挽歌・輓歌|ばんかbanka[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounelegy; funeral song

• Synonym弔歌ちょうかWrittenA song mourning the dead; rare and literary, close in meaning to 「挽歌」.
• Synonym葬送歌そうそうかWrittenRare and literary; a sorrowful song mourning the dead, close in meaning to 「挽歌」.
• RelatedレクイエムNeutralLoanword for the Catholic mass held for the dead and the music for it; leans toward religious music, while 「挽歌」 is a song mourning the dead.
• Related鎮魂歌ちんこんかWrittenA song to comfort the souls of the dead, with religious overtones; 「挽歌」 is a song mourning the dead, and can also figuratively lament a lost era.
• Related葬送曲そうそうきょくWrittenA solemn march performed at funerals; instrumental music, not a poem or song like 「挽歌」.
• Related鎮魂曲ちんこんきょくWrittenA written term for a requiem as a musical work, matching the music sense of 「レクイエム」; 「挽歌」 centres on the elegy itself, in verse or in song.
• Antonym祝い歌いわいうたNeutralA song expressing congratulations — the opposite of 「挽歌」, which mourns death.

Use 「挽歌」 for a song or poem mourning the dead, or figuratively a lament for something lost. For a requiem pick 「レクイエム」 or 「鎮魂歌」; for a funeral march, 「葬送曲」.

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

1. 中国ちゅうごくで野辺送のべおくりの際さい、柩ひつぎを引ひく者ものが歌うたった歌うた。
2. 人ひとの死しを哀悼あいとうする歌うた。