When to Pronounce Words in Japanese146

Japanese pronunciation can be tricky for non-native speakers, especially when it comes to knowing when to pronounce certain syllables or sounds. Here's a detailed guide to help you master Japanese pronunciation and speak like a native:

Silent Consonants

Certain Japanese consonants are often not pronounced, especially at the end of words or syllables. These include:
ん (n): This sound is often silent when it appears at the end of syllables, as in the word "kanji" (漢字), pronounced as "kan-ji."
つ (tsu): This sound is often silent when it appears at the end of syllables or words, as in the word "itsu" (いつ), pronounced as "i-tsu."
ふ (fu): This sound is sometimes pronounced as "w" and sometimes silent when it appears at the end of syllables, as in the word "ofu" (負う), pronounced as either "o-fu" or "o-u."
う (u): This sound is often silent when it appears at the end of syllables or words, especially in conjunction with the sound "n," as in the word "kanau" (叶う), pronounced as "ka-na-u."

Assimilation

In certain cases, sounds may change when they come together in a word. This is known as assimilation:
voiced consonants: Voiced consonants such as "b," "d," "g," "z," and "j" may become voiceless when they precede voiceless consonants, as in the word "tebukuro" (手袋), pronounced as "te-bu-ku-ro."
unvoiced consonants: Unvoiced consonants such as "k," "t," "s," and "h" may become voiced when they precede voiced consonants, as in the word "dekigoto" (出来事), pronounced as "de-gi-go-to."

Voicing Alternation

Certain consonants change their voicing depending on the position in a word:
"d" sounds: The consonant "d" is pronounced as "d" at the beginning of words or syllables, but it is pronounced as "t" when it appears in the middle or at the end of words, as in the word "ido" (井戸), pronounced as "i-do."
"b" sounds: Similarly, the consonant "b" is pronounced as "b" at the beginning of words or syllables, but it is pronounced as "p" when it appears in the middle or at the end of words, as in the word "boku" (僕), pronounced as "bo-ku."

Word-Final Consonants

Word-final consonants are often pronounced with a slight release of air, known as "glottalization." This is especially noticeable for the following consonants:
"k": The consonant "k" is released with a glottal stop, as in the word "sakura" (桜), pronounced as "sa-ku-ra-ʔ."
"s": The consonant "s" is released with a glottal stop, as in the word "sushi" (寿司), pronounced as "su-shi-ʔ."
"t": The consonant "t" is released with a glottal stop, as in the word "matcha" (抹茶), pronounced as "ma-cha-ʔ."

Other Pronunciation Considerations

In addition to the rules above, consider the following pronunciation tips:
Vowel length: Long vowels are pronounced twice as long as short vowels, and they are marked with a macron over the vowel, such as "ō" in the word "tōkyō" (東京).
Diphthongs: Diphthongs are combinations of two vowels pronounced as a single syllable, such as "ai" in the word "aisatsu" (挨拶).
Accent: Japanese words have a pitch accent, which means that the pitch of the voice changes on certain syllables. The accent mark is indicated by a vertical line above the vowel, such as "o" in the word "obento" (お弁当).

Practice and Immersion

The best way to improve your Japanese pronunciation is through practice and immersion. Listen to native speakers, practice speaking with others, and immerse yourself in Japanese culture to naturally develop your pronunciation skills.

2025-02-09

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