Meet 歌 in 歌います, 歌手, and other useful words. Read the examples and connect each word to its meaning.

The idea

歌 has 14 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Learn 歌います (うたいます) and 歌手 (かしゅ) as whole words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
歌いますうたいますI sing a song with a friend.
歌手かしゅThat singer has a beautiful voice.
歌うたThe children learn a new song.
歌詞かしI write the lyrics in my notebook.

Examples

  • 友達ともだちと歌うたを歌うたいます。I sing a song with a friend.
  • あの歌手かしゅは声こえがきれいです。That singer has a beautiful voice.
  • 子供こどもたちは新あたらしい歌うたを覚おぼえます。The children learn a new song.
  • 歌詞かしをノートに書かきます。I write the lyrics in my notebook.
  • 母ははは料理りょうりをしながら歌うたを歌うたいます。My mother sings while she cooks.
  • この歌手かしゅの歌うたがとても好すきです。I really like this singer’s songs.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Here, 歌います means “sings”; 歌手 means “singer”. Compare 歌います (うたいます) and 歌手 (かしゅ) in context: “I sing a song with a friend.” and “That singer has a beautiful voice.” The same character does not make the words interchangeable. Compare the shapes of 歌 and 哥 as well.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 歌います in hiragana.

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    うたいます

    歌います is read うたいます. In context: I sing a song with a friend.

  2. Write the reading of 歌手 in hiragana.

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    かしゅ

    歌手 is read かしゅ. In context: That singer has a beautiful voice.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿います [歌 / 哥] (うたいます).

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    歌

    歌 completes 歌います, read うたいます. In context: I sing a song with a friend.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 歌 from memory, then read 歌います and 歌手 aloud. Check the readings and contexts.