Pronunciation

This is a painting class, not a class about the Japanese language. However, Japanese words connected with the art of sumi-e are frequently featured. This unit is for those interested in the proper pronunciation of Japanese words. The focus is on rōmaji, the set of syllables made up of letters of the English alphabet. 

• Pronouncing most syllables is very straightforward.

1. The vowel “a” is pronounced like “a” in “arm.”

2. The vowel “i” is pronounced like “ea” in “eat.”

3. The vowel “u” is pronounced like “oo” in “food.”

4. The vowel “e” is pronounced like “e” in “egg.”

5. The vowel “o” is pronounced like “oa” in “oak.”

6. When two vowels are next to each other, pronounce them as separate syllables, i.e. kuiawase = ku·i·a·wa·se.

7. The consonant “g” is pronounced like “g” in “gone.”

8. The consonant “r” has a sound midway between an English “r” and “l.” [See Note 1 Below]

9. The syllable “tsu” is pronounced like “su” with a “t” sound added to beginning. It really is just one syllable.

10. See Note 2 Below about the pronunciation of the syllables "rya", "ryu", and "ryo".

11. Other consonants and syllables are pronounced the same as in typical English usage.

• The duration of all syllables in almost all Japanese words is short or abrupt.  The occasional exception is represented in rōmaji in one of two ways:

1. The examples most often seen are when the pronunciation of an "o" or "u" is to be slightly elongated. When this needs to happen, the vowel will have a bar on top like this "ō" or this "ū".

2. Sometimes an extra vowel is added to correspond to the way the word is "spelled" in phonetic Japanese, such as in “chiisai” (literal meaning: small). Japanese think of the word as having 4 syllables: chi·i·sa·i. English speakers should pronounce the word as if it has three syllables with the “chi” drawn out slightly.

• A doubled consonant usually signals a catch or hesitation in the pronunciation of the word being spoken.

1. “Kekkōdesu” (a very polite way to say “no thank you”) is pronounced with the beginning “ke” even more abrupt than usual, a very slight pause, and then continued with “kōdesu.”  This convention holds for any doubled consonant other than that discussed in the next point.

2. On occasions, confusion can result when using the standalone consonant “n”. For example, the correct pronunciation of “onnagata” (a male actor playing female roles in kabuki theater) is o·n·na·ga·ta without the catch described above.  Another important example is Honami Kōetsu, a famous artist and calligrapher, whose first name is pronounced Ho·n·a·mi, not Ho·na·mi.  A “·” mark will be used when needed to avoid confusion, such as in “on·nagata” and “Hon·ami.” Sometimes an apostrophe is used; e.g. Hon'ami.

• An “u” vowel at the end of a word is commonly deemphasized. "Arigatō" (thank you) is often pronounced as if it were "arigato", though a native Japanese speaker can probably tell the difference. The most formally correct pronunciation, however, is with the “u” clearly stated, and names (such as Tatsu) are always properly pronounced with a clearly audible “u” sound.

• Japanese has many words that are spelled the same but that are distinguished by emphasizing different syllables.  Thus, kumo (emphasis on the first syllable) means “spider” and kumo (emphasis on the second syllable) means “cloud.”  When such a distinction is important, the emphasized syllables are presented in bold face.

[Note 1]  Notice the shape and placement of your tongue when you say English “r” words like “run,” “rat,” “real,” and “royal,” versus “l” words like “leg,” “loose,” “lay,” “loyal,” and “lyre.”  The Japanese “r” is pronounced with the tongue in an approximately midway position.  This takes some practice.  Try listening to your sounds versus the corresponding sounds a native Japanese speaker makes when saying Japanese syllables beginning with a romaji “r.”

[Note 2] The most difficult Japanese syllables for English speakers to pronounce are "rya", "ryu", and "ryo". Not only do you have to get the "r" right (see Note 1), but you have to get the rest in, too, while simultaneously getting it all to come out as a single, unified syllable. It takes practice. For anyone who has ever been amused by the difficulty Japanese sometimes have pronouncing English "r"s, the shoe is now on the other foot.