三味線(しゃみせん)

しゃみせん
noun
shamisen
leisure
1. shamisen, three-stringed lute
A traditional Japanese three-stringed musical instrument played with a plectrum, used in various genres of traditional music.
三味線(しゃみせん)を弾(ひ)く。
I play the shamisen.
津軽(つがる)三味線(じゃみせん)は力強(ちからづよ)い。
Tsugaru shamisen is powerful.
Famous regional style
歌舞伎(かぶき)には三味線(しゃみせん)の伴奏(ばんそう)が欠(か)かせない。
Shamisen accompaniment is essential for kabuki.

Compound: 三(しゃ) (three) + 味(み) (taste) + 線(せん) (string); the 味(み) here does not carry its usual meaning of taste

Pronunciation

  • 三味線(さみせん) - also correct

Related words

Types

  • 津軽(つがる)三味線(じゃみせん) (Tsugaru shamisen - powerful, fast)
  • 義太夫(ぎだゆう)三味線(じゃみせん) (for bunraku/joruri)
  • 長唄(ながうた)三味線(じゃみせん) (for kabuki)
  • 地唄(じうた)三味線(じゃみせん) (chamber music)

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 尺八(しゃくはち) (shakuhachi)
Compare: 雅楽(ががく) (gagaku)
Related: 胴(どう) (body)
Related: 竿(さお) (neck)
Related: 糸(いと) (strings)
Related: 撥(ばち) (plectrum)
general
Added 2026.1.14 23:59 · Revised 2026.10.10 16:55
04000/04464_shamisen