Tanka - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A tanka is a traditional Japanese poem with five lines and a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable structure. It often expresses emotions or nature themes and is longer than a haiku.
Definition:
A traditional Japanese 31-syllable poem with a 5-7-5-7-7 structure, often expressing emotions or nature themes.
Synonyms:
waka, haiku, cinquain
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
prose, free verse
Common Collocations:
write a tanka, traditional tanka, modern tanka, tanka poetry, tanka contest
Derivatives:
tankas, tankaist
Usage Tips:
Use 'tanka' to refer to the specific Japanese poetic form; distinguish it from haiku by its longer structure.
Common Phrases:
tanka sequence, love tanka, seasonal tanka
Etymology:
Derived from Japanese '短歌' (short poem), contrasting with 'chōka' (long poem).
Examples:
- 1. She wrote a heartfelt tanka about cherry blossoms in spring.
- 2. The teacher explained the 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern of a tanka.
- 3. His winning tanka captured the melancholy of autumn evenings.
- 4. Tanka poetry often reflects deep emotions in just five lines.
- 5. We studied classical Japanese literature and analyzed several ancient tankas."