Japanese word

笛

Pronunciation

Romajifue

Meaning

  • nounflute

Example

音楽の授業で笛を吹きます。on gaku no ju gyō de fue o fu ki ma su

I play the flute in music class.

Illustration for 笛 (flute)

More examples

旅行先で小さな笛を買いました。ryo kō saki de chii sa na fue o ka i ma shi ta

I bought a small flute while traveling.

Core concept

Centers on making sound by directing breath through a tube, covering instruments such as flutes and recorders as well as whistles.

Common phrases

  • 笛を吹くfue o fu ku

    play the flute

  • 笛の音色fue no ne iro

    tone of a flute

Similar words

フルートfurūto: A specific wind instrument with a long body and keys, often used in Western music.
リコーダーrikōdā: A wind instrument with finger holes that is commonly used in Japanese school music lessons.
横笛yokobue: A flute played by blowing across an opening on the side of the instrument.
縦笛tatebue: A flute played by blowing into an opening at the top of the instrument.

Definition in Japanese

息を吹き入れて音を発する管状の楽器または道具。iki o fu ki i re te oto o has su ru kan jō no gak ki ma ta wa dō gu

Word origin

笛 (fue, "flute") is a native Japanese noun commonly understood as related to 吹く (fuku, "to blow"), although its precise historical derivation is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • For English-speaking learners, 笛 (fue) is useful as a broad term because Japanese school lessons commonly call a recorder a 笛, unlike English, where flute usually names a specific instrument.

Other meanings

  • whistlenoun
  • recordernoun

Word lists with this word