1.
to play (a musical instrument), to produce music or melody
Describes performing music on an instrument. Has a literary, elegant tone compared to the more common 弾く. Often used for orchestral instruments, ensembles, or poetic descriptions of sound.
ピアノで美しい曲を奏でた。
She played a beautiful piece on the piano.
オーケストラが壮大なメロディーを奏でている。
The orchestra is playing a grand melody.
風が木々の葉を揺らし、まるで自然が音楽を奏でているようだった。
The wind swayed the leaves of the trees, as if nature were playing music.
奏でる is a transitive verb with a literary, poetic nuance.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
- Pattern: [instrument]で + [music/melody]を奏でる
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- メロディーを奏でる (play a melody)
- 曲を奏でる (play a piece)
- ハーモニーを奏でる (produce a harmony)
- 音色を奏でる (produce a tone)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 弾く: the everyday word for playing piano, guitar, and other stringed/keyboard instruments
- 吹く: for wind instruments
- 奏でる: more literary and elegant; used for poetic or formal descriptions of music-making, and can extend figuratively to natural sounds