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song
Kanji 1962

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Find out about 唄, which always plays second fiddle to 歌 but is more likely to represent Eastern songs, whereas 歌 is more for Western music. See why the Japanese prefer to see "Singin' in the Rain" in English. Discover a term that means "song sung by a blind person with the accompaniment of the shamisen, esp. in the Kamigata area of Kansai"! And learn a bit about Okinawa via its music.

"Added Rev Note to CHP:

Revision history:

Jan. 14, 2020:

  • p. 2: Etymology Box: Added the new Henshall etymology.
  • p. 7: Added an explanation of what the 島 means in 島唄 (しまうた: Okinawan song).
  • p. 13: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Mar. 24, 2017: Originally published.

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Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 1962 on 唄, titled "Shellfish in a Song"
Mini Profile
JOYO ON-YOMI
None
JOYO KUN-YOMI
うた
STROKES10
RADICAL口 (30: mouth)
JLPTN1
HALPERN297/358
HENSHALL-/1038
SPAHN3d7.1