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楽
raku
comfort
この椅子は座り心地がとても楽です。
This chair is very comfortable to sit on.
formal
comfort; ease; relief
この生活はとても楽です。
This lifestyle is very comfortable.
Often used to describe a state of physical or mental ease.
formal
ease; effortlessness
この方法はとても楽にできます。
This method can be done very easily.
Refers to tasks or actions that require little effort.
formal
music
彼女は楽を演奏します。
She plays music.
A less common sense, typically written in kanji as 音楽.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 楽しい
楽しい (tanoshii) means 'fun' or 'enjoyable,' while 楽 (raku) means 'comfort' or 'ease.' For example, '楽しい一日' (tanoshii ichinichi) means 'a fun day,' whereas '楽な一日' (raku na ichinichi) means 'a comfortable day.'
Gold Rule
When to use 楽
Use 楽 when describing a state of comfort, ease, or relief. It is not used to describe enjoyment or fun (use 楽しい for that).
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 樂 (lɑk̚, 'music; joy; pleasure'). The sense 'comfort' derives from the idea of mental ease or relief, while 'music' is a direct borrowing of the musical sense.
Usage Notes
楽 is a Sino-Japanese word (on'yomi) and is often used in compound words (e.g., 音楽 'ongaku', 'music'). In modern Japanese, it is most commonly used to describe comfort or ease in daily life.
Word Breakdown
楽
comfort; ease; music
root和英辞典