How to say "singing" in Japanese

• 歌うたJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for a song, and for singing itself: 'her singing is beautiful' is naturally said with 歌. It is the default choice for people's singing in ordinary conversation.
  この歌うたを聞きくと私はいつも、学生時代がくせいじだいを思い出おもいだす。↗

  Whenever I hear this song, I am reminded of my school days.
• ボーカルCommon
  nounThe loanword for vocals: the sung part of a piece of music. It fits talk about bands and popular music, where you speak of the vocals rather than of singing as an activity.
• 歌唱かしょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA formal-sounding noun for the act of singing itself; it suits written or technical discussion of singing, and in everyday conversation 歌 is the natural choice.
  彼女かのじょは私達わたしたちに歌唱法かしょうほうを教授きょうじゅしてくれた。↗

  She taught us singing.
• 唱歌しょうかCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThis is seldom the word you want for singing: it refers to the songs taught in school music classes, naming a genre of songs rather than the act of singing.
• 声こえJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounFor 'singing' this applies only to animals: 声 means a voice or cry, as in the singing of a bird, the chirping of an insect, or a hoot. Human singing takes 歌 instead.
  日本人にほんじんは鳥とりや虫むしの声こえを楽たのしむ。↗

  The Japanese enjoy the songs of birds and insects.

Use 歌 for singing in general, 「ボーカル」 for vocals in music, 歌唱 for the act of singing in formal or technical talk, 唱歌 for school songs, and 声 only for a bird's or animal's singing.

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

• 歌うたsong
• ボーカルvocal (performance)
• 歌唱かしょうsong
• 唱歌しょうかsinging
• 奉唱ほうしょうsinging
• 吟ぎんrecitation (of a poem)
• 吟詠ぎんえいrecitation (of a Chinese or Japanese poem)
• 朗吟ろうぎんrecitation
• 詠えいrecitation (of a poem)
• 歌声うたごえsinging voice
• 声こえsinging (of a bird)
• 詠唱えいしょうsinging