雅
が
Meanings
1
Refers to refined beauty, taste, or cultured elegance, often contrasted with vulgarity (俗). Used as a noun or adjectival noun (e.g., 雅な).
Antonyms: 俗 (ぞく)
His writing has an air of refinement.
In classical literature, elegance was an important aesthetic ideal.
2
festal song (genre of the Shi Jing)
Technical term from classical Chinese poetry, referring to a category of songs in the Shi Jing (Book of Songs). Rarely used outside scholarly contexts.
See also: 六義
One of the six principles of the Shi Jing is 'festal song' (雅).
Usage patterns
- 雅な〈物〉an elegant, refined (thing)
She wore an elegant kimono.
- 〈事〉に雅を感じるto sense elegance in something
I sense a quiet elegance in the scenery of this garden.