gaku

Gaku is a romanization used in English and other languages for several Japanese words and names. In Japanese, gaku is primarily an on'yomi reading of two kanji: 学 and 楽. The meaning depends on the character: with 学 it denotes study or learning; with 楽 it denotes ease, pleasure, or music.

Words based on 学 include gakusei (student), gakkō (school), gakuryoku (academic ability), gakushū (learning), gakubu (faculty or department), and gakui (academic degree). These terms show how the gaku reading is embedded in education-related vocabulary.

Words based on 楽 include ongaku (music), where 音 provides the sound component and 楽 contributes the musical or pleasurable meaning, as well as compounds emphasizing ease or comfort. The gaku reading here is the on'yomi of 楽.

Gaku also functions as a given name in Japan. When used as a personal name, the meaning varies with the kanji chosen; common possibilities include 学 (study) or 楽 (pleasure/music). As a name, gaku is typically masculine but can be represented with different spellings and kanji.

Outside of Japanese, gaku appears mainly in transliteration contexts and in lists of Sino-Japanese readings. It is not a language by itself but a component of many words and names in Japanese.