拍子(ひょうし)

ひょうし
noun
rhythm, beat, time; moment
musictime-general
See also: 表紙(ひょうし) (book cover)
1. rhythm, beat, time, meter
The rhythmic pattern or beat in music. Also used more broadly for timing or tempo.
三拍子(さんびょうし)のリズムで踊(おど)る。
To dance in three-beat rhythm.
手拍子(てびょうし)に合(あ)わせて歌(うた)った。
I sang along to the hand clapping.
拍子(ひょうし)がずれているよ。
You're off beat.
2. moment, occasion, chance
Used in the pattern ～た拍子(ひょうし)に to mean 'at the moment when' or 'just as (something happened)'.
立(た)ち上(あ)がった拍子(ひょうし)に頭(あたま)をぶつけた。
I bumped my head just as I stood up.
くしゃみをした拍子(ひょうし)に腰(こし)を痛(いた)めた。
I hurt my back at the moment I sneezed.
ドアを開(あ)けた拍子(ひょうし)に風(かぜ)で紙(かみ)が飛(と)んでいった。
Just as I opened the door, the papers blew away in the wind.

拍子(ひょうし) has both a musical meaning (rhythm/beat) and a temporal meaning (the moment when something happens).

Compounds

Common patterns

  • ～た拍子(ひょうし)に: at the moment when, just as

This pattern describes something unexpected happening simultaneously with an action.

Related Words

Related: 旋律(せんりつ) (melody)
Related: 休符(きゅうふ) (rest (music))
general
Added 2026.2.8 6:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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