bowstring · chord

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 弦 has 8 strokes, the on-reading げん, and the kun-reading つる. The word 弦 (げん), meaning a musical string, uses the on-reading.
• Basic usage: 弦 names a string on an instrument; 弦楽器 (げんがっき) names the category of string instruments.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An instrument's string and the whole instrument
  • ギターの弦が切れた means that a guitar string broke. 新しい弦に張り替える means replacing it with a new string.
  • さまざまな弦楽器 means various string instruments. 弦楽器の柔らかな音色 refers to their gentle tone.