How to say "poem" in Japanese

• 詩しJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a poem, and also for poetry and verse as a whole; when you mean a poem itself, this is the word you want, as in reading, writing, or studying poems.
  この詩しは誰だれが書かいたのですか。↗

  By whom was this poem written?
• ポエムCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword for 'poem'; it keeps the flavor of the English word and is used where that flavor is wanted. For an ordinary poem, 詩 is the usual choice.
• 作歌さっかCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbIt names the activity of writing songs or poems, not a finished poem; for the poem itself it is marginal, and 詩 is the word you want. Keep it for talk of composing.

Use 詩 for a poem or for poetry in general; 「ポエム」 is the katakana loanword, kept for its English flavor; 作歌 refers to the act of writing songs or poems rather than a poem itself.

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

• 詩しpoem
• ポエムpoem
• 作歌さっかwriting songs or poems
• 詠歌えいかpoem (esp. tanka)
• 賦ふpoem
• 賦詠ふえいpoem
• 芳詠ほうえいpoem
• 一篇いっぺんpiece (e.g. poetry)
• お歌おうたpoem