二重奏(にじゅうそう)

にじゅうそう
noun
duet; duo (instrumental performance by two players)
1. duet; duo — an instrumental piece or performance by two players
A classical music term for an instrumental performance by two players, or a piece written for two instruments. Used specifically of instrumental duos; a vocal duet is more commonly 二重唱(にじゅうしょう).
ピアノとバイオリンの二重奏(にじゅうそう)を聴(き)いた。
I listened to a piano-and-violin duet.
兄弟(きょうだい)でギターの二重奏(にじゅうそう)を演奏(えんそう)した。
The brothers performed a guitar duet together.
コンサートの最後(さいご)に有名(ゆうめい)なピアニストと共演(きょうえん)し、二重奏(にじゅうそう)を披露(ひろう)した。
At the end of the concert she performed alongside a famous pianist and presented a duet.

Compound of 二重(にじゅう) ('double; two-layered') and 奏(そう) ('playing an instrument'). The 奏(そう) element distinguishes instrumental from vocal performance.

USAGE:

  • Formal music-world vocabulary; common in concert programs, album titles, and music criticism.
  • Refers only to instrumental duets. For a vocal duet, use 二重唱(にじゅうしょう); for a mixed loanword sometimes used loosely in pop music contexts, use デュエット.
  • Used both of the piece itself (ベートーヴェンの二重奏(にじゅうそう)) and of the live performance.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 二重奏(にじゅうそう)を演奏(えんそう)する: to perform a duet
  • ピアノ二重奏(にじゅうそう): piano duet
  • バイオリン二重奏(にじゅうそう): violin duet
  • 二重奏(にじゅうそう)の楽譜(がくふ): sheet music for a duet

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 二重唱(にじゅうしょう): vocal duet — sung duet; distinguished by 唱(しょう) ('singing').
  • 三重奏(さんじゅうそう): trio — instrumental performance by three players.
  • 独奏(どくそう): solo — instrumental performance by one player.
  • デュエット: duet — loanword; casual, often used for popular or vocal music.

Related Words

Related: 三重奏(さんじゅうそう)
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Added 2026.4.15 16:11
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