biwa
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word biwa. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word biwa, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say biwa in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word biwa you have here. The definition of the word biwa will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofbiwa, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Biwa
English
Etymology
Borrowing from Japanese 琵琶 (biwa). Doublet of bipa and pipa.
Noun
biwa (plural biwas or biwa)
- A plucked lute, originating in the classical and traditional music of Japan, characterized by a pear-shaped body and four or five high frets, giving the instrument a distinctively twangy tone.
Translations
lute
See also
References
- 2013. Japanese Music and Musical Instruments. William Malm. Pg. 44.
- 2015. Japanese Singers of Tales: Ten Centuries of Performed Narrative. Alison McQueen Tokita. Pg. 60.
Anagrams
Indonesian
Etymology
From Japanese 琵琶湖 (biwa, “Lake Biwa”), referring to where the pearls are first cultured.
Noun
biwa
- Cultured freshwater pearls, especially referring to the flat type of biwa pearls.
Further reading
- “biwa” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.
Japanese
Romanization
biwa
Sakizaya
Pronunciation
Noun
biwa