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Kotomora

笙

a reed instrument

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōStrokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ
  • ソウ

Kun'yomi

  • ふえ

Meaning

笙 refers to a traditional reed instrument, specifically a mouth organ with multiple pipes. The meaning is narrow and concrete, centered on this particular musical instrument.

Most common words using 笙

  • 笙しょう

    traditional Japanese wind instrument resembling panpipes; free-reed instrument used in Japanese court music

  • 笙の笛しょうのふえ

    shō (Japanese free reed musical instrument)

  • 笙歌しょうか

    singing and playing the shō

  • 鳳笙ほうしょう

    shō (Japanese free reed musical instrument)

Explore all words using 笙 →

Study

Etymology

笙 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 生, which likely contributes the sound. The character reflects the bamboo construction of this reed instrument.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 竹 is bamboo, and the bottom 生 suggests something growing or producing sound. Picture a bamboo plant growing into a musical instrument: the bamboo pipes of a reed mouth organ.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, imagine a show where a musician plays a bamboo reed instrument on stage: show -> ショウ, and the bamboo pipes produce the music.