歌

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. みんなで歌を歌いましょう。▶ —
   Let's sing a song together.
2. この歌は心に響きます。▶ —
   This song resonates in the heart.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Uta (歌) is the native "song" — the nominal form of the verb utau (歌う, sing, already covered). The kanji 歌 combines 欠 (opened mouth / yawn) + 哥 (shout / sing) — pictographically "shouting with an open mouth." Cluster: kashi (lyrics), utagoe (singing voice), hanauta (humming), douyou (children's song), kouka (school song), kokka (national anthem — Kimigayo for Japan), enka (Japanese trot). Classical poetry: waka (Japanese 5-7-5-7-7 verse), tanka (synonym for waka), haiku (5-7-5, branched from waka), senryuu (humorous 5-7-5). Metaphor: jinsei wo utau (sing of life = celebrate / praise), utau you ni (as if singing — flowing / rhythmic). Homophone 謳う utau "extol / boast about" (e.g., hinshitsu wo utau, boast quality) shares the verb sound but uses different kanji. Native uta vs Sino-Japanese ongaku: uta is the act / work, ongaku is the field / industry.

Quick check

1. Split between uta (native) and ongaku (Sino-Japanese)?

   • Uta = act / work / ongaku = field / industry
   • Synonyms
   • Tense
   • Honorific vs humble