How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Japanese words on “Arts and creation”. The full topic holds 174 in the KoKo app: 69 at the easy level, 61 at the medium level and 44 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Japanese vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Japanese vocabulary: art, literature and music

Music, painting, theatre, photography, literature: arts and culture vocabulary in Japanese.

Here are 100 Japanese words on “Arts and creation”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Japanese	English
俳優	actor
芸術	art
芸術思潮	art movement
芸術家	artist
観客	audience
前衛	avant garde
美しさ	beauty
カメラ	camera
カンバス	canvas
章	chapter
和音	chord
所蔵品	collection
喜劇	comedy
演奏会	concert
創作	creation
舞踊	dance
デザイン	design
せりふ	dialogue
贋作	forgery
楽器	instrument
風景画	landscape
詩行	line of verse
文学	literature
美術館	museum
音階	musical scale
物語	narrative
長編小説	novel
オペラ	opera
絵画	painting
遠近法	perspective
詩	poetry
肖像画	portrait
出版人	publisher
役	role
短編小説	short story
歌手	singer
静物画	still life
画風	style
才能	talent
巡業	tour

Level 2: medium 35 words

Japanese	English
抽象的	abstract
美学	aesthetics
アトリエ	artist’s studio
反復部	chorus
粘土	clay
指揮者	conductor
同時代の	contemporary
舞台衣装	costume
舞台の幕	curtain
演出家	director
楽屋	dressing room
フラッシュ	flash
フルート	flute
ギター	guitar
霊感	inspiration
大理石	marble
旋律	melody
語り手	narrator
カンバス油彩	oil on canvas
パレット	palette
写真	photograph
台座	plinth
筋書き	plot
一編の詩	poem
リハーサル	rehearsal
上演目録	repertoire
楽譜	score
舞台装置	set
スケッチ	sketch
スナップ写真	snapshot
彫像	statue
緊迫感	suspense
作曲する	to compose
着想を与える	to inspire
バイオリン	violin

Level 3: hard 25 words

Japanese	English
アコーディオン	accordion
木炭画	charcoal drawing
合唱団	choir
クラリネット	clarinet
画架	easel
結末	ending
具象的	figurative
ハープ	harp
即興演奏	improvisation
無言劇	mime
独白	monologue
絵筆	paintbrush
芸術支援者	patron
打楽器	percussion
木版画	print artwork
開幕内覧会	private view
サックス	saxophone
自画像	self portrait
独奏者	soloist
舞台上がり	stage fright
連	stanzaGroup of lines in a poem
交響曲	symphony
拍手する	to applaud
即興で行う	to improvise
水彩画	watercolour

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Japanese words on “Arts and creation”. The full topic holds 174 in the KoKo app: 69 at the easy level, 61 at the medium level and 44 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Japanese vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Japanese vocabulary on iPhone.