Since Ci was originally composed in accordance with music, it is sometimes called Ten Ci, meaning "filling the music with verses," and also Isei, meaning "to the tune of the music."
曲に合わせて詞が書かれたので、詞を埋めるという意味で填詞（てんし）、音楽に合わせるという意味で倚声（いせい）とも言われる。