1.
a horn — a simple wind instrument originally made from an animal horn, used for signaling or as a musical instrument
Refers to a horn instrument, traditionally made from the horn of an animal such as an ox or goat. In Japanese it evokes images of shepherds, hunters, or pre-modern European settings. Modern metal horns such as those in orchestras are usually called {ホルン} instead.
遠くで角笛が鳴った。
A horn sounded in the distance.
羊飼いが角笛を吹いて羊を集めた。
The shepherd blew his horn to gather the sheep.
森の奥から狩人の角笛の音が聞こえてきた。
The sound of a hunter's horn could be heard coming from deep in the forest.
戦いの合図として角笛が高らかに吹き鳴らされた。
A horn was blown loudly as the signal for battle.
Literally "horn" (角) + "flute/wind instrument" (笛). Refers to a simple wind instrument made from or shaped like an animal's horn. Often appears in stories, fairy tales, and historical contexts rather than modern daily life.
USAGE:
- Typically played with the verb 吹く ("to blow"): 角笛を吹く.
- Describing the sound uses 鳴る (for the horn sounding) or 響く (resonating).
- Frequently associated with shepherds (羊飼い), hunters (狩人), and pre-modern European or fantasy settings.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 角笛を吹く: to blow a horn
- 角笛が鳴る: a horn sounds
- 角笛の音: the sound of a horn
- 狩りの角笛: hunting horn
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ホルン: horn — refers to the modern brass orchestral instrument (French horn, etc.).
- 笛: a general word for flute or whistle — includes many kinds of wind instruments.
- 法螺貝: conch-shell horn — a traditional Japanese signaling instrument used by warriors and mountain ascetics.