琴(こと)

こと
noun
koto, Japanese harp
1. koto
A traditional Japanese stringed instrument with 13 strings.
琴(こと)を弾(ひ)く。
To play the koto.
琴(こと)の音色(ねいろ)が美(うつく)しい。
The sound of the koto is beautiful.
子(こ)どもの頃(ころ)から琴(こと)を習(なら)っている。
I have been learning the koto since childhood.
琴(こと)には十三(じゅうさん)本(ほん)の弦(げん)がある。
The koto has thirteen strings.
お正月(しょうがつ)には琴(こと)の音楽(おんがく)がよく流(なが)れている。
Koto music is often played during the New Year.

琴(こと) is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, often called a "Japanese harp" in English. It is one of Japan's most iconic musical instruments.

CHARACTERISTICS:

  • 13 strings stretched over movable bridges (柱(じ))
  • About 180 cm long, made of paulownia wood (桐(きり))
  • Played by plucking with picks (爪(つめ)) on thumb, index, and middle fingers

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 琴(こと)を弾(ひ)く: to play the koto
  • 琴(こと)の音色(ねいろ): the sound/tone of a koto
  • 琴(こと)の演奏(えんそう): koto performance

CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Strongly associated with お正月(しょうがつ) (New Year) — koto music is commonly heard in stores and on TV during the holiday season.

RELATED INSTRUMENTS:

  • 三味線(しゃみせん): shamisen (3-stringed, plucked with plectrum)
  • 尺八(しゃくはち): shakuhachi (bamboo flute)
core
Added 2026.1.9 21:59 · Revised 2026.3.29 13:19
02000/02152_koto