ドラム
doramu[do̞ɾa̠mɯ̟]
The English phrase "drums" is translated into Japanese as ドラム (doramu).
ドラム refers to percussion instruments played by hitting a membrane or skin with sticks or hands. In a musical context, it is most commonly used to refer to a drum kit.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between Western and traditional instruments. ドラム is used for Western-style drum kits, while 太鼓 (taiko) is used for traditional Japanese drums.
How do you pronounce it?
doramu
Did you know?
- While ドラム refers to the kit, the traditional 太鼓 can be as large as a house and requires multiple people to strike it with massive mallets.
- Some Japanese festivals use 太鼓 as a spiritual tool to communicate with gods or wake up the spirits of nature.
- In traditional 太鼓 performances, the drummer's posture and shouts are considered as essential to the music as the rhythm itself.
Examples in context
- トムってドラムやってるの？Does Tom play drums?This sentence is useful for asking if someone plays the drums.Tatoeba #12359791 by bunbuku, translation #11919028 by CK
- ドラムを叩くTo play the drumsThis sentence shows the action of playing the drums.
- 今日、太鼓の演奏があります。Today, there is a taiko performance.
- 私はドラムを演奏します。I play the drums.
- 新しいドラムを買いました。Atarashii doramu o kaimashita.I bought new drums.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about music in a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui蓮くんはドラムを叩けるの？Ren-kun wa doramu o tatakeru no?Ren, can you play the drums?
- 蓮 Renうん、バンドでドラムを担当しているよ。Un, bando de doramu o tantou shite iru yo.Yeah, I play the drums in a band.
- 結衣 Yuiかっこいい！いつか演奏を聞かせてね。Kakkoii! Itsuka ensou o kikasete ne.That's cool! Please let me hear you play sometime.
- 蓮 Renもちろんだよ、結衣さん。Mochiron da yo, Yui-san.Of course, Yui.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ドラム, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
