詩 means “poetry, poem”

し · shi

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うた

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シ

Taught in grade 3 · 13 strokes

The story

Words (言) from the temple (寺): poetry as language elevated to the sacred. Japan's poetic tradition is unbroken for 1,300 years, from classical 詩歌 to haiku. Even today, the Emperor composes poems at the annual New Year Poetry Reading (歌会始).

Used in 詩人 (shijin, poet), 詩集 (shishuu, poetry collection), and 詩歌 (shiika, poetry and song)

More from Music & Arts

• 拍 rhythm
• 弦 string (instrument)
• 笛 flute
• 鼓 drum
• 音 sound
• 曲 melody
• 唱 chant
• 演 perform
• 芸 art
• 美 beauty
• 歌 song
• 楽 music

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.