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和歌 (わか, waka) Japanese meaning: waka | Kotomora

和わ歌か

わ

か

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

waka; classic Japanese poem

Refers to classical Japanese poetry, especially the 31-mora tanka form. Often contrasted with Chinese-style poetry (漢詩).

See also: 短歌

百ひゃく人にん一いっ首しゅは有ゆう名めいな和わ歌かを

集あつ

め

た

もの

です

。

The Hyakunin Isshu is a collection of famous waka poems.

彼かれは和わ歌かを詠よむのが趣しゅ味みだ。

His hobby is composing waka.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉が和わ歌かを詠よむfor someone to compose a waka poem
彼かの女じょは美うつくしい和わ歌かを詠よんだ。
She composed a beautiful waka poem.
和わ歌かを贈おくるto send/present a waka poem (often to convey feelings)
彼かれは恋こい人びとに和わ歌かを贈おくった。
He sent his lover a waka poem.

Kanji

和harmony, Japanese style, peace
歌song, sing
倭Yamato, ancient Japan

Related words

短たん歌かN1
短歌 is the specific 31-mora 5-7-5-7-7 form, while 和歌 is the broader term for classical Japanese poetry that includes 短歌 and other now-rare forms.
詩しN2
和歌 refers specifically to classical Japanese-style poetry, while 詩 is a broader term covering Japanese, Western, or Chinese poems.
漢かん詩し
和歌 is classical Japanese 31-syllable poetry, while 漢詩 is classical Chinese poetry written in Chinese or following Chinese prosodic rules.
詩歌しいか
和歌 refers specifically to classical Japanese tanka poetry, whereas 詩歌 is broader and can include Chinese poetry as well.

Don't confuse with

漢かん詩し
和歌 is native Japanese-style verse, whereas 漢詩 is poetry composed in Chinese style and often in Chinese characters following Chinese rules.

Counted with

首しゅ
counter for songs and poems

Word family

勅ちょく撰せん和わ歌か集しゅう
imperial anthology of waka poetry

Written forms

和わ歌かUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
倭わ歌か
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 倭 is an old name for Japan.

Etymology

From 和 (wa, 'Japanese') + 歌 (ka, 'poem'). The term was coined to distinguish native Japanese poetry from Chinese-style poetry (漢詩).