Japanese word

太鼓

Pronunciation

Romajitaiko

Meaning

  • noundrum

Example

大きな太鼓を見ました。ō ki na tai ko o mi ma shi ta

I saw a large drum.

Illustration for 太鼓 (drum)

More examples

学校で太鼓を叩きます。gak kō de tai ko o tata ki ma su

I play the drum at school.

祭りでは太鼓の音が町に響きます。matsu ri de wa tai ko no oto ga machi ni hibi ki ma su

At the festival, the sound of the drum echoes through the town.

Core concept

A drum produces sound by having a stretched skin or surface struck over a hollow body.

Common phrases

  • 太鼓をたたくtai ko o ta ta ku

    beat the drum

  • 太鼓の音tai ko no oto

    sound of a drum

Similar words

ドラムdoramu: A drum commonly used in Western-style music, often as part of a drum set.

Definition in Japanese

皮などを張った胴を手やばちで打って音を出す楽器。kawa na do o ha tta dō o te ya ba chi de u tte oto o da su gak ki

Word origin

太鼓 (taiko) is written as a Sino-Japanese compound: 太 (tai, "great; thick") plus 鼓 (ko, "drum"); its established Japanese meaning is simply drum.

Usage tips

  • In English, taiko commonly refers to Japanese drums and the group performances built around their powerful rhythms.

Word lists with this word