Koto Meaning in English
word
ˈkoʊtoʊ
KOH-toh
kˈəʊtəʊ
kuh-OH-toh
Definition
A koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to a zither, that is played by plucking its strings.
Usage & Nuances
The word 'koto' is almost always used to refer to the Japanese instrument and is mainly found in cultural or musical contexts. It is a loanword in English, so it is not pluralized (do not say 'kotos'). Often used with 'play the koto' or 'traditional koto music'.
Spanish: koto (instrumento japonés de cuerda)Portuguese (BR): koto (instrumento japonês de cordas)Portuguese (PT): koto (instrumento japonês de cordas)Chinese (Simplified): 古筝 (日本的) - 箏 (日本乐器)Chinese (Traditional): 古箏 (日本的) - 箏 (日本樂器)Hindi: कोटो (जापानी वाद्य यंत्र)Arabic: كوتو (آلة موسيقية يابانية)Bengali: কোটোRussian: котoJapanese: 箏（こと）Vietnamese: đàn kotoKorean: 고토Turkish: kotoUrdu: کوتوIndonesian: koto
Example Sentences
The musician played the koto at the festival.
basic
I watched a video about the koto.
basic
The koto has thirteen strings.
basic
Have you ever heard traditional koto music from Japan?
natural
She learned to play the koto while studying abroad in Tokyo.
natural
A lot of Japanese movies use the sound of a koto to create atmosphere.
natural