noun
koto
Koto (noun) means a Japanese stringed instrument with a long wooden body and usually thirteen strings, played by plucking with picks worn on the fingers. Example: “She performed a traditional piece on the koto.”
noun
1
A Japanese stringed instrument with a long wooden body and usually thirteen strings, played by plucking with picks worn on the fingers.
"Seated on the soft carpet with their drinks, they listened to a recording of koto, Japanese thirteen-string harp."
— Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle (1962)
"She performed a traditional piece on the koto."
"The koto's strings are stretched over a curved soundboard."
How to use koto
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic Japanese stringed instrument, similar in family to a zither.
Common pairings
play the koto
koto music
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Word forms
- Plural
- kotos
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She performed a traditional piece on the _____.
Etymology
From Japanese 箏 (koto).
Rhymes for koto
See all rhymes for koto →Frequently asked questions
What does “koto” mean?
The word “koto” means a Japanese stringed instrument with a long wooden body and usually thirteen strings, played by plucking with picks worn on the fingers. In plain terms, a classic Japanese stringed instrument, similar in family to a zither.
How do you use “koto” in a sentence?
Here is “koto” used in a sentence: “She performed a traditional piece on the koto.”
What part of speech is “koto”?
“Koto” is a noun.
Where does the word “koto” come from?
The word “koto” comes from Japanese.
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