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道Nihongo Path
謡

謡·song, chant

On-yomi
ヨウ
Kun-yomi
うた(い)うた(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

16 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
民謡みんようfolk song
童謡どうようchildren's song
歌謡曲かようきょくpopular song
謡ううたうto chant (especially Noh chanting)

Example sentences

  1. 祖父は地元の民謡を全部歌える。

    そふはじもとのみんようをぜんぶうたえる。

    My grandfather can sing every one of the local folk songs.

  2. 子供たちが童謡を合唱した。

    こどもたちがどうようをがっしょうした。

    The children sang a children's song together.

  3. 昭和の歌謡曲が今また若い人に人気だ。

    しょうわのかようきょくがいままたわかいひとににんきだ。

    Showa-era pop songs are popular with young people again.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 童謡 as どうよ — the long vowel matters: どうよう
  • Using 謡う for ordinary singing — everyday singing is 歌う; 謡う is Noh chanting

Memory aid

Picture it

Words (言) that sway and carry (䍃) — speech set swinging until it becomes a song passed down.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 謡 mean?