三味線(しゃみせん)

Compound: 三(しゃ) (three) + 味(み) (taste) + 線(せん) (string) - though 味(み) refers to 撥味(ばちあじ) (plectrum feel)

Alternate reading

• 三味線(さみせん) - also correct

Parts

• 胴(どう) (body - covered with animal skin)
• 棹(さお) (neck)
• 糸(いと) (strings)
• 撥(ばち) (plectrum)

TYPES/STYLES

• 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

• 三味線(しゃみせん)を弾(ひ)く (to play shamisen)
• 三味線(しゃみせん)奏者(そうしゃ) (shamisen player)