民謡

• Reading: みんよう
• Romaji: minyou
• Kanji breakdown: 民 (min) — people, folk; 謡 (you) — song, ballad
• Pronunciation: /miɴ.joː/

Meaning

Folk song; traditional popular song passed down through generations in a region.

A noun referring to traditional songs rooted in specific regions or communities, often associated with local festivals, work, and daily life. Japan has a rich tradition of 民謡, with famous examples like ソーラン節 (Soran Bushi) from Hokkaido and 花笠音頭 (Hanagasa Ondo) from Yamagata. Distinct from 童謡 (children's songs) and 歌謡曲 (popular songs).

Examples

1. 祖母はよく地元の民謡を歌ってくれた。 My grandmother often sang local folk songs for me.
2. 各地の民謡にはその土地の歴史が反映されている。 The folk songs of each region reflect the history of that land.
3. 民謡を現代風にアレンジしたアルバムが話題だ。 An album featuring folk songs arranged in a modern style is generating buzz.

Usage Guide

Context: music, culture, festivals, regional

Tone: warm

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 民 (min, people/folk) + 謡 (you, song/ballad). Literally 'songs of the people,' referring to music created and transmitted by ordinary people rather than court or religious musicians.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal