Explore performance vocabulary in the context of kabuki, which flourished in the Edo period.
The idea
歌舞伎 is kabuki; 役者 is an actor, 舞台 a stage, 観客 the audience and 衣装 a costume. 芝居 means a play or theatre. These examples use modern polite Japanese.
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 役者 | actor |
| 舞台 | stage |
| 観客 | audience |
| 衣装 | costume |
Examples
- 江戸時代に、歌舞伎は人気を集めました。Kabuki became popular in the Edo period.
- 役者が舞台で踊っています。An actor is dancing on stage.
- 観客は芝居を楽しみました。The audience enjoyed the play.
- 舞台の衣装がとても美しかったです。The stage costumes were very beautiful.
- 幕が開いて、芝居が始まりました。The curtain opened and the play began.
- 音楽を聞きながら、役者の動きを見ました。I watched the actor’s movements while listening to the music.
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Watch out
舞台 is the stage, not the audience; 観客 refers to the people watching. Kabuki continues today, so the words are not limited to the Edo period.
Try it yourself
舞台で踊るのは？（役者／観客）
Show answer or example answer
役者
役者 is the actor who performs; 観客 watches.
芝居を見る人たちは？（観客／衣装）
Show answer or example answer
観客
観客 means the people watching; 衣装 is a costume.
役者が着るものは？（衣装／舞台）
Show answer or example answer
衣装
衣装 is what an actor wears; 舞台 is the stage.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
舞台で踊るのは？（役者／観客）
芝居を見る人たちは？（観客／衣装）
役者が着るものは？（衣装／舞台）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe an imagined performance in Japanese using an actor, a stage and a costume.