How to say "accompaniment" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

伴奏ばんそうCommon
noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe musical sense: instrumental music played to support a singer or performer, as in song or dance. This is the word you want whenever 'accompaniment' refers literally to music.
彼女かのじょは私にピアノの伴奏ばんそうをしてくれた。↗
She accompanied me on the piano.
友ともJLPT N3approx.Common
nounPrimarily means 'companion'; as 'accompaniment' it appears only figuratively, for something that complements or pairs well with another, such as a good book's suitability as a travelling companion.

Use 伴奏 for music played alongside a performer; 友 is really 'companion' — it covers 'accompaniment' only in the figurative sense of something that complements or goes well with something else.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

伴奏ばんそうaccompaniment
伴奏部ばんそうぶaccompaniment
アカンパニメントaccompaniment
伴いともないcompanion
つまaccompaniment
友ともaccompaniment

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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