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

A Japanese stringed instrument with a long wooden body and usually thirteen strings, played by plucking with picks worn on the fingers.

"She performed a traditional piece on the koto."

"The koto's strings are stretched over a curved soundboard."

How to use koto

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA classic Japanese stringed instrument, similar in family to a zither.

Common pairings

play the koto koto music

Word forms

kotos plural

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She performed a traditional piece on the _____.

Etymology

From Japanese 箏 (koto).

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for koto

oto GOTO Soto moto toto photo Kyoto DeSoto Okamoto Sakamoto Yamamoto Miyamoto

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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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Vocabulary lists that include koto:

Words with Japanese origins