校歌

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 校歌 is read as こうか and is a noun for the song officially associated with and representing a particular school.
• Basic usage: Use 校歌を歌う for singing it at a ceremony and 校歌の歌詞 when referring specifically to its lyrics.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• School-specific status
  • It does not mean every song sung at school; it is the song established as a symbol of that school.
• Song versus lyrics
  • 校歌 names the whole school song, whereas 校歌の歌詞 isolates its words.