How to say "melody" in Japanese

• メロディーJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for 'melody': the tune of a song or piece, the line you hum or whistle. This is the word for melody in ordinary talk about music.
  このメロディーは多おおくの日本人にほんじんに知しられている。↗

  This melody is familiar to many Japanese.
• 旋律せんりつCommon
  no-adjectiveThe Sino-Japanese term for melody, at home in music theory and formal writing: the melodic line of a piece as such. It names the same thing as メロディー, with a technical coloring.
  聞きこえる旋律せんりつは美うつくしいが、聞きこえない旋律せんりつはさらに美うつくしい。↗

  Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.
• 歌曲かきょくCommon
  nounIn spite of its gloss, this is really 'song': a composed vocal piece, especially an art song. It is seldom the word you want for 'melody' itself.
• 曲きょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA piece of music taken as a whole — a tune, song, or track — rather than the melodic line inside it. For 'melody' proper, メロディー or 旋律 is the natural choice.
• 節ふしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe tune of traditional singing — a folk song or chanted piece — the melody as it is sung. It is seldom the word you want for 'melody' in ordinary talk; use メロディー.

Use 「メロディー」 for melody in ordinary talk and 旋律 in music theory; 曲 is a whole piece or tune, 歌曲 a song (especially an art song), and 節 the tune of traditional singing.

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

• メロディーmelody
• 旋律せんりつmelody
• 歌曲かきょくmelody
• メロmelody
• チューンtune
• 曲調きょくちょうmelody
• 節回しふしまわしmelody
• 音調おんちょうtune
• 曲きょくtune
• 節ふしtune
• 調べしらべtune