Consonants
IPA | Hiragana example | Transliteration | English approximation |
b |
ばしょ, きぶん | basho, kibun | bug |
bʲ |
びょうき | byōki | beauty |
ç |
ひと, ひょう | hito, hyō | hue |
ɕ |
した, しょう | shita, shō | sheep |
d |
どうも, どうどう | dōmo, dōdō | doctor |
dz[1] |
ずっと, ぜんぜん | zutto, zenzen | cards |
z[1] |
あざ, つづく | aza, tsudzuku | zoo |
dʑ[1] |
じぶん, じょじょ | jibun, jojo | jeep |
ʑ[1] |
みじかい, じょじょ | mijikai, jojo | vision |
ɸ |
ふじ, ふうふ | fuji, fūfu | roughly like baffle |
ɡ[2] |
がっこう, ごご | gakkō, gogo | gap |
ɡʲ[2] |
ぎんこう, きぎょう | ginkō, kigyō | argue |
h |
ほん, ほほ | hon, hoho | hat |
j |
やくしゃ, ゆゆしい | yakusha, yuyushii | yacht |
k |
くる, けっきょく | kuru, kekkyoku | skate |
kʲ |
きた, きょうかい | kita, kyōkai | skew |
m |
みかん, せんぱい, もんもん | mikan, sempai, monmon | much |
mʲ |
みゃく | myaku | mute |
n |
なっとう, きねん | nattō , kinen | not |
ɲ |
にわ, こんにゃく, きんちょう | niwa, konnyaku, kinchō | canyon |
ŋ[2] |
りんご, なんきょく | ringo, nankyoku | pink |
ɴ |
にほん | nihon | roughly like long |
p |
パン, たんぽぽ | pan, tampopo | span |
pʲ |
いっぴょう | ippyō | pew |
ɾ |
ろく, そら | roku, sora | American better |
ɾʲ |
りょうり | ryōri | dew |
s |
する, さっそう | suru, sassō | soup |
t |
たべる, とって | taberu, totte | stop |
ts |
つなみ, つつむ | tsunami, tsutsumu | cats |
tɕ |
ちかい, ちち | chikai, chichi | itchy |
w[3] |
わさび | wasabi | roughly like was |
ɰ̃[4] |
ふんいき | fun'iki | sin |
ʔ |
あつっ! | atsu'! | uh-oh! (glottal stop) |
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Vowels
IPA | Hiragana example | Transliteration | English approximation |
a |
ある | aru | between cut and father |
e |
えき, へ | eki | hey |
i |
いる | iru | meet |
i̥[5] |
よし, した | yoshi, shita | whispered meet |
o |
おに, を | oni | American owe |
ɯ[6] |
うなぎ | unagi | roughly like food |
ɯ̥[6][5] |
です, すきやき | desu, sukiyaki | roughly like whispered food |
Suprasegmentals
IPA | Description | Japanese example | English approximation |
ː |
Long vowel | ojiisan | re-equalize |
Double consonant | seppuku | unnecessary (compare innovation) |
̚ | No audible release | kekka, ippan | doctor (compare docking) |
ꜜ | Tone drop[7] | /kaꜜki/ ("oyster"), /kakiꜜ/ ("fence") | /ˈmɛri/ (merry), /məˈriː/ (Marie) |
. | Syllabification | saikin [sa.i.kiɴ], zasshi [d͡zaɕ.ɕi] | react /ri.ækt/ |
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