歌: the kanji for song and sing
歌 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means song, sing. Below are its readings, 8 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
歌 is written in 14 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
歌 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 8 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
カ (ka)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 歌手かしゅ · kashu | singer |
| 国歌こっか · kokka | national anthem |
| 短歌たんか · tanka | tanka poem |
| 和歌わか · waka | classical Japanese poem |
| 校歌こうか · kōka | school song |
うた (uta)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 歌うた · uta | song |
| 歌声うたごえ · utagoe | singing voice |
うたう (utau)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 歌ううたう · utau | to sing |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- カラオケで日本の歌を歌いました。Karaoke de Nihon no uta o utaimashita.I sang a Japanese song at karaoke.
- 好きな歌手はだれですか。Suki na kashu wa dare desu ka.Who is your favorite singer?
- この歌は日本でとても有名です。Kono uta wa Nihon de totemo yūmei desu.This song is very famous in Japan.
- 試合の前に国歌が流れました。Shiai no mae ni kokka ga nagaremashita.The national anthem played before the game.
- 歌を歌うのは苦手です。Uta o utau no wa nigate desu.I'm not good at singing.
- 和歌は五・七・五・七・七の形です。Waka wa go shichi go shichi shichi no katachi desu.Waka poems follow a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.
Questions about 歌
How many strokes does 歌 have?
歌 is written in 14 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 歌?
The on readings are ka (カ). The kun readings are uta (うた), utau (うたう).
Is karaoke part of work life in Japan?
Karaoke is a common way to relax after a team dinner or 飲み会 (nomikai). Nobody expects you to be a great singer, and choosing a song from your own country is perfectly fine.
What JLPT level is 歌?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Colors and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 歌
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.