Shamisen

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈʃæmɪsÉ›n/

Alternative forms

• samisen
• syamisen
• jamisen
• jabisen

Origin

From Japanese 三味線.

From Japanese 三味線, from Chinese 三弦 sānxián, from sān ‘three’ + xián ‘string’.

Full definition of shamisen

Noun

1. A kind of three-stringed Japanese fretless lute