Japanese Words with Their Pronunciation18

Learning Japanese can be a rewarding and enriching experience, but it can also be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding the pronunciation of Japanese words. Japanese has a unique set of syllables and sounds that can be difficult to master for non-native speakers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Japanese words with their pronunciation, covering basic pronunciation rules, common syllables, and tips for improving your pronunciation.

Pronunciation Rules

Syllables: Japanese words are composed of syllables, each of which consists of a consonant followed by a vowel. There are five basic vowels in Japanese: /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, and /o/. The consonant sounds can be either single consonants (/k/, /t/, /s/, etc.) or double consonants (/kk/, /tt/, /ss/, etc.).

Accent: Japanese words have a distinctive pitch accent system, which means that the pitch of the voice changes on certain syllables. The accent is usually marked with a macron (¯) over the accented vowel.

Consonant Doubling: When a consonant is doubled, it is pronounced with a stronger emphasis. For example, the word "katana" (sword) is pronounced with a strong emphasis on the "t" sound.

Common Syllables

Below is a table of common Japanese syllables with their Romanized spelling and pronunciation:| Romanization | Syllable | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| a | あ | ah |
| i | い | ee |
| u | う | oo |
| e | え | eh |
| o | お | oh |
| ka | か | kah |
| ki | き | kee |
| ku | く | koo |
| ke | け | keh |
| ko | こ | koh |
| sa | さ | sah |
| shi | し | shee |
| su | す | soo |
| se | せ | seh |
| so | そ | soh |
| ta | た | tah |
| chi | ち | chee |
| tsu | つ | tsoo |
| te | て | teh |
| to | と | toh |
| na | な | nah |
| ni | に | nee |
| nu | ぬ | noo |
| ne | ね | neh |
| no | の | noh |
| ha | は | hah |
| hi | ひ | hee |
| fu | ふ | foo |
| he | へ | heh |
| ho | ほ | hoh |
| ma | ま | mah |
| mi | み | mee |
| mu | む | moo |
| me | め | meh |
| mo | も | moh |
| ya | や | yah |
| yu | ゆ | yoo |
| yo | よ | yoh |
| ra | ら | rah |
| ri | り | ree |
| ru | る | roo |
| re | れ | reh |
| ro | ろ | roh |
| wa | わ | wah |
| wo | を | oh |

Tips for Improving Pronunciation

Here are some tips to help you improve your pronunciation of Japanese words:
Listen to native speakers: Immerse yourself in Japanese by listening to native speakers, such as through podcasts, videos, or movies.
Practice speaking: The best way to improve your pronunciation is to practice speaking out loud. Try to find a language partner or tutor to practice with.
Use a pronunciation dictionary: There are many online and offline dictionaries that provide pronunciations for Japanese words.
Pay attention to pitch accent: The pitch accent is a crucial part of Japanese pronunciation. Make sure to pay attention to the accent marks in dictionaries and when listening to native speakers.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language. The important thing is to keep practicing and trying to improve.

By following these tips, you can improve your pronunciation of Japanese words and gain a better understanding of the language.

2024-12-09

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