How to say "chant" in Japanese

• 唱えるとなえるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers the verb sense of chanting or reciting something aloud in a drawn-out voice, such as sutras, slogans, or incantations; the natural all-purpose verb for 'chant' as an action.
• 聖歌せいかCommon
  nounA noun for a sacred song or hymn, matching 'chant' only in the religious-music sense. Use it when referring to the chant itself as a piece of music, not to the act of chanting.
• 読むよむJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbOrdinarily 'to read', but it also covers reciting or chanting a sutra aloud. For that Buddhist practice it is a natural choice; for other kinds of chanting it is not the word you want.
• 語るかたるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbMainly means to tell or narrate a story; its gloss 'to recite; to chant' reflects uses like intoning poetry. For everyday 'chant' it is seldom the word you want, fitting mainly ceremonial or poetic recitation.
• コールCommon
  nounA loanword covering a shout or call, and 'chant' in the sense of rhythmic group shouting, as by fans at a sporting event. Not for religious or musical chanting.

For verbal chanting use 「唱える」 or 「読む」 (sutras), for ritual or narrative recitation 「語る」, 聖歌 names a sacred chant as a noun, and 「コール」 covers shouted sports chants.

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

• 唱えるとなえるto recite
• 聖歌せいかsacred song
• 吟ずるぎんずるto chant
• 吟じるぎんじるto chant
• 謡ううたうto chant (a noh text)
• 誦するしょうするto recite
• 朗唱ろうしょうrecitation
• 吟唱ぎんしょうrecital
• 誦すじゅすto recite
• チャント(religious) chant
• 読むよむto recite (e.g. a sutra)
• 語るかたるto recite
• コールshout
• 詠むよむto recite (e.g. a poem)
• 念じるねんじるto pray silently
• 念ずるねんずるto pray silently
• 詠ずるえいずるto recite
• 詠じるえいじるto recite