shamisen
noun
sham·i·sen
ˈsha-mə-ˌsen 
variants
or less commonly samisen
: a 3-stringed Japanese musical instrument resembling a banjo
Examples of shamisen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment.
—
Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Vibrant paper lanterns line the streets, and the sounds of shamisen music echo from a nearby tea house.
—Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
Locals pulled out all the stops, with hands-on ikebana, gagaku (imperial court music) by the sea at Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, and a shamisen and classical dance recital in a former cartographer's residence.
—Kate Crockett, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Dec. 2023
The Hu blends the sounds of horsehead fiddle with electric guitars and drums; in Japan, Wagakki Band incorporates the traditional three-stringed shamisen into its blend of heavy rock.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 20 Oct. 2022
His parents ran an establishment where women entertained guests by playing classical Japanese instruments like the three-stringed shamisen.
—Suryatapa Bhattacharya, WSJ, 8 Oct. 2020
The music is grand and has an anthemic quality to it, and the composers include instruments that are seldom used in games, especially indie titles like this one, like the shamisen and saxophone.
—Jonathan Peltz, Wired, 7 Apr. 2021
Much of the excitement of this hour—both for viewers and the characters themselves—was in recognizing the clone character under the pancake makeup, or in hearing a familiar tune rendered in shamisen.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2018
During the course of an evening, a geisha or meikko engages in skillful conversation before transitioning to play a three-stringed instrument called a shamisen.
—Sery Kim, Fox News, 15 June 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Vibrant paper lanterns line the streets, and the sounds of shamisen music echo from a nearby tea house.
—Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
Locals pulled out all the stops, with hands-on ikebana, gagaku (imperial court music) by the sea at Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, and a shamisen and classical dance recital in a former cartographer's residence.
—Kate Crockett, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Dec. 2023
The Hu blends the sounds of horsehead fiddle with electric guitars and drums; in Japan, Wagakki Band incorporates the traditional three-stringed shamisen into its blend of heavy rock.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 20 Oct. 2022
His parents ran an establishment where women entertained guests by playing classical Japanese instruments like the three-stringed shamisen.
—Suryatapa Bhattacharya, WSJ, 8 Oct. 2020
The music is grand and has an anthemic quality to it, and the composers include instruments that are seldom used in games, especially indie titles like this one, like the shamisen and saxophone.
—Jonathan Peltz, Wired, 7 Apr. 2021
Much of the excitement of this hour—both for viewers and the characters themselves—was in recognizing the clone character under the pancake makeup, or in hearing a familiar tune rendered in shamisen.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2018
During the course of an evening, a geisha or meikko engages in skillful conversation before transitioning to play a three-stringed instrument called a shamisen.
—Sery Kim, Fox News, 15 June 2017
Dictionary Entries Near shamisen
Cite this Entry
“Shamisen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shamisen. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share