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軍楽手 (gungakushu) Japanese meaning: military bandsman | Kotomora

軍ぐん楽がく手しゅ

Meanings

1

military bandsman

Refers to a musician serving in a military band. A somewhat specialized term; in modern contexts, 軍楽隊員 may also be used.

彼かれは若わかい頃ころ、軍ぐん楽がく手しゅとして入にゅう隊たいした。
He enlisted as a military bandsman when he was young.

Kanji

軍army, force, troops
楽music, comfort, ease
手hand

Related words

軍ぐん楽がく隊たい
軍楽隊 refers to the military band as a whole, while 軍楽手 refers to an individual bandsman.

Etymology

Compound of 軍 (gun, 'military') + 楽 (gaku, 'music') + 手 (shu, 'person'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for occupational nouns.