drum, beat, rouse, muster
On'yomi (音読み)
- コ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- つづみ
About this kanji
The kanji 鼓 (pronounced as コ in on'yomi and つづみ in kun'yomi) primarily means "drum." It is commonly used as a noun, but you may also see it in verbs related to rhythm and encouragement. For example, 太鼓 (たいこ) means "drum," while 鼓動 (こどう) translates to "beat," often in the context of a heartbeat. Another interesting compound is 鼓舞 (こぶ), which means "encouragement"—the idea of motivating someone much like the beat of a drum. A usage note: since 鼓 relates to sounds and rhythm, it can evoke feelings of celebration or action in Japanese culture.
Example sentences
祭りのために太鼓を叩く。
I beat the drum for the festival.
Meanings across languages
- English
- drum, beat, rouse, muster
- Tiếng Việt
- trống, nhịp, khơi dậy, tập hợp
- 日本語
- ドラム, 打つ, 奮起させる, 招集する
- 한국어
- 북, 박자, 재촉하다, 모으다
- 中文
- 鼓, 打击, 激励, 集合
- id
- drum
- th
- กลอง
- es
- tambor
- fr
- tambour
- de
- Trommel
- pt
- tambor
Common compounds
- 太鼓たいこdrum
- 鼓動こどうbeat, palpitation, pulsation
- 鼓舞こぶencouragement, inspiration, rousing
- 太鼓判たいこばんlarge seal, large stamp, seal of approval
- 鼓膜こまくeardrum, tympanic membrane
- 舌鼓したつづみsmacking one's lips (over food)
- 大太鼓おおだいこlarge drum, bass drum
- 一鼓いっこthe first beat of the war drum
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