tanka
C2Academic/literary
Definition
Meaning
A Japanese poem of five lines with 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 syllables.
A traditional form of Japanese poetry predating haiku, often expressing personal emotion or natural imagery.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used primarily in literary and cultural studies; not part of everyday vocabulary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning.
Connotations
Associated with Japanese literature and poetry traditions.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
She wrote a tanka about the cherry blossoms.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As brief as a tanka.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in literature, poetry, and East Asian studies.
Everyday
Rarely used.
Technical
Used in poetry analysis and literary criticism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He enjoys tanka-writing as a hobby.
American English
- She likes to tanka during her free time.
adverb
British English
- He writes tanka-ly, with strict syllable counts.
American English
- She composed the poem tanka-style.
adjective
British English
- The tanka form is very structured.
American English
- It was a tanka-style composition.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A tanka is a Japanese poem with five lines.
- The subtle emotion in her tanka contrasted sharply with the directness of her haiku.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TANKA rhymes with 'haiku' - both are short Japanese poems.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTISTIC CONTAINER (a small, structured vessel for emotion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'танк' (tank).
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it /ˈtɑːnkə/ (like 'tank'), or confusing it with haiku.
Practice
Quiz
What is the syllable pattern of a tanka?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A haiku has three lines (5-7-5 syllables). A tanka has five lines (5-7-5-7-7 syllables).
Yes, but English syllable counts are less strict; poets often adapt the form focusing on brevity and imagery.
It means 'short song' or 'short poem'.
Love, nature, the changing seasons, and personal reflection are common themes.