Free Tanka Syllable Checker
A traditional tanka (短歌) is a five-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern — 31 syllables total. The checker counts syllables on each line of your text and tells you which lines match and which need adjustment. For three-line haiku, use our Haiku Checker; for raw syllable counts, see the Syllable Counter.
Per-line breakdown
How the Tanka Checker Works
The checker splits your text into five lines and counts syllables on each. The 5-7-5-7-7 target is checked line by line, and the total (target: 31) is verified.
Rules & Best Practices
1Five lines: 5-7-5-7-7
Line 1: 5 syllables. Line 2: 7. Line 3: 5. Line 4: 7. Line 5: 7. Total: 31 syllables.
2Tanka is older than haiku
Tanka dates back to 8th-century Japan. Haiku (5-7-5) evolved from the first three lines of tanka.
3Tanka tells a richer story than haiku
With 31 syllables across 5 lines, tanka allows for a fuller emotional or narrative arc than the 17-syllable haiku.
4Classical themes: nature, love, longing
Traditional tanka explore nature, season, and intimate emotional experiences. Modern English tanka often loosen the syllable count.
Polish Your Writing
Combine grammar checks with our Character Counter and Word Counter for a full text analysis — counts, frequency, and structure.
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