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Koto

Musical Instrument
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A Japanese 13-string zither with movable bridges, known for its serene, flowing tone

Detailed Definition
The koto’s meditative sound appears in haiku and tanka-inspired poetry to evoke seasonal change, stillness, and refined emotion; its association with courtly women and modern innovation makes it a symbol of both tradition and lyrical transformation in verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Japanese tanka uses the koto to mark seasons: “Koto sounds—cherry / petals fall on still pond / spring’s last breath”; Its silk strings embody wabi-sabi imperfection; “Thirteen strings, thirteen moons—koto measures longing”; In modern verse, the koto’s pluck contrasts digital noise: “While phones buzz, koto whispers one true note.”
Additional Notes
The koto is a 13-string Japanese zither with movable bridges, central to gagaku and modern compositions; its plucked, resonant tones evoke stillness, seasonal change, or refined aesthetics—poets might use it to explore mono no aware (pathos of things), the tension between structure and improvisation, or the koto as mirror of Zen minimalism.
Also Known As
Japanese koto
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