How to say "rhythm" in Japanese

• リズムJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe all-purpose word for rhythm: a beat in music, the rhythm of dance or movement, or the regular pattern of daily life. When in doubt, this is the word to reach for.
  妻つまはアメリカでの新あたらしい生活せいかつのリズムに慣なれるのにえらい苦労くろうした。↗

  My wife had a hard time getting into the swing of our new life in America.
• 韻律いんりつCommon
  nounRhythm in the sense of poetry: the metrical pattern of a poem or verse. It is the word for poetic metre; for beats in music or the rhythm of movement, リズム or 拍子 fits better.
  言葉ことばによる詩しとは、要約ようやくして言いえば、韻律いんりつ的てき美びの創造そうぞうであるとしたい。↗

  I would define, in brief, the poetry of words as the Rhythmical Creation of Beauty.
• 調子ちょうしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounReally the word for tune, tone, key or pitch; seldom what you want for 'rhythm', though it can suggest the swing or pace of how something is going. For a beat, use リズム or 拍子.
• 拍子ひょうしCommon
  nounThe beat or metre of music: rhythm in the sense of time and metre, as when a piece keeps a steady beat. For rhythm in general — music, dance, daily routines — リズム is the natural choice.

Take 「リズム」 for rhythm in general — music, dance, movement, daily routines; 拍子 for musical beat and metre; 韻律 for the metre of poems; and treat 調子 as tune, tone, key or pitch rather than rhythm proper.

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

• リズムrhythm
• 韻律いんりつmetre (of a poem)
• 調子ちょうしtune
• 拍子ひょうしtime
• 律動りつどうrhythm
• 節奏せっそうrhythm
• 音律おんりつmetre
• 音調おんちょうtune
• 調ちょうtime
• のり(getting into the) mood