How to Pronounce Japanese Words354

Japanese pronunciation is relatively straightforward. Most syllables are pronounced as they are written, and there are only a few basic rules to follow. Here is a quick guide to help you get started:

Vowels

There are five vowels in Japanese: a, i, u, e, and o. They are pronounced as follows:* a - like the "a" in "father"
* i - like the "e" in "bee"
* u - like the "oo" in "boot"
* e - like the "e" in "bet"
* o - like the "o" in "boat"

Consonants

There are 19 consonants in Japanese. Most of them are pronounced similarly to their English counterparts, but there are a few exceptions:* k - like the "k" in "cat"
* s - like the "s" in "see"
* t - like the "t" in "ten"
* n - like the "n" in "no"
* h - like the "h" in "hat"
* m - like the "m" in "mom"
* y - like the "y" in "yes"
* r - like the "r" in "red" (but without the trill)
* w - like the "w" in "water"
* g - like the "g" in "go"
* z - like the "z" in "zebra"
* j - like the "j" in "jump"
* ch - like the "ch" in "church"
* sh - like the "sh" in "shoe"
* ts - like the "ts" in "tsunami"
* dz - like the "dz" in "adze"

Syllables

Japanese syllables are always pronounced with a vowel sound. Consonant clusters are not allowed, so each syllable must be separated by a vowel. For example, the word "katana" is pronounced "ka-ta-na".

Accent

Japanese words have a fixed accent. This means that the stress is always placed on a specific syllable. The accent is usually marked with a macron (¯) over the vowel of the stressed syllable. For example, the word "sushi" is pronounced "su-shi".

Practice

The best way to improve your Japanese pronunciation is to practice. Here are a few tips:* Listen to native speakers. Listen to Japanese music, watch Japanese movies, or talk to Japanese people. This will help you get used to the rhythm and intonation of the language.
* Repeat out loud. When you hear a new word or phrase, repeat it out loud several times. This will help you practice the pronunciation and commit it to memory.
* Use a dictionary. If you are unsure how to pronounce a word, look it up in a dictionary. Most dictionaries will include a pronunciation guide.
With a little practice, you will be able to pronounce Japanese words like a native speaker.

2025-01-03

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