.
ラップのバースを書くのが好きです。
I like writing rap verses.
The learner wants to refer to a specific numbered verse in the Bible, Quran, etc.
Standard term for a verse in religious scriptures. Used with chapter and verse numbers.
ヨハネによる福音書3章16節を引用した。
I quoted John chapter 3, verse 16.
Refers to a verse or passage from the Bible, often with a religious connotation. More common in Christian contexts.
毎朝、聖句を一つ読むことにしている。
I make it a rule to read one verse from the Bible every morning.
The learner wants to refer to poetry as a form, or a body of poems.
General word for poetry or a poem. Can mean verse as a literary form.
彼は詩を書くのが得意だ。
He is good at writing verse.
Technical term for verse as opposed to prose (散文). Used in literary criticism.
行 (ぎょう) is a single line of text, including poetry. 連 (れん) is a stanza, a group of lines. 節 (せつ) is a numbered verse in a religious text. Do not confuse them.
詩 (し) means a whole poem or poetry in general. To refer to a single line, use 行 (ぎょう) or 詩行 (しぎょう). Saying 一つの詩 for 'one verse' is ambiguous and often unnatural.
Please sing the next verse.
この作品は韻文で書かれている。
This work is written in verse.