Japanese Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Japanese word
歌う
Pronunciation
Romajiutau
Meaning
- verbsing
Example
わたしは毎日歌います。wa ta shi wa mai nichi uta i ma su
I sing every day.
More examples
みんなで歌います。mi n na de uta i ma su
We sing together.
みんなで誕生日の歌を歌いましょう。mi n na de tan jō hi no uta o uta i ma shō
Let's sing the birthday song together.
Core concept
Uses the voice to give a melody audible form, often with words.
Common phrases
歌を歌うuta o uta u
sing a song
一緒に歌うis sho ni uta u
sing together
大きな声で歌うō ki na koe de uta u
sing in a loud voice
Similar words
口ずさむkuchizusamu: To sing quietly, usually for personal enjoyment or without a strong voice.
Definition in Japanese
声を使って旋律を表現する。koe o tsuka tte sen ritsu o hyō gen su ru
Word origin
歌う (utau) is a native Japanese verb historically related to 歌 (uta, "song"), linking the action to the idea of a song.
Usage tips
- The English loanword karaoke comes from Japanese カラオケ (karaoke), making a karaoke session a familiar context for 歌う (utau).
Related words
- 歌い方utaikataway of singingnoun
- 歌い手utaitesingernoun