歌(うた)い手(て)

うたいて
noun
singer, vocalist
1. singer, vocalist
A person who sings. In traditional usage, refers to any singer. In modern internet culture, specifically refers to amateur or semi-professional singers who post cover songs or original music online.
彼女(かのじょ)は素晴(すば)らしい歌(うた)い手(て)だ。
She is a wonderful singer.
ニコニコ動画(どうが)で人気(にんき)の歌(うた)い手(て)がデビューした。
A popular online singer from Niconico made their debut.
この民謡(みんよう)は地元(じもと)の歌(うた)い手(て)によって何世代(なんせだい)にもわたって歌(うた)い継(つ)がれてきた。
This folk song has been passed down through singing by local singers across many generations.

USAGE:
Traditionally a general term for a singer. In modern Japanese internet culture (since the late 2000s), 歌(うた)い手(て) has taken on a specific meaning: an amateur or semi-professional singer who posts cover songs on video platforms like Niconico or YouTube. Many professional singers have emerged from this 歌(うた)い手(て) culture.

WORD FORMATION:
歌(うた)う (to sing) + 手(て) (person who does) = singer. The ～手(て) suffix creates agent nouns from verbs (cf. 書(か)き手(て) = writer, 聞(き)き手(て) = listener).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 人気(にんき)歌(うた)い手(て): popular singer
  • 歌(うた)い手(て)デビュー: singer debut
  • 民謡(みんよう)の歌(うた)い手(て): folk song singer
general
Added 2026.2.24 15:48
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