shamisen
Noun: A traditional Japanese musical instrument. It is a three-stringed lute with a long, thin neck, a rectangular body (soundbox) covered in skin, and a fretless fingerboard. It is played by plucking the strings with a large plectrum called a bachi.
The word "shamisen" refers specifically to this distinct Japanese instrument. It is used as a countable noun. * The geisha performed a song while playing the shamisen. * He is learning to play the shamisen. * The deep, resonant sound of the shamisen is iconic in Japanese music.
- The shamisen is a central instrument in many Japanese traditional arts, including theater, (puppet theater), and (long song) music.
- Different genres of music use shamisen of varying sizes and with slight construction differences, such as the (thin neck), (medium neck), and (thick neck).
- Samisen: An alternative romanization of the same word.
- Bachi (noun): The large, spatula-shaped plectrum used to strike the strings of a shamisen.
- Japanese lute: A descriptive synonym in English.
- Three-stringed lute: A technical description.
"Shamisen" has only one primary meaning as the name of a specific musical instrument. It is not commonly used in other contexts.
There are no common English idioms or phrasal verbs using the word "shamisen." It is used literally to name the instrument.
- a Japanese stringed instrument resembling a banjo with a long neck and three strings and a fretted fingerboard and a rectangular soundbox; played with a plectrum