音楽家
ongakuka[õ̞ŋɡa̠kɯ̟ka̠]
The Japanese word for musician is 音楽家 (ongakuka).
音楽家 refers to a person who performs or writes music. It is specifically used to describe professional musicians, often with a focus on those involved in classical or traditional Japanese music.
Meaning: person who performs or writes music (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 音楽家 refers to a professional or serious musician, the loanword ミュージシャン (myūjishan) is often used for more contemporary or pop-style musicians.
How do you pronounce it?
ongakuka
Did you know?
- The character 楽 in 音楽家 can be read as 'raku' meaning 'comfort' or 'ease' and as 'gaku' meaning 'music'. Depending on the reading, the word shifts from a feeling of pleasure to a formal art form.
- The word for music, 音楽 (ongaku), combines the characters for 'sound' and 'joy' or 'pleasure', literally framing music as 'pleasurable sounds'.
- The suffix 家 (-ka) in 音楽家 is also used to denote experts or masters in other specialized fields, such as a writer (小説家 – shōsetsuka) or an architect (建築家 – kenchikuka).
Examples in context
- 私は音楽家です。I'm a musician.This sentence is useful for stating your own profession with 音楽家.Tatoeba #2060587 by bunbuku, translation #1890953 by CK
- 彼は音楽家のようだ。It appears that he is a musician.This sentence uses 音楽家 to describe what someone appears to be.Tatoeba #109478 by bunbuku, translation #294211 by CK
- 彼女は音楽家と結婚した。She married a musician.This sentence shows how to use 音楽家 when describing someone's spouse.Tatoeba #90950 by bunbuku, translation #312764 by CK
- 私の友人は優れた音楽家です。My friend is an excellent musician.
- あの人はすごく才能のある音楽家だ。That person is a very talented musician.
- 彼は大阪の有名な音楽家です。He is a famous musician from Osaka.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about music in a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんは音楽家になりたいの？Kenta-san wa ongakuka ni naritai no?Kenta, do you want to be a musician?
- 健太 Kentaはい、いつかプロの音楽家になりたいです。Hai, itsuka puro no ongakuka ni naritai desu.Yes, I want to be a professional musician someday.
- 美咲 Misaki素晴らしい夢ですね！Subarashii yume desu ne!That is a wonderful dream!
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんも応援してね。Misaki-san mo ouen shite ne.Please support me too, Misaki.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “musician” translations and entries 音楽家, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 音楽家, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
