短歌

• Reading: たんか
• Romaji: tanka
• Kanji breakdown: 短 (tan) — short; 歌 (ka) — song, poem
• Pronunciation: /taɴ.ka/

Meaning

Tanka; a traditional Japanese poem of 31 morae in 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.

One of the oldest forms of Japanese poetry, dating back to the Nara period. Distinguished from haiku (5-7-5) by its two additional lines (7-7). Still actively composed today; modern tanka often explores contemporary themes while maintaining the traditional mora structure.

Examples

1. 国語の授業で初めて短歌を作った。 I composed a tanka for the first time in Japanese class.
2. 短歌は五七五七七の三十一音で構成される。 Tanka consists of 31 morae arranged in a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.
3. 祖母は趣味で短歌を詠んでいる。 My grandmother composes tanka as a hobby.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, education, culture, poetry

Tone: cultural

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 短 (tan, short) + 歌 (ka, song/poem). Literally 'short poem,' distinguishing it from 長歌 (chouka, long poem). The form has been central to Japanese literature since the Man'youshuu (8th century).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated