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歌
uta
song
彼女は美しい歌を歌いました。
She sang a beautiful song.
general
A musical composition with lyrics, typically performed vocally.
この歌はとても有名です。
This song is very famous.
Can refer to both the lyrics and the melody.
literary
A poem or verse meant to be sung.
古典的な歌を詠む。
To recite a classical song.
Often used in traditional Japanese poetry.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'歌' is often used in everyday conversation to refer to popular music or traditional Japanese songs.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
In formal contexts, '歌' may refer to classical poetry, while in casual speech, it typically means a modern song.
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 'ka' (歌), meaning 'song' or 'poem'.
Usage Notes
In modern Japanese, '歌' can refer to both the lyrics and the melody of a song. In classical contexts, it may refer to poetic verses.
Word Breakdown
歌
song
root和英辞典