biwa

English

Etymology

Borrowing from Japanese 琵琶 (biwa).

Noun

biwa (plural biwas)

(music) A plucked lute, originating in the classical and traditional music of Japan, characterized by a pear-shaped body and four or five high frets, giving the instrument a distinctively twangy tone.

Translations

lute

Catalan: biwa (ca) m
Chinese:
Mandarin: 日本琵琶 (Rìběn pípa)
Finnish: biwa

Japanese: 琵琶 (ja) (びわ, biwa)
Korean: 비와 (biwa)
Malay: biwa
Russian: би́ва (ru) f (bíva)

See also

Appendix:Glossary of chordophones

References

2013. Japanese Music and Musical Instruments. William Malm. Pg. 44.
2015. Japanese Singers of Tales: Ten Centuries of Performed Narrative. Alison McQueen Tokita. Pg. 60.

Japanese

Romanization

biwa

Rōmaji transcription of びわ
Rōmaji transcription of ビワ

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