Hiragana | Phoneme | Romanization | Description |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | /N/ | "n"
![]() (see right) | Basically, the pronunciation of /N/ is "n" with one-syllable length.
It is important to correctly pronounce the syllable following /N/.
Modify /N/ if necessary. If /N/ is followed by any vowel, /s/, /h/, /w/, or /y/, don't shut your mouth completely like "n". Keep your breath going out from both your nose and your mouth. If /N/ is followed by /m/, /b/, or /p/, pronounce /N/ as "m". If /N/ is followed by /k/ or /g/, pronounce /N/ as "n" in think. The Romanization is "n" in most cases. If followed by "b", "p", or "m", the Romanization is "m". If followed by vowels or "y", the Romanization is "n'" or "n-" to avoid confusion with /n/ + vowels. |
Hiragana | Phoneme | Romanization | Description |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | /Q/ | (see right) | Pronounce the next consonant longer than usual. If the next consonant is a plosive such as "t" and "k", /Q/ is a breath stop with the mouth position to pronounce the next consonant. If the next consonant is a fricative such as "s" and "sh", /Q/ is a continuous consonant. Examples: /ha Q te N/ = "hatten" (means developing), where "tte" is "te" preceded by one-syllable-length breath stop. /ha Q sya/ = "hassha" (means launching), where "ssha" is "sha" preceded by one-syllable-length "sh". This hiragana looks like the hiragana of ![]() The Romanization is duplicating the next alphabet. If followed by "ch", use "tch" instead of "cch". |
Hiragana | Phoneme | Romanization | Description |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | either /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, or /o/ | "^" (circumflex) | Pronounce the vowel of the previous kana.
For example, if this mark follows /ka/, its pronunciation is "a". This mark is used only for imported words. |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ni | Q | po' | N | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | Ni | p | po | n | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | Japan (noun*1) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | si | N | bu | N | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | shi | m | bu | n | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | newspaper (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ha | N | za | i | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | ha | n | za | i | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | crime (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ge | N | i | N | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | ge | n' | i | n | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | cause (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | si | Q | pa | i | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | shi | p | pa | i | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | failure (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ro | Q | ko | tu | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | ro | k | ko | tsu | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | rib (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ko | Q | ka | i | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | ko | k | ka | i | ||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | national parliament (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ra' | a | me | N | ||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | râ | me | n | |||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | Chinese soup noodle (noun) |
Hiragana: | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||
Phonemes: | ka | re | e | |||||||||||||||||
Romanization: | ka | rê | ||||||||||||||||||
Meaning: | curry, curry and rice (noun) |