Translation and Meaning of: 演奏 - ensou

The Japanese word 演奏[えんそう] is a term that sparks curiosity among students and enthusiasts of the Japanese language. If you are looking for its meaning, translation, or how to use it in daily life, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will explore everything from its origin to the cultural context of this expression, as well as practical tips for memorizing it. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide the best content for those who want to master Japanese naturally and efficiently.

The meaning and translation of 演奏[えんそう]

演奏 [えんそう] is a word that means "musical performance" or "performance." It is often used to describe the performance of musicians in concerts, live presentations, or even recordings. Unlike more generic terms like 音楽 [おんがく] (music), 演奏 carries a more active sense, related to the act of playing an instrument or interpreting a piece.

In Japan, this word is common in both formal and informal contexts. You can find it in TV shows about music, event posters, or even in everyday conversations when someone comments on a recent performance. Its use reflects the appreciation of musical culture in the country, from traditional koto concerts to modern J-pop performances.

The origin and the kanjis of 演奏

The etymology of 演奏 comes from the combination of two kanji: 演 (en), which means "perform" or "represent," and 奏 (sou), which refers to "play" or "finger." Together, they convey the idea of "executing a musical piece." This construction is not random—it reflects the importance of precision and technique in Japanese music, whether classical or contemporary.

It is worth noting that 奏 also appears in other words related to music, such as 独奏[どくそう] (instrumental solo) or 伴奏[ばんそう] (musical accompaniment). This pattern helps to identify terms in the same semantic field, a useful resource for those learning Japanese.

How to memorize and use 演奏 in everyday life

A practical tip to remember 演奏 is to associate it with real-life situations. For example, imagine a poster saying "ピアノの演奏会" (piano concert) or a sentence like "彼のギターの演奏は素晴らしかった" (his guitar performance was amazing). Visual and auditory contexts facilitate vocabulary internalization.

Another strategy is to note that 演 appears in words like 演劇[えんげき] (theater), reinforcing the idea of performance. As mentioned, 奏 is a quintessential music kanji. Separating the components in this way makes learning more intuitive and less mechanical.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 演奏する (ensou suru) - Perform a musical performance
• 演奏曲 (ensoukyoku) - Musical piece/composition to be performed
• 演奏家 (ensouka) - Musician/Performer who carries out musical performances
• 演奏会 (ensoukai) - Live concerts/musical performances
• 演奏技術 (ensou gijutsu) - Musical performance technique
• 演奏力 (ensou ryoku) - Musical performance ability
• 演奏方法 (ensou houhou) - Method of musical execution
• 演奏者 (ensousha) - Musical performer/interpreter (without specifying the role)
• 演奏指導 (ensou shidou) - Guidance or instruction in musical performance
• 演奏時間 (ensou jikan) - Duration of the musical performance

演奏

Romaji: ensou
Kana: えんそう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: musical performance

Meaning in English: musical performance

Definition: Playing music using instruments, voices, etc.

Example Sentences - (演奏) ensou

See below some example sentences:

オーケストラの演奏は美しいです。

Ookesutora no ensou wa utsukushii desu

The presentation of an orchestra is beautiful.

The orchestra performance is beautiful.

• オーケストラ - orchestra
• の - Possessive particle (indicates that the orchestra is the subject of the sentence)
• 演奏 - Performance, execution (in this case, of the orchestra)
• は - Topic particle (indicates that the performance of the orchestra is the theme of the sentence)
• 美しい - Nice, beautiful, beautiful
• です - Copula particle (indicates that the sentence is an affirmative statement)

ソロで演奏するのが好きです。

Soro de ensō suru no ga suki desu

I like to play alone.

I like to play alone.

• ソロ (soro) - means "only" in Japanese
• で (de) - a particle that indicates the means or the place where something happens
• 演奏する (ensou suru) - means "playing an instrument" or "performing a song" in Japanese
• のが (noga) - a particle that indicates someone's preference or personal taste
• 好き (suki) - It means "to like" or "to prefer" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - a particle that indicates formality or politeness in the Japanese language

楽器を演奏するのが好きです。

Gakki wo ensou suru no ga suki desu

I like to play musical instruments.

I like to play instruments.

• 楽器 (gakki) - musical instrument
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 演奏する (ensou suru) - play, perform (an instrument)
• のが (noga) - particle indicating subjectivity
• 好き (suki) - to like, to be pleasant
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

私はピアノの演奏が好きです。

Watashi wa piano no ensō ga suki desu

I like playing the piano.

I like piano performances.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• ピアノ (piano) - noun that means "piano"
• の (no) - possessive particle indicating that the preceding noun is the possessor of something
• 演奏 (ensou) - musical performance
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き (suki) - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

私はバイオリンを演奏するのが好きです。

Watashi wa baiorin o ensou suru no ga suki desu

I like to play the violin.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• バイオリン (baiorin) - word in Japanese that means "violin"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 演奏する (ensousuru) - verb meaning "to play (an instrument)"
• のが (noga) - particle that indicates the nominal subject function of the sentence
• 好き (suki) - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the formality of the sentence

私は管楽器を演奏するのが好きです。

Watashi wa kangukki o ensō suru no ga suki desu

I like to play wind instruments.

I like to throw wind instruments.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 管楽器 (kangakki) - noun meaning "wind instrument"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 演奏する (ensousuru) - verb meaning "to play (an instrument)"
• のが (noga) - particle indicating that the sentence is an expression of tastes or preferences
• 好き (suki) - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence