2.9. Hiragana for /r/ + vowels


/r/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemeRomanizationDescription
(ra)/ra/"ra" audio Japanese "r" + Japanese "a".
Japanese "r" is similar to Spanish "r". It is quite different from English "r", and using English "l" is better. When you pronounce English "l", you touch the front upper gums with the tip of your tongue. To pronounce Japanese "r", broaden your tongue and touch the front upper gums. You can shut the mouth with the tongue. In that case, Japanese "r" sounds almost like "d" to English speakers, but they are different. American /t/ in water sometimes sounds /r/ to native Japanese speakers.
(ri)/ri/"ri" audio Japanese "r" + Japanese "i".
(ru)/ru/"ru" audio Japanese "r" + Japanese "u".
(re)/re/"re" audio Japanese "r" + Japanese "e".
(ro)/ro/"ro" audio Japanese "r" + Japanese "o".


Hiragana examples:

Hiragana:(sa)(ku)(ra)
Phonemes:sakura
Romanization:sakura
Meaning:cherry blossom (noun)

For your interest: Cherry blossoms are the symbol flower of Japan. Many Japanese people go to parks to have a casual party under cherry blossoms in the spring. Those parties are called (ha)(na)(mi) /ha na mi'/ "hanami".

Hiragana:(ru)(ri)
Phonemes:ru'ri
Romanization:ruri
Meaning:lapis lazuri (noun)

Hiragana:(i)(ro)
Phonemes:iro'
Romanization:iro
Meaning:color (noun)

Hiragana:(re)(i)(zo)(u)(ko)
Phonemes:reizo'uko
Romanization:reiko
Meaning:refrigerator (noun)

Hiragana:(to)(ro)(ro)
Phonemes:tororo
Romanization:tororo
Meaning:a kind of yam (noun)

Hiragana:(tu)(ra)(ra)
Phonemes:turara
Romanization:tsurara
Meaning:icicle (noun)



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