biwa

Borrowing from Japanese 琵琶 (biwa). Doublet of bipa and pipa.

biwa (plural biwas or biwa)

1. A plucked lute, originating in the classical and traditional music of Japan, characterized by a pear-shaped body and four or five high frets, giving the instrument a distinctively twangy tone.

• Appendix:Glossary of chordophones

• 2013. Japanese Music and Musical Instruments. William Malm. Pg. 44.
• 2015. Japanese Singers of Tales: Ten Centuries of Performed Narrative. Alison McQueen Tokita. Pg. 60.

• wabi

From Japanese 琵琶湖 (biwa, “Lake Biwa”), referring to where the pearls are first cultured.

biwa

1. Cultured freshwater pearls, especially referring to the flat type of biwa pearls.

• “biwa” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

biwa

1. Rōmaji transcription of びわ
2. Rōmaji transcription of ビワ

• IPA^(key): /bi.ˈwa/, [bi.ˈwa]

biwa

1. loquat tree