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歌 (うた, uta) Japanese meaning: song | Kotomora
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いる
。
I have known this song since I was a child.
My grandmother softly hummed an old folk song.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 歌うた を 歌うた う for someone to sing a song
She sang a song on stage.
歌うた を 詠よ む to compose a classical poem (tanka)
She composed a tanka poem while looking at the moon.
歌うた を 作つく る to compose a song or poem
He composed a song for his friend.
Related words· 9 曲 refers to a musical piece or tune, while 歌 specifically emphasizes a song sung with lyrics.
短歌 is a specific fixed-form classical poem, whereas 歌 can refer more broadly to classical poems in literary contexts.
詩 is the usual modern word for poetry, while 歌 read as うた in this sense is more literary or title-like.
歌 is the general, everyday word for 'song', while 歌謡 is a more formal term often tied to popular or traditional song genres.
Show 5 more 歌 is the everyday word for 'song' or 'singing', while 歌唱 is a formal or technical term used in contexts like competitions or education.
歌 is the everyday, general word for 'song', while 歌曲 is a more formal term usually reserved for composed art songs or classical vocal pieces.
歌 is the native Japanese word for a song, used in everyday speech, while ソング is a katakana loanword common in pop-music titles and media compounds.
歌 is the everyday, general word for a song, while 唱歌 usually points to a simple, school-style or old-fashioned song.
Don't confuse with 唄 is a noun meaning 'song' (often traditional or folk), while 歌う is the verb 'to sing'; they share the same sound but different word classes.
歌 is the general word for a song, while 謡 refers specifically to the ritualized chanting used in noh theater, not ordinary singing.
歌 means the whole song (music plus words), while 歌詞 refers only to the written words of that song.
Word family· 74 sing · compose poetry; recite a poem; sing of
singing voice; sound of singing
songstress; diva
singing contest; singing match
Written forms 歌うた Usage 89%
Standard and most broadly useful kanji spelling for songs and for poem-related uses.
唄うた Usage 7%
Often used for folk songs, shamisen songs, and traditional-style singing; narrower than 歌.
うた Usage 4%
Kana spelling is practical in song titles, children's writing, lyrics, and soft or informal presentation.
ウタ Usage <1%
詩うた
Etymology うた is a native Japanese word. 歌 is the standard kanji associated with singing and songs; 唄 is used especially for traditional-style songs, and 詩 is used for poetry. The deeper historical derivation of うた is uncertain.
歌 is the general word for a song of any kind, while カンツォーネ specifically means a song in the Italian popular/lyrical tradition.
song parody; new lyrics to an existing melody
Show 17 more humming; crooning
love song; love poem
imperial poem; poem by the emperor or imperial family · poem; song (honorific)
poetry gathering; tanka party; tanka competition
poetry contest
children's song; nursery rhyme
counting song · enumerative form (of waka)
break into song; burst into song; begin singing
sad song; lonesome singing
original song
Chinese poem; Chinese-style poem
overtone singing; throat singing
court song for religious services and celebrations
Heian court lady's song; kouta (accompanying ōuta) · popular short song; ditty; ballad (Muromachi to early Edo) · kyogen kouta; love ballad in kyogen · noh kouta; unusual noh song style
Azuma-uta; old Kanto-area folk songs
tanka poet; skilled tanka poet · court poetry official (ritsuryō) · poet (general)
flute mouthpiece; blowhole · poetic style; manner of singing
Usage <1%
Attested spelling for poetry, but 詩 alone is more commonly read し; the reading うた is literary or title-like.
