VocabularyJLPT N5 · core

歌う

うたう

hepburn utau

to sing

Part of speech · godan-verb

Pattern visualization

歌song

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Numbers14 strokes · 9.7s

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Examples

カラオケで日本の歌を歌いました。
I sang a Japanese song at karaoke.
彼女は声がきれいで上手に歌う。
She has a beautiful voice and sings well.

Collocations

歌う (utau, to sing)歌 (uta, song)カラオケ (karaoke, karaoke)合唱 (gasshou, chorus)鼻歌 (hanauta, humming)

Mnemonic

Utau (歌う) is a godan verb — "to sing." Root uta (歌, song) + u. Japan birthed karaoke (kara = empty + ōke[sutora] = orchestra), making utau the heart of social-cultural clusters — after-work parties move to karaoke for ni-jikai / san-jikai (second / third round). Rich vocab: hanauta (humming), gasshou (chorus), kashi (lyrics). Metaphor: jinsei o utau (sing of life = celebrate), common in poetry. Beyond literal singing, utau covers composing or expressing in poetry: shiika (verse), waka (traditional 5-7-5-7-7 poem), tanka — "to sing" = "to express poetically."

Quick check

Etymology of "karaoke"?