独奏

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 独奏(どくそう) combines 独, alone, with 奏, playing a musical instrument.
• Basic usage: It denotes an instrumental solo centered on one performer and can also be used as the verb 独奏する.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Performance type versus 独唱
  • 独奏 is instrumental, while 独唱(どくしょう) is solo singing. The English word solo alone does not show this distinction.
• Distinguishing 独走
  • 独走(どくそう) means running alone or moving ahead of others. Distinguish musical 奏 from running-related 走.