name, noun ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A Japanese stringed instrument having numerous strings, usually seven or thirteen, that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are plucked with three plectra, worn on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of one hand.

   "Seated on the soft carpet with their drinks, they listened to a recording of koto, Japanese thirteen-string harp."

2. 2
   Japanese stringed instrument that resembles a zither; has a rectangular wooden sounding board and usually 13 silk strings that are plucked with the fingers wordnet

Proper Noun

1. 1
   A special ward in Tokyo prefecture, Japan.

Synonyms

All synonyms

koto city

Example

More examples

"She likes to play the koto very much."

Etymology

From Japanese 箏 (koto).

Related phrases

index fingermiddle fingerstringed instrument

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.