Japanese word

拍子

Pronunciation

Romajihyōshi

Meaning

  • nountime

Example

この曲の拍子は四分の四です。ko no kyoku no hyō shi wa yon bun no yon de su

This song is in four-four time.

Illustration for 拍子 (time)

More examples

合唱団は指揮者に合わせて拍子を取ります。gas shō dan wa shi ki sha ni a wa se te hyō shi o to ri ma su

The choir keeps time with the conductor.

Core concept

It sets the regular pattern of beats that controls a piece's rhythmic flow.

Common phrases

  • 拍子を取るhyō shi o to ru

    keep time

  • 拍子を合わせるhyō shi o a wa se ru

    match the rhythm

  • 拍子がずれるhyō shi ga zu re ru

    fall out of rhythm

Similar words

拍節hakusetsu: The regular arrangement of strong and weak beats in music.
リズムrizumu: The ordered pattern of sounds and silences in a piece of music.

Definition in Japanese

音楽で、拍の数や強弱によるリズムの型。on gaku de haku no kazu ya kyō jaku ni yo ru ri zu mu no kata

Word origin

拍子 (hyōshi) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 拍 (haku, "beat") and 子 (shi), where 子 functions as a suffix-like element instead of meaning "child".

Usage tips

  • A song can keep the same tempo while changing its 拍子 (hyōshi), because 拍子 describes beat grouping and tempo describes speed.

Other meanings

  • rhythmnoun
  • meternoun

Word lists with this word