Word-for-Word English-Japanese Pronunciation Guide304

Learning how to pronounce Japanese words correctly is essential for effective communication. While the Japanese language has its unique set of phonetic rules, it can be relatively straightforward to achieve accurate pronunciation with the right guidance.

Basic Pronunciation Rules

Understanding the fundamental pronunciation rules of Japanese is crucial for establishing a solid foundation:
Vowels: Japanese has five basic vowels: a, i, u, e, o. Each vowel is pronounced clearly and distinctly, similar to English.
Consonants: Most Japanese consonants are pronounced similarly to their English counterparts. Exceptions include the voiceless sounds "t" and "s," which in Japanese are articulated with more aspiration. Additionally, the "r" sound is often pronounced with a slight trill.
Syllables: Japanese words are typically divided into syllables. Each syllable consists of a consonant followed by a vowel. Exceptions occur when the syllable begins with a vowel (e.g., あいうえお "aiueo") or ends with a nasal consonant (e.g., ん "n").
Mora: The mora is the basic unit of Japanese phonology. Each mora consists of a single vowel or a consonant-vowel combination. The number of moras in a word determines its rhythmic pattern.
Pitch Accents: Japanese has two types of pitch accents: accentual and non-accentual. Accentual syllables have a higher pitch than non-accentual syllables. The location of the accent varies from word to word and can change the word's meaning.

Word-for-Word Pronunciation Guide

To further facilitate Japanese word pronunciation, here is a comprehensive word-for-word pronunciation guide:

Vowels

Japanese
English


あ (a)
Ah


い (i)
Ee


う (u)
Oo


え (e)
Eh


お (o)
Oh

Consonants

Japanese
English


か (ka)
Ka


き (ki)
Key


く (ku)
Koo


け (ke)
Kay


こ (ko)
Koh


さ (sa)
Sa


し (shi)
She


す (su)
Soo


せ (se)
Say


そ (so)
Soh


た (ta)
Ta


ち (chi)
Chee


つ (tsu)
Tsoo


て (te)
Tay


と (to)
Toh


な (na)
Na


に (ni)
Knee


ぬ (nu)
Noo


ね (ne)
Nay


の (no)
Noh


は (ha)
Ha


ひ (hi)
Hee


ふ (fu)
Foo


へ (he)
Hay


ほ (ho)
Hoh


ま (ma)
Ma


み (mi)
Mee


む (mu)
Moo


め (me)
May


も (mo)
Moh


や (ya)
Ya


ゆ (yu)
Yoo


よ (yo)
Yoh


わ (wa)
Wa


を (wo)
Oh


ん (n)
N

Example Words and Phrases

To practice your pronunciation, here are some example words and phrases with their Romaji and English translations:

Romaji
Japanese
English


Konnichiwa
こんにちは
Hello


Arigatou
ありがとうございます
Thank you


Hai
はい
Yes


Iie
いいえ
No


Ohayou
おはようございます
Good morning


Banzai
万歳
Hurray


Sakura
桜
Cherry blossom


Sushi
寿司
Japanese cuisine


Kawaii
可愛い
Cute


Yoroshiku
よろしくお願いいたします
Pleased to meet you

Pronunciation is a crucial aspect of Japanese language acquisition. By mastering the basic rules and utilizing this comprehensive guide, you can enhance your Japanese speech and effectively communicate with native speakers.

2025-02-21

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