Japanese word

ジャズ

Pronunciation

Romajijazu

Meaning

  • nounjazz

Example

週末にジャズを聴きます。shū matsu ni ja zu o ki ki ma su

I listen to jazz on weekends.

Illustration for ジャズ (jazz)

More examples

この店では夜にジャズを演奏しています。ko no mise de wa yoru ni ja zu o en sō shi te i ma su

This restaurant plays jazz at night.

Core concept

Refers to a musical tradition in which performers create, vary, and respond to musical ideas in the moment.

Common phrases

  • ジャズを聴くja zu o ki ku

    listen to jazz

  • ジャズを演奏するja zu o en sō su ru

    play jazz

Definition in Japanese

即興を重んじ、変化に富むリズムや旋律を用いる音楽。sok kyō o omo n ji hen ka ni to mu ri zu mu ya sen ritsu o mochi i ru on gaku

Word origin

The Japanese word ジャズ (jazu) comes from English jazz, whose use as a music term is documented in the United States in the 1910s, while its earlier history is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The phrase Jazz Age names the period in the 1920s when jazz became strongly associated with popular culture in the United States.

Word lists with this word