How to say "song" in Japanese

• 曲きょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)A piece of music as a composition or a track on a record; it covers instrumentals as well as sung pieces, pointing to the music itself rather than the singing.
  そのピアニストはアンコールに応こたえて２曲きょく弾ひいた。↗

  The pianist played two encores.
• 歌うたJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a song as something sung, and for singing itself; it fits when the vocal song or the act of singing is what you have in mind.
  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.
• ソングCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword. It is seldom the word you want for an ordinary song — 歌 or 曲 do that job — appearing instead in genre names, titles, and set phrases.
  あなたはポップソングが好すきではないのですね？↗

  You don't like pop songs, do you?
• 歌唱かしょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbReally names the act of singing rather than a song as a thing; for 'song' in the sense of a piece you listen to, it is marginal, closer to 'singing' or vocal performance.
  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.
• 歌謡かようJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounTreats songs as a class or genre — ballads and popular songs — rather than one particular tune, so it is not the word you reach for when referring to a single song.

Use 曲 for a piece of music or track, 歌 for a song or singing; 歌唱 names the act of singing, 歌謡 songs as a genre, 「ソング」 the katakana loanword, at home in titles and genre labels.

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

• 曲きょくcomposition
• 歌うたsong
• ソングsong
• 歌唱かしょうsong
• 歌謡かようsong
• 唱歌しょうかsinging
• 歌曲かきょくmelody
• 鳴き声なきごえcry (of an animal)
• 天水訟てんすいしょうsong (hexagram 6 of the I Ching: conflict)
• 詠歌えいかpoem (esp. tanka)
• 宋そうSong (ancient Chinese state; 11th century-286 BCE)
• お歌おうたpoem
• 一番いちばんsong (e.g. in noh)