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道Nihongo Path
唄

唄·song, ballad

On-yomi
none
Kun-yomi
うた

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
子守唄こもりうたlullaby
唄うたsong (esp. traditional, sung to shamisen)
長唄ながうたnagauta (long shamisen song of the kabuki stage)
小唄こうたkouta (short traditional song)

Example sentences

  1. 母は毎晩、子守唄を歌ってくれた。

    はははまいばん、こもりうたをうたってくれた。

    My mother sang me a lullaby every night.

  2. 祖母は長唄を習っている。

    そぼはながうたをならっている。

    My grandmother is learning nagauta.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Write 歌 for songs in general — 唄 is for traditional genres and set words like 子守唄
  • 子守唄 is こもりうた, not こもりばい

Memory aid

Picture it

Mouth 口 beside shell 貝: a voice keeping time with the old instruments — traditional song.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 唄 mean?