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JLPT N116画 · 16 strokesradical 言freq #1580

song, sing, ballad, noh chanting

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ヨウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • うた.い
  • うた.う

Mnemonic

A wise owl sings a ballad, its words echoing like leaves in the wind, while perched on a branch of wisdom.

About this kanji

The kanji 謡 (you) primarily means "song" and is often associated with the act of singing, especially in traditional contexts like Noh theater. It is used both as a noun and a verb, particularly in its kun'yomi form, where it means "to sing". Common compounds include 歌謡 (kayō), meaning "song"; 童謡 (dōyō), which refers to "children's songs"; and 民謡 (min'yō), meaning "folk songs". An interesting note is that 謡 specifically evokes the traditional and cultural aspects of music, distinguishing it from more contemporary terms for songs.

Example sentences

  • 民謡の美しさに感動した。

    I was moved by the beauty of folk songs.

Meanings across languages

English
song, sing, ballad, noh chanting
Tiếng Việt
bài hát
日本語
한국어
노래
中文
歌曲
id
lagu, menyanyi, balada, nyanyian noh
th
เพลง, ร้องเพลง, บัลลาด, การขับร้องแบบโนห์
es
canción, cantar, balada, canto noh
fr
chanson, chanter, ballade, chant noh
de
Lied, singen, Ballade, Noh-Gesang
pt
canção, cantar, balada, canto noh

Common compounds

  • 歌謡かようsong, ballad
  • 童謡どうようchildren's song, nursery rhyme
  • 民謡みんようfolk song, popular song
  • 歌謡曲かようきょくkayōkyoku, form of Japanese popular music that developed during the Showa era, (Western) pop song
  • 謡曲ようきょくnoh song
  • 俗謡ぞくようpopular song, ballad, folk song
  • 俚謡りようballad, folk song, popular song
  • 地謡じうたいnoh chorus

Want to actually learn this kanji?

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