カラオケ – What does Karaoke mean in Japanese?
Karaoke is a fun pastime popular in Japan but today also around the world. Today if you want to sing what is popular you can even find the karaoke top songs, some minor songs, and whatever else karaoke on Youtube. Beyond singing though, have you ever asked yourself, what does Karaoke mean in Japanese? Well, let’s take a look.
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What does Karaoke mean in Japanese?
Karaoke in Japanese today is written as カラオケ. The word originally comes from a combination of two words:
- 空
- オーケストラ
空
The first word, 空 means empty. It shows up in situations to talk about empty containers, empty cars and so on. Another concept similar to empty that you would use 空 for is to say that you don’t have anything. Or in other words, you are not using anything. This usage of the word 空 is in fact the same as the Kara in Karate which means empty-handed. Empty-handed meaning opposed to using weapons to fight. So, in the word karaoke, it means that you are performing without needing anything. Or singing just as is.
https://japaneseuniverse.com/2024/02/18/pac-man-in-japaneseconcepts-behind-development-to-global-icon/オーケストラ
The next word is オーケストラ which means orchestra. This word has been shortened to オケ in the word カラオケ. So, if we put カラ together with オケ we get an orchestra or performance without instruments or anything else. The literal meaning then of カラオケ is an empty orchestra referring to people just singing by themselves without having a full band behind them.
So now that you know what karaoke means, If you want to learn more Japanese I reviewed a dictionary of grammar series which I personally recommend and use myself.
I also have several other posts on various topics on Japanese Universe if you are interested.
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