琴
harp, koto
Readings
On'yomi
- キン
- ゴン
Kun'yomi
- こと
Meaning
琴 centers on stringed musical instruments, specifically the harp and the Japanese koto, both played by plucking strings.
Most common words using 琴
20 of 50- 琴ことN2
koto (13-stringed Japanese zither)
- 琴線きんせん
heartstrings
- 木琴もっきん
xylophone
- 大正琴たいしょうごと
Nagoya harp; Taishō koto; Japanese harp with two to five strings
- 竪琴たてごと
harp; lyre
- 月琴げっきん
yueqin (4-stringed Chinese lute)
- 一弦琴いちげんきん
single-stringed Japanese zither
- 七弦琴しちげんきん
qin (7-stringed Chinese zither); guqin; seven-stringed koto
- 三角琴さんかくごと
trigon (ancient triangular harp); sambuca
- 二弦琴にげんきん
two-stringed koto
- 五絃琴ごげんきん
five-stringed instrument; pentachord
- 伽耶琴カヤグム
gayageum (12-stringed Korean zither)
- 口琴こうきん
mouth harp; Jew's harp
- 古琴こきん
guqin (Chinese seven-string zither)
- 和琴わごん
wagon; yamatogoto; six-stringed native Japanese zither
- 大和琴やまとごと
yamatogoto; wagon; six or seven-stringed native Japanese zither
- 奚琴けいきん
xiqin (2-stringed Chinese musical instrument)
- 小琴おごと
koto (usu. small)
- 弾琴だんきん
playing on the koto
- 心の琴線こころのきんせん
heartstrings; innermost soul
Study
Etymology
琴 originally depicted a stringed musical instrument. The top component 玨 likely represents two strings or tuning pegs, while 今 may have contributed a phonetic element. The modern form retains the instrument shape.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 玨 looks like two strings stretched over a bridge, and the bottom 今 resembles the body of the instrument. Together they form a harp or koto.
Reading mnemonic
For キン, imagine a king playing a golden koto: king -> キン, and the royal music fills the hall.