短歌
たんか · tanka · JLPT N1 · noun
poem
短歌 = 短 (short) + 歌 (song): a short song, 31 syllables in 5-7-5-7-7 lines
Its 31 syllables follow a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern. The name pairs 短, short, with 歌, song, and it is set against the longer 長歌 chōka poem form.
短 — arrow 矢 + bean/vessel 豆
Originally a phono-semantic compound: 矢 (arrow) gives the meaning, since arrows were used as a short measuring stick, while 豆 (an ancient stemmed vessel) supplied the sound. From 'short in length' the meaning broadened to 'short' in time, stature, or quality.
歌 — 哥 (phonetic 'gē') + 欠 (open mouth)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The right side 欠 depicts a person with an open mouth, supplying the meaning of singing or vocalizing. The left side 哥 gives the sound 'gē'. Together they form the verb and noun for 'song' or 'to sing'.