Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
民謡 (みんよう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
folk song ; traditional song
Refers to traditional songs passed down among common people, often regional. 'Popular song' in the English gloss is a secondary, less common meaning; modern popular songs are usually called 流行歌 or ポップス.
うた
う
会かい
に
参さん
加か
し
た
。
I joined a group that sings folk songs.
Kanji 民 people, nation, subjects Similar words 流りゅう 行こう 歌か 流行歌 refers to popular songs of a particular era, often commercial hits, while 民謡 refers to traditional folk songs rooted in regional or communal life.
童どう 謡よう 童謡 are children's songs or nursery rhymes, often composed for educational purposes, whereas 民謡 are traditional songs of the common people, not limited to children.
Etymology Compound of 民 (people) and 謡 (song, chant). The term was coined in the Meiji era as a translation of the Western concept of 'folk song', though the practice of traditional communal singing existed long before.
