短歌（たんか、tanka）
- tanka

The word 短歌（短歌, たんか） refers to a specific form of classical Japanese poetry. It is a traditional form of poetry that has been around for centuries, and it is still written and enjoyed today. A 短歌 is a poem composed of 31 syllables, structured in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern. These syllables are counted based on the Japanese mora, not on English syllables. This structured form allows for a specific rhythm and flow, and it often incorporates elements of nature, emotion, and reflection on life.

⚫︎柿食えば　鐘が鳴るなり　法隆寺 Translation: Eating a persimmon, a bell rings, Horyu-ji Temple. ⚫︎夕されば　野辺の秋風　身にしみて　むせび泣きつつ　我を思ふ Translation: As evening comes, the autumn wind in the fields pierces me, and as I weep and sob, I think of you.

You can use the word 短歌 when discussing or analyzing this specific type of Japanese poetry. It can be used in academic settings, when talking about Japanese literature, or even casually, when you encounter a poem written in this form. You might ask someone 短歌を書いていますか？ (Do you write [a Tanka]?) or say, あの短歌は美しい！ (That [Tanka] is beautiful!).

The word 短歌 is written in kanji as 短歌. The reading is たんか in hiragana. There are no variations in the okurigana, as it is a single word. It is not typically written in katakana.

There are no direct synonyms in English. In Japanese, however, you might loosely equate it with other forms of poetry.

There aren't specific antonyms as this is a specific type of poetry. Instead, it might be contrasted with other forms of Japanese poetry such as 俳句（俳句, haiku), which has a different syllable structure.

私は日本語の授業で短歌を学びました。 ・Translation: I learned about [Tanka] in my Japanese class. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that the speaker learned about the subject, 短歌, in the context of their Japanese language studies.

夏目漱石は短歌も書いていました。 ・Translation: Natsume Soseki also wrote [Tanka]. ・Explanation: This sentence provides information about a famous Japanese author, Natsume Soseki, and his involvement with the creation of 短歌.

The word 短歌 is derived from the structure of the poem. The characters themselves describe it. ⚫︎短（tan) means "short" or "brief." ⚫︎歌（ka）means "song" or "poem". Therefore, 短歌 literally means "short poem" reflecting the shorter length compared to longer Japanese poetic forms.