noun
Commonly refers to the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese lute. Synonymous with 三味線.
See also: 三味線
彼は三弦を弾くのが上手だ。
He is good at playing the shamisen.
noun
sanxian; Chinese three-stringed lute
Refers to the Chinese sanxian, a three-stringed lute that is the ancestor of the shamisen.
三弦は中国の伝統楽器の一つです。
The sanxian is one of the traditional Chinese instruments.
noun
three string instruments of gagaku
In the context of gagaku (Japanese court music), refers collectively to the biwa, wagon, and sou.
雅楽で使われる三弦は琵琶、和琴、箏です。
The three string instruments used in gagaku are the biwa, wagon, and sou.
noun
three strings; three-stringed instrument
Literal meaning: any instrument with three strings, or the three strings themselves.
この楽器は三弦で構成されている。
This instrument is made up of three strings.
三味線 is the more common word for the shamisen; 三弦 is a synonym often used in formal or historical contexts.
From Middle Chinese 三弦 (sam-hen, 'three strings'). The word was adopted into Japanese and applied to various three-stringed instruments, including the shamisen and the Chinese sanxian.