noun
General term for a person who sings, often with a slightly poetic or traditional feel compared to 歌手.
彼女は素晴らしい歌うたいだ。
She is a wonderful singer.
街角で歌うたいがギターを弾いていた。
A singer was playing guitar on the street corner.
noun
nagauta singer (in kabuki)
Specific to the traditional nagauta musical style performed in kabuki theater.
See also: 長唄
歌舞伎の舞台で、長唄の歌うたいが美しい声を響かせた。
On the kabuki stage, the nagauta singer let their beautiful voice resound.
noun
singer of noh chants
Refers to a performer who sings the utai (chant) in noh theater.
See also: 謡
能楽堂で、謡の歌うたいが静かに語り始めた。
In the noh theater, the singer of noh chants began to recite quietly.
Compound of 歌 (uta, 'song') + うたい (utai, the nominalized form of 歌う (utau, 'to sing')). The spelling variations reflect different kanji choices for 'uta' and 'utai'.