ENGLISH
REFERENCE

geisha

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈɡeɪʃə// UK //dʒˈeɪʃɐ// geisha

n. a highly trained Japanese entertainer who performs traditional arts like music, dance, and tea ceremonies. They are famous for wearing beautiful silk kimonos and special white makeup.

n. a highly skilled Japanese entertainer who performs traditional arts such as music, dance, and tea ceremonies. Historically associated with the geiko and maiko traditions of Kyoto, the term is often used in English to refer to the entire profession.


SIMPLE

The geisha played the shamisen for the guests.

CONTEXTUAL

During the festival, a geisha performed a traditional dance that told the story of a famous samurai.

COMPLEX

While the image of the geisha is often romanticised in Western media, the reality of the profession involves years of rigorous training in multiple disciplines, including calligraphy and classical Japanese poetry.

Origin

Borrowed from Japanese 芸者(げいしゃ) (geisha, “artisan”), from Middle Chinese 藝 (MC ngjiejH, “art, craft”) + 者 (MC tsyaeX, “-er”).

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