General term for a person who sings, often with a slightly poetic or traditional feel compared to 歌手.
She is a wonderful singer.
A singer was playing guitar on the street corner.
nagauta singer (in kabuki)
Specific to the traditional nagauta musical style performed in kabuki theater.
See also: 長唄
On the kabuki stage, the nagauta singer let their beautiful voice resound.
singer of noh chants
Refers to a performer who sings the utai (chant) in noh theater.
See also: 謡
In the noh theater, the singer of noh chants began to recite quietly.
Standard spelling for the general sense of 'singer'.
Alternate kanji spelling; less common.
Alternate kanji spelling; less common.
Alternate kanji spelling; less common.
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'.