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Japanese Music Kanji: Learn Music & Sound Words in Japanese

Master Japanese music kanji: 音 (sound), 歌 (song), 楽 (music/pleasure), 曲 (tune), 声 (voice), 弦 (string), 笛 (flute), and more. Each entry includes readings, example sentences, and cultural context about Japan's rich musical tradition.

Japanese Music Kanji at a Glance

Music in Japanese Culture

Music (音楽/ongaku) is deeply woven into Japanese culture, from ancient gagaku (雅楽/court music) to modern J-pop and anime soundtracks. The kanji 音 (sound) and 楽 (pleasure) together mean "the pleasure of sound."

Traditional Japanese Instruments

Japan has unique traditional instruments: 琴 (koto), 笛 (flute/fue), 鼓 (drum/tsuzumi), and 三味線 (shamisen). Many of these kanji contain radicals related to bamboo (竹), strings (糸), or sound (音).

JLPT Relevance

Core music kanji like 音 (sound), 歌 (song), and 楽 (music) appear at JLPT N5-N4. Terms like 曲 (tune), 声 (voice), and 演 (perform) are common at N3-N2 levels and appear frequently in media-related reading passages.

Core Japanese Music & Sound Kanji

These twenty kanji cover essential music vocabulary, from sounds and songs to instruments and performance.

MeaningKanjiHiraganaRomajiJLPT
Sound音おとotoN4
Song歌うたutaN4
Music / Pleasure楽がくgakuN4
Tune / Melody曲きょくkyokuN3
Voice声こえkoeN4
String弦げんgenN1
Flute笛ふえfueN1
Drum鼓つづみtsuzumiN1
Dance踊おどりodoriN3
Play (music)奏そうsouN1
Perform演えんenN3
Listen聴ちょうchouN3
Echo / Resonate響ひびきhibikiN1
Koto (harp)琴ことkotoN1
Bell鈴すずsuzuN1
Rhythm / Law律りつritsuN1
Tune / Key調ちょうchouN3
Beat / Clap拍はくhakuN1
Blow吹ふくfukuN3
Sing唱しょうshouN1

All Japanese Music Kanji Explained

Explore each music kanji with its readings, origin story, and example sentences used in everyday Japanese.

🔊
音
Sound
おと (oto)
Origin: 立 (stand) + 日 (sun): sound standing in the air, vibrations reaching your ears

Example:

きれいな音が聞こえました。

Kirei na oto ga kikoemashita.

I heard a beautiful sound.

🎤
歌
Song
うた (uta)
Origin: 哥 (elder brother) + 欠 (yawn/open mouth): singing with mouth wide open

Example:

この歌が大好きです。

Kono uta ga daisuki desu.

I love this song.

🎵
楽
Music / Pleasure
がく (gaku)
Origin: 白 (white) + 木 (tree) + 幺 (thread): originally depicted a stringed instrument on a wooden stand

Example:

音楽を聴くのが楽しいです。

Ongaku wo kiku no ga tanoshii desu.

Listening to music is fun.

🎶
曲
Tune / Melody
きょく (kyoku)
Origin: Pictograph of a bent/curved object: a melody curves and flows through time

Example:

この曲のメロディーが美しい。

Kono kyoku no merodii ga utsukushii.

The melody of this tune is beautiful.

🗣️
声
Voice
こえ (koe)
Origin: Simplified from 聲: depicts a musical stone (殸) being struck + 耳 (ear)

Example:

彼女の声はとても優しい。

Kanojo no koe wa totemo yasashii.

Her voice is very gentle.

🎻
弦
String
げん (gen)
Origin: 弓 (bow) + 玄 (dark/mysterious): the taut string of a bow that vibrates with sound

Example:

ギターの弦を張り替えました。

Gitaa no gen wo harikemashita.

I replaced the guitar strings.

🪈
笛
Flute
ふえ (fue)
Origin: 竹 (bamboo) + 由 (reason/origin): sound originating from bamboo

Example:

祭りで笛の音が響いた。

Matsuri de fue no ne ga hibiita.

The sound of flutes echoed at the festival.

🥁
鼓
Drum
つづみ (tsuzumi)
Origin: 壴 (drum on a stand) + 支 (branch/hand): a hand striking a drum

Example:

太鼓の鼓動が心に響く。

Taiko no kodou ga kokoro ni hibiku.

The drumbeat resonates in your heart.

💃
踊
Dance
おどり (odori)
Origin: 足 (foot) + 甬 (path): feet moving along a path in rhythm

Example:

盆踊りを踊りましょう。

Bon odori wo odorimashou.

Let's dance the Bon dance.

🎼
奏
Play (music)
そう (sou)
Origin: 奉 (offering): originally meant to offer music to the gods or emperor

Example:

ピアノを奏でるのが好きです。

Piano wo kanaderu no ga suki desu.

I like playing the piano.

🎭
演
Perform
えん (en)
Origin: 氵(water) + 寅 (tiger): water flowing powerfully like a tiger, extended to performance

Example:

コンサートで演奏しました。

Konsaato de ensou shimashita.

I performed at the concert.

👂
聴
Listen
ちょう (chou)
Origin: 耳 (ear) + 王 (king) + 十 (ten) + 四 (four) + 心 (heart): listening with ear, eyes, and heart

Example:

音楽を注意深く聴いてください。

Ongaku wo chuuibukaku kiite kudasai.

Please listen to the music carefully.

🔔
響
Echo / Resonate
ひびき (hibiki)
Origin: 郷 (hometown) + 音 (sound): sound that carries across the village

Example:

その言葉が心に響いた。

Sono kotoba ga kokoro ni hibiita.

Those words resonated in my heart.

🎹
琴
Koto (harp)
こと (koto)
Origin: 王王 (two jewels/king) + 今 (now): jewel-like sounds from strings played in the present moment

Example:

琴の音色は日本的で美しい。

Koto no neiro wa nihonteki de utsukushii.

The koto's timbre is beautifully Japanese.

🔔
鈴
Bell
すず (suzu)
Origin: 金 (metal) + 令 (command/order): a metal object that gives commands through sound

Example:

神社で鈴を鳴らしました。

Jinja de suzu wo narashimashita.

I rang the bell at the shrine.

📏
律
Rhythm / Law
りつ (ritsu)
Origin: 彳 (step) + 聿 (writing brush): measured steps, regular patterns like rhythm

Example:

旋律が美しい曲です。

Senritsu ga utsukushii kyoku desu.

It's a tune with a beautiful melody.

🎵
調
Tune / Key
ちょう (chou)
Origin: 言 (words) + 周 (circumference): words going around, examining tone and pitch

Example:

この曲はハ長調です。

Kono kyoku wa ha-chouchou desu.

This piece is in C major.

👏
拍
Beat / Clap
はく (haku)
Origin: 手 (hand) + 白 (white): hand clapping to keep the beat

Example:

三拍子のワルツを踊った。

Sanbyoushi no warutsu wo odotta.

We danced a waltz in triple time.

🌬️
吹
Blow
ふく (fuku)
Origin: 口 (mouth) + 欠 (yawn/breathe out): blowing air from the mouth

Example:

トランペットを吹くのが得意です。

Toranpetto wo fuku no ga tokui desu.

I'm good at playing the trumpet.

🎤
唱
Sing / Chant
しょう (shou)
Origin: 口 (mouth) + 昌 (prosper/bright): mouth producing bright, prosperous sounds

Example:

合唱コンクールに参加しました。

Gasshou konkuuru ni sanka shimashita.

I participated in the choir competition.

Japanese Music Kanji by Category

Japanese music vocabulary spans sounds, instruments, performance, and genres. Understanding these categories helps you talk about music naturally in Japanese.

🎵
Sound & Song
音と歌 (oto to uta)

The foundation of music: 音 (sound), 歌 (song), 声 (voice), and 曲 (tune/melody). These are among the first music words Japanese learners encounter and appear in everyday conversation about media and entertainment.

🔊 音 oto🎤 歌 uta🗣️ 声 koe🎶 曲 kyoku
🎸
Instruments
楽器 (gakki)

Japanese instrument kanji often contain clues to the material: 笛 (flute) has the bamboo radical 竹, 琴 (koto) has the jade radical 王, and 弦 (string) contains 弓 (bow). Traditional Japanese instruments have distinct kanji.

🎹 琴 koto🪈 笛 fue🥁 鼓 tsuzumi🎻 弦 gen
🎭
Performance
演奏 (ensou)

Performance kanji cover the act of making music: 演 (perform), 奏 (play music), 踊 (dance), and 拍 (beat/rhythm). These appear in concert listings, music reviews, and entertainment media across Japan.

🎭 演 en🎼 奏 sou💃 踊 odori👏 拍 hyou
🎧
Listening & Expression
表現 (hyougen)

Music involves both creating and experiencing: 聴 (listen attentively), 響 (echo/resonate), 調 (tune/key), and 律 (rhythm/law). These kanji often appear in music criticism, liner notes, and concert reviews.

👂 聴 chou🔔 響 hibiki🎵 調 chou📏 律 ritsu

Japanese Music Genres in Kanji

Japan has a vibrant music scene spanning traditional and modern genres. Many genre names use kanji that reveal the essence of the music style.

GenreKanjiReadingLiteral Meaning
Classical/Court Music雅楽gagakuElegant music: Japan's ancient imperial court music
Japanese Ballad演歌enkaPerformed song: emotional traditional pop
Pop Music歌謡曲kayoukyokuSong-ballad tune: Japan's classic pop era
Folk Music民謡min'youPeople's song: regional folk traditions
Rock Music邦楽hougakuCountry music: Japanese music (vs 洋楽/Western)
Choir/Choral合唱gasshouCombined singing: voices joined together
Orchestra管弦楽kangengakuPipe-string music: wind and string instruments
Jazz即興sokkyouInstant excitement: improvisation

Music-Related Compound Words (Jukugo)

These compound words combine music kanji to create essential vocabulary for talking about music, concerts, and the performing arts in Japanese.

CompoundReadingMeaning
音楽ongakuMusic (sound + pleasure)
歌手kashuSinger (song + hand/person)
歌詞kashiLyrics (song + words)
楽器gakkiMusical instrument (music + vessel)
演奏ensouMusical performance (perform + play)
作曲sakkyokuComposition (create + tune)
指揮shikiConducting (finger + wave)
旋律senritsuMelody (revolve + rhythm)
合唱gasshouChorus/choir (combine + sing)
独奏dokusouSolo performance (alone + play)
楽譜gakufuSheet music (music + score)
音色neiroTimbre/tone color (sound + color)

Tips for Remembering Japanese Music Kanji

The Sound Radical (音)

The kanji 音 (sound) appears as a component in several music-related characters. When you see 音 inside a kanji, it often relates to sound, music, or voice. The character itself shows 立 (stand) over 日 (sun): sound standing in the air.

Listen to Japanese Music

Immerse yourself in J-pop, anime soundtracks, or enka (演歌/Japanese ballads). Follow along with lyrics (歌詞/kashi) to see music kanji in context. Artists like YOASOBI and Ado use rich Japanese vocabulary in their songs.

Instrument Radical Patterns

Look for material clues in instrument kanji: 竹 (bamboo) radical in 笛 (flute); bamboo flutes are iconic in Japan. 糸 (thread/string) appears in string-instrument words. 革 (leather) relates to percussion.

Collect Music Cards

Use our gamified card collection to master music kanji. Earn XP, level up, and build your personal Jisho dictionary with every kanji you learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say music in Japanese?

Music in Japanese is 音楽 (ongaku). It combines 音 (on = sound) and 楽 (gaku = pleasure), literally meaning "the pleasure of sound." For example, 音楽を聴く (ongaku wo kiku) means "to listen to music." The word 楽 also means "fun" or "easy" in other contexts.

What are the traditional Japanese instruments?

Major traditional Japanese instruments include: 琴/箏 (koto, 13-string zither), 三味線 (shamisen, 3-string lute), 尺八 (shakuhachi, bamboo flute), 太鼓 (taiko, drum), 鼓 (tsuzumi, hand drum), and 笛 (fue, bamboo flute). These are used in gagaku (court music), kabuki theater, and festival celebrations.

What is the difference between 聞く and 聴く?

聞く (kiku) means to hear or listen casually: sounds that reach your ear naturally. 聴く (kiku) means to listen attentively and deliberately: actively focusing on what you hear. When talking about music, 音楽を聴く (ongaku wo kiku with 聴) emphasizes intentional, appreciative listening. Think: 聞 = hearing, 聴 = listening with your heart.

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