芸術・文化

子こどもの頃ころから芸術げいじゅつに興味きょうみがあった。

I've been interested in art since I was a child.

Usage 芸術 = art in the highest sense — fine art, music, theatre: 芸術家 (artist), 芸術的. 美術 is specifically the visual arts.

Remember it 芸 (accomplished skill) + 術 (technique) → skill raised to an art.

この作品さくひんは十年じゅうねんかけて完成かんせいしたそうだ。

They say this work took ten years to complete.

Usage 作品 covers paintings, books, films and music alike — anything created: 代表作 (a representative work), 作品集.

Remember it 作 (to make) + 品 (an article) → a made thing; the same 品 as in 商品.

彼女かのじょは働はたらきながら創作そうさくを続つづけている。

She keeps up her creative writing while holding down a job.

Usage 創作 = producing original work, especially writing: 創作活動, 創作意欲. 創作料理 is inventive cooking.

Remember it 創 (to originate) + 作 (to make) → making something that did not exist before.

この映画えいがの制作せいさくには三年さんねんかかった。

This film took three years to make.

Usage 制作 is used for works of art, films and programmes; 製作 (same reading) is for manufacturing goods. 制作費 = production costs.

Remember it 制 (to set out, to control) + 作 (to make) → making a work to a plan.

来月らいげつ、初はじめての個展こてんを開ひらく。

Next month I'm holding my first solo exhibition.

Usage 個展 = a one-person show: 個展を開く. A group show is グループ展; a large public exhibition is a 展覧会.

Remember it 個 (individual) + 展 (exhibition) → an exhibition of one individual's work.

美術館びじゅつかんの展覧会てんらんかいは来週らいしゅうまでだ。

The exhibition at the art museum runs until next week.

Usage 展覧会 = an art exhibition, usually a large one: 展覧会を見に行く. A trade fair is a 展示会 — a different word.

Remember it 展 (to spread out) + 覧 (to view) + 会 (event) → an event where work is spread out to be viewed.

彼かれは日本にほん映画えいがの巨匠きょしょうと呼よばれている。

He is called a master of Japanese cinema.

Usage 巨匠 = a great master of art, film or music. It is a heavy word, reserved for the very top figures: 巨匠の作品.

Remember it 巨 (giant) + 匠 (craftsman) → a giant among craftsmen.

この小説しょうせつは彼かれの傑作けっさくだ。

This novel is his masterpiece.

Usage 傑作 = a masterpiece. In casual speech it can also mean 'hilarious': あの話は傑作だった.

Remember it 傑 (outstanding) + 作 (work) → the work that stands out from all the rest.

子こどもの頃ころに読よんだ名作めいさくをもう一度いちど読よむ。

I'm rereading a classic I read as a child.

Usage 名作 = a famous, well-loved work: 名作映画, 世界の名作. 傑作 stresses quality; 名作 stresses fame that has lasted.

Remember it 名 (famous) + 作 (work) → the work everyone knows by name.

この映画えいがの原作げんさくは漫画まんがだ。

This film is based on a manga.

Usage 原作 = the original work an adaptation comes from: 原作者, 原作に忠実 (faithful to the original).

Remember it 原 (original) + 作 (work) → the work it all started from.

人気にんきが出でて続編ぞくへんが作つくられた。

It was popular, so a sequel was made.

Usage 続編 = a sequel: 続編が出る. 完結編 is the final instalment that wraps the story up.

Remember it 続 (to continue) + 編 (a volume) → the volume that carries the story on.

この舞台ぶたいの演出えんしゅつは若わかい監督かんとくが担当たんとうした。

A young director was in charge of staging this play.

Usage 演出 = direction and staging — how a work is presented. It also means engineering a mood: サプライズの演出. Film directing is 監督.

Remember it 演 (to perform) + 出 (to bring out) → bringing the performance out of the script.

この物語ものがたりの主人公しゅじんこうは十七歳じゅうななさいの少女しょうじょだ。

The protagonist of this story is a seventeen-year-old girl.

Usage 主人公 = the main character of a story: 人生の主人公 (the star of your own life). A hero in the heroic sense is 英雄 or ヒーロー.

Remember it 主人 (the master) + 公 (a noble title) → the story's own lord.

登場人物とうじょうじんぶつが多おおくて覚おぼえられない。

There are so many characters that I can't keep them straight.

Usage 登場人物 = the cast of characters in a story: 登場人物表. The verb 登場する = to come on stage, or to appear in a story.

Remember it 登場 (to come on stage) + 人物 (a person) → the people who come on stage.

彼女かのじょは今夜こんや初はじめて舞台ぶたいに立たつ。

She stands on stage for the first time tonight.

Usage 舞台 is the stage, live theatre, and the setting of a story: 京都を舞台にした小説 (a novel set in Kyoto).

Remember it 舞 (to dance) + 台 (platform) → the platform you dance on.

客席きゃくせきから大おおきな笑わらい声ごえが聞きこえた。

Loud laughter came from the audience seats.

Usage 客席 = the seating area where the audience sits: 客席が埋まる (the house fills up). The other side is the 舞台.

Remember it 客 (guest) + 席 (seat) → the guests' seats.

会場かいじょうを埋うめた観客かんきゃくが一斉いっせいに立たち上あがった。

The audience filling the hall rose to their feet all at once.

Usage 観客 watch in person; 視聴者 watch on television; 読者 read. Japanese has a separate word for each kind of audience.

Remember it 観 (to watch) + 客 (guest) → the guests who came to watch.

演奏えんそうが終おわると大おおきな拍手はくしゅが起おこった。

When the performance ended, loud applause broke out.

Usage 拍手 = applause: 拍手する, 拍手が起こる. At a shrine the ritual clap is written with the same characters but read かしわで.

Remember it 拍 (to beat time) + 手 (hands) → beating time with your hands.

今回こんかいの公演こうえんは全部ぜんぶ売うり切きれた。

This run of performances sold out completely.

Usage 公演 = a public performance or run of shows: 全国公演, 公演中止. Careful: 講演, with the same reading, is a lecture.

Remember it 公 (public) + 演 (to perform) → performing in public.

舞台ぶたいの初日しょにちは緊張きんちょうした。

I was nervous on the play's opening night.

Usage 初日 read しょにち is opening day for a show or a sumo tournament; read はつひ it is the first sunrise of the new year.

Remember it 初 (first) + 日 (day) → the first day the curtain goes up.

このピアノは柔やわらかい音色ねいろがする。

This piano has a soft tone.

Usage 音色 = the character of a sound, the quality that tells a violin from a flute: 美しい音色. Note the kun reading ねいろ.

Remember it 音 (sound) + 色 (colour) → the colour of a sound.

この曲きょくの旋律せんりつは忘わすれられない。

I can't forget this piece's melody.

Usage 旋律 = melody, the written-language word. In conversation people say メロディー.

Remember it 旋 (to turn, to wind) + 律 (measure) → the line that winds its way through the bars.

ギターで三みっつの和音わおんを覚おぼえた。

I learned three chords on the guitar.

Usage 和音 = a chord; musicians often just say コード. 不協和音 is a dissonant chord — and also friction between people.

Remember it 和 (harmony) + 音 (sound) → sounds sitting in harmony.

この曲きょくは三拍子さんびょうしだ。

This piece is in three-four time.

Usage 拍子 = musical time: 四拍子, 拍子をとる (to keep time). The idiom ～した拍子に means 'the very moment you did it'.

Remember it 拍 (to beat) + 子 (a small unit) → the small beats that fill a bar.

音楽おんがくに合あわせて体からだでリズムをとる。

I keep the rhythm with my body, in time with the music.

Usage リズム = rhythm, in music and in life: 生活のリズム (your daily routine), リズム感 (a sense of rhythm).

Remember it English 'rhythm' — but remember 生活のリズム, where Japanese uses it for the rhythm of your day.

楽譜がくふが読よめなくてもピアノは弾ひける。

You can play the piano even if you can't read music.

Usage 楽譜 = sheet music or a score: 楽譜を読む, 楽譜通りに弾く (to play exactly as written).

Remember it 楽 (music) + 譜 (a written record) → music written down.

彼かれのバイオリン独奏どくそうが始はじまった。

His violin solo began.

Usage 独奏 = an instrumental solo; singing alone is 独唱. 合奏 is playing together and 伴奏 is accompaniment.

Remember it 独 (alone) + 奏 (to play an instrument) → playing alone.

先生せんせいがピアノで伴奏ばんそうしてくれた。

The teacher accompanied me on the piano.

Usage 伴奏 = accompaniment: 伴奏する, 無伴奏 (unaccompanied). The same 伴 gives 同伴 (going along with someone).

Remember it 伴 (to accompany) + 奏 (to play) → playing alongside the soloist.

大学だいがくで声楽せいがくを学まなんでいる。

I'm studying voice at university.

Usage 声楽 = vocal music as a discipline — opera and art song. Its pair is 器楽. A pop singer is simply a 歌手.

Remember it 声 (voice) + 楽 (music) → music made with the voice.

この学校がっこうは器楽きがくに力ちからを入いれている。

This school puts a lot into instrumental music.

Usage 器楽 = instrumental music, the pair to 声楽: 器楽合奏.

Remember it 器 (instrument) + 楽 (music) → music made with instruments. Reverse the two and you get 楽器, the instrument itself.

公園こうえんに大おおきな彫刻ちょうこくが置おかれている。

A large sculpture stands in the park.

Usage 彫刻 = sculpture or carving: 彫刻家 (sculptor), 木彫り (wood carving). The verb 彫る also covers tattooing.

Remember it 彫 (to carve) + 刻 (to engrave) → cutting the shape out of the block.

美術館びじゅつかんで十九世紀じゅうきゅうせいきの絵画かいがを見みた。

I saw nineteenth-century paintings at the museum.

Usage 絵画 is the formal word for painting as an art form; everyday speech uses 絵. 絵画展 = a painting exhibition.

Remember it 絵 (picture) + 画 (drawing) → two words for picture doubled up to name the art form.

浮世絵うきよえは木きの版画はんがである。

Ukiyo-e are woodblock prints.

Usage 版画 = a print pulled from a carved block: 木版画 (woodblock), 銅版画 (copperplate). The same 版 appears in 出版 (publishing).

Remember it 版 (printing block) + 画 (picture) → a picture pressed from a block.

水彩すいさいで風景ふうけいを描かくのが趣味しゅみだ。

Painting landscapes in watercolour is my hobby.

Usage 水彩 = watercolour: 水彩画, 水彩絵の具 (watercolour paints). Its opposite is 油絵.

Remember it 水 (water) + 彩 (colour) → colour thinned with water.

油絵あぶらえは乾かわくのに時間じかんがかかる。

Oil paintings take a long time to dry.

Usage 油絵 = an oil painting: 油絵を描く. Note the kun reading あぶら — the same 油 reads ゆ in 給油 and 石油.

Remember it 油 (oil) + 絵 (picture) → a picture painted in oil.

芸能げいのう界かいのニュースばかり見みている。

I only ever watch showbiz news.

Usage 芸能 covers the performing arts and the entertainment industry: 芸能人 (a celebrity), 芸能界 (showbiz), 伝統芸能.

Remember it 芸 (accomplished skill) + 能 (ability, and the Noh theatre) → skills performed for an audience.

祖母そぼは地元じもとの民謡みんようを歌うたってくれた。

My grandmother sang me a local folk song.

Usage 民謡 = a traditional folk song of a region: 日本民謡, 民謡歌手. A children's song is a 童謡.

Remember it 民 (the people) + 謡 (song) → the people's own song.

日本にほん舞踊ぶようを習ならい始はじめた。

I've started learning Japanese classical dance.

Usage 舞踊 = dance as a traditional art form: 日本舞踊, 民族舞踊. Social dancing is ダンス, and dancing in general is 踊り.

Remember it 舞 (to turn and dance with sleeves) + 踊 (to leap and dance) → both kinds of dancing in one word.

この町まちは伝統でんとう工芸こうげいで知しられている。

This town is known for its traditional crafts.

Usage 工芸 = craft where beauty meets use — pottery, lacquer, textiles: 工芸品, 伝統工芸. 美術 is art made to be looked at.

Remember it 工 (craft work) + 芸 (art) → work that is also art.

新あたらしい作品さくひんが入口いりぐちに展示てんじされている。

A new work is on display at the entrance.

Usage 展示 = putting something on display: 展示する, 展示会 (trade show), 展示品 (the item on show).

Remember it 展 (to spread out) + 示 (to show) → spread out where people can see it.