作 詞 家(さくしか)

さくしか

noun

lyricist; songwriter (lyrics)

person art

1. lyricist; songwriter (lyrics)

A person who writes the lyrics (words) for songs, as opposed to the composer who writes the music.

有名(ゆうめい)な作詞家(さくしか)が亡(な)くなった。

A famous lyricist passed away.

彼女(かのじょ)は作詞家(さくしか)として数多(かずおお)くのヒット曲(きょく)を生(う)み出(だ)した。

She produced numerous hit songs as a lyricist.

この歌(うた)の作詞家(さくしか)は自分(じぶん)の体験(たいけん)をもとに歌詞(かし)を書(か)いたと言(い)われている。

It is said that the lyricist of this song wrote the lyrics based on personal experience.

A compound of 作詞(さくし) (writing lyrics) and 家(か) (professional, expert). In the Japanese music industry, 作詞(さくし) (lyrics) and 作曲(さっきょく) (composition) are traditionally treated as separate roles, and credits are always listed separately.

Usage

Used to describe someone whose profession or recognized skill is writing song lyrics
In song credits, you will see 作詞(さくし): (lyrics by:) and 作曲(さっきょく): (music by:) listed separately
Some artists write both lyrics and music — they may be called シンガーソングライター (singer-songwriter)

Common collocations

作詞家(さくしか)として活躍(かつやく)する: to be active as a lyricist
作詞家(さくしか)デビュー: debut as a lyricist
人気(にんき)作詞家(さくしか): popular lyricist

Similar words

作曲家(さっきょくか): composer — writes the melody and music
作詞(さくし)作曲(さっきょく): lyrics and composition — the combined credit
歌手(かしゅ): singer — the performer, not the writer

Related Words

Compare: 歌手(かしゅ) (singer)

Compare: シンガーソングライター (singer-songwriter (a musician who writes and performs their own songs))

general

Added 2026.4.4 0:32 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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