囃
play (music), accompany, beat time, banter, jeer, applaud
Readings
On'yomi
- サツ
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- はや.す
- はやし
Meaning
囃 centers on lively sound-making: playing music, accompanying a performance, keeping rhythm, or making noise through banter, jeering, or applause.
Most common words using 囃
- 囃子はやし
accompaniment for traditional performances (noh, kabuki, etc.); orchestra; band
- 囃すはやす
to play accompaniment; to keep time
- 五人囃子ごにんばやし
five court-musician dolls at the Girl's Festival (in March)
- 出囃子でばやし
on-stage performance by musicians in a kabuki play
- 嘈囃そうざつ
heartburn; sour stomach
- 囃子方はやしかた
musical accompanist (in noh, kabuki, etc.); background instruments
- 居囃子いばやし
short noh piece with three seated performers
- 狸囃子たぬきばやし
tanuki drumming on their stomachs
- 祭囃子まつりばやし
(traditional) festival music
- 舞囃子まいばやし
type of informal noh musical performance
- 言い囃すいいはやす
to spread (e.g. a rumour); to talk about (widely); to make fun of
- 馬鹿囃子ばかばやし
orchestra present at Japanese festival; festival music (may be sung from a festival float)
Study
Etymology
囃 combines 口 (mouth) with 雜 (mixed, varied), suggesting a mixture of sounds or voices. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship likely points to a blend of vocal or instrumental sounds.
Meaning mnemonic
A mouth 口 beside a jumble of mixed things 雜: imagine a crowd making a mix of sounds—music, clapping, jeering, and banter—all at once.
Reading mnemonic
For サツ, picture a jazz band playing so fast it sounds like a blur of satsu-satsu beats: the quick satsu rhythm cues サツ while the mouth 口 makes the mixed music.