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シロフォン Japanese meaning | Kotomora

シロフォン

also: シロホン · ザイロフォン · ザイロフォウン · ジロフォン

シ

ロ

フォ

ン

Meanings

1

noun

xylophone

Standard term for the percussion instrument; used in everyday and musical contexts.

子こ供どもがシロフォンを叩たたいて遊あそんでいる。
The child is playing the xylophone.
オーケストラでシロフォンが活かつ躍やくする曲きょくがある。
There are pieces where the xylophone plays an active role in the orchestra.

Written forms

シロホン
Variant spelling using ホ instead of フォ; less common but still encountered.
ザイロフォン
rarely-used kana form
Rarely used kana form; closer to the original Greek-derived pronunciation.

Similar words

木もっ琴きん
もっきん is the native Japanese word for xylophone, but シロフォン is more common in modern usage, especially in Western musical contexts.
マリンバ
マリンバ is a similar percussion instrument with a lower, warmer tone; シロフォン has a brighter, more percussive sound.

Etymology

Borrowed from English 'xylophone', ultimately from Greek xylon 'wood' + phōnē 'sound'. The spelling シロフォン reflects the English pronunciation, while ザイロフォン is closer to the Greek.