(いん)

いん
noun
rhyme
1. rhyme; rhyming
The repetition of similar sounds at the end of words or lines in poetry, lyrics, or rap. In Japanese, rhyming is less central to traditional poetry than in Western verse but is important in modern rap and hip-hop.
(いん)()む。
To rhyme.
この歌詞(かし)はうまく(いん)()んでいる。
These lyrics rhyme well.
ラッパーたちは(いん)()みながら即興(そっきょう)歌詞(かし)(つく)り、観客(かんきゃく)()かせた。
The rappers created lyrics on the spot while rhyming, getting the crowd excited.

USAGE:
(いん) almost always appears in the set phrase (いん)()む (literally "to step on rhyme"), which means "to rhyme." While traditional Japanese poetry (such as haiku and tanka) does not use end-rhyme, the concept has become well known through the popularity of rap and hip-hop in Japan.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (いん)()む (to rhyme)
  • (いん)()う (the rhyme works)
  • 脚韻(きゃくいん) (end rhyme)
  • 頭韻(とういん) (alliteration)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 韻文(いんぶん): verse, poetry (writing that uses rhyme or meter)
  • 散文(さんぶん): prose (writing without rhyme or meter)