唱歌|しょうかshouka[1]atamadaka (head-high)

Common
しょうがshougaok
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsinging; song
  2. nounmusic class (at pre-WWII schools); song for music classes
Conjugation
Dictionary form唱歌する(しょうかする)
Polite (masu)唱歌します(しょうかします)
Negative (nai)唱歌しない(しょうかしない)
polite (masen)唱歌しません(しょうかしません)
classical zu / nu唱歌せず・唱歌せぬ(しょうかせず・しょうかせぬ)
Past (ta)唱歌した(しょうかした)
polite (mashita)唱歌しました(しょうかしました)
Past negative (nakatta)唱歌しなかった(しょうかしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)唱歌しませんでした(しょうかしませんでした)
Te form唱歌して(しょうかして)
Potential唱歌できる(しょうかできる)
Passive唱歌される(しょうかされる)
Causative唱歌させる(しょうかさせる)
Causative passive唱歌させられる(しょうかさせられる)
Conditional (ba)唱歌すれば(しょうかすれば)
tara唱歌したら(しょうかしたら)
Volitional唱歌しよう(しょうかしよう)
polite (mashou)唱歌しましょう(しょうかしましょう)
Imperative唱歌しろ(しょうかしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym歌唱かしょうNeutralThe act of singing itself, as in 「歌唱力」; somewhat formal. 「唱歌」 also means singing, but refers specifically to songs taught at school.
  • Synonym歌うたNeutralThe everyday word for a song, also covering waka poetry; the most common of these words and the broadest in meaning.
  • Synonym歌曲かきょくWrittenA written, music-specialist term for vocal and art songs; unlike 「唱歌」, it does not call school-taught songs to mind.
  • Synonym歌謡かようNeutralFolk and popular songs, as in 「歌謡曲」; the emphasis is on popular music rather than school songs.
  • RelatedボーカルNeutralA loanword for a band's lead vocalist or the vocals themselves; pop-music flavored, with none of 「唱歌」's school-song feel.
  • Related詠唱えいしょうWrittenWritten/formal: chanting poetry with melodic inflection, reciting a spell, or an aria; the focus is on intoned singing.

「唱歌」 covers songs taught at school, the prewar music class, or singing itself, as in 「文部省唱歌」. For the act of singing in formal style use 「歌唱」; in daily speech 「歌」 is the default, 「歌謡」 for popular songs, 「ボーカル」 for a lead vocalist.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 声こえに出だして歌うたうこと、又またはその歌うた。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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