One of the most difficult and underrated challenges to learners of Japanese is pronunciation. Because Japanese pronunciation, for the most part, makes use of a distinctive sound set and understated accenting, the study of pronunciation is often overlooked.

Loan Words

Pronouncing foreign loan words, called “gairaigo” in Japanese can present problems for native speakers of English because of the tendency to use the English pronunciation on which the loan word is based. Even many advanced speakers of Japanese with excellent pronunciation let their guard down when it comes to words from their native tongues. Some simple precautions can help speakers prevent these pronunciation problems and vastly improve communication skills.

Tips for Common Pronunciation Problems

First, the speaker should never be afraid to consult a dictionary. Knowing that “cheeseburger” is used as a foreign loan word in Japan may not help a speaker know where to lengthen the vowel and exactly how to render it correctly. A quick peak at a dictionary can relieve any doubt.

For the record, “cheeseburger” becomes “chi-zuba-ga” with the hyphens representing lengthening. When in doubt about whether that final “ga” is long or short, there’s no shame in taking a quick peak at a dictionary to be sure.

Unlike English language long vowels, the long vowels in Japanese should actually take a little longer to pronounce and draw out. Japanese learners should never be afraid to take it slow and savor the long vowels. Slowing down and pronouncing out the word can be the key to ensuring you get that “cheeeeezubaaaaaga” you have been craving.

Second, the above mentioned lengthening of the vowel is a very important and difficult-to-master skill. It is important when learning people’s names. You could have two friends both named Yuki, one of whom pronounces her name Yu-ki with a lengthened “u”, and another who uses the short vowel. With foreign loan phrases the long vowel is also very important.

Consider “chizu”. With a short vowel, it means “map” in Japanese. With the long vowel, it is the Japanese loan word version of the English word “cheese”. Your listeners may know which you mean based solely on the context of the conversation, but with good pronunciation, a speaker can remove all doubt.

Third, be sure to pronounce the ending vowel. Japanese is a language made up mostly of consonant – vowel combinations. The only consonant sound a Japanese word might end with is equivalent to the English “N”. Even learners with excellent pronunciation skills may neglect to pronounce a word through to the end. Using the “chi-zu” example from above, Japanese learners should be sure to pronounce that final “u”.

When words end with a “T” or “D” type sounds, an “o” sound is added on. An example of this is “hint”, in Japan, it becomes “hinto”. Leaving off that final “o” sound can confuse listeners.

A fourth point to add to our checklist is to be sure to use the Japanese pronunciation of the vowel and not allow yourself to revert to the English style pronunciation. “Hint”, mentioned above, when spoken in Japanese should actually sound as if you are saying “heento”. The long “ba” in burger (or ba-ga) should be pronounced more like the “o” in bog than the “a” in bag.

Conclusion

Finally, it is important to check a dictionary also to be sure that the foreign loan word is from the language you think it is, and also if the word you think is used in Japanese actually is. If want to point out the nice cape a superhero is wearing, you’ll need to use the Japanese word “manto”, based on the French word manteau. (Note: the word “cape” may be rendered as “ke-pu” but would more likely be taken to refer to the very old-fashioned cape or sleeveless cloaks men would wear to special events… however for the thing a superhero wears, “manto” is correct.)

In conclusion, for pronunciation and usage needs, it can always be helpful to check a dictionary for how a loan word is rendered in Japanese, slow down and enunciate each syllable, and be careful of where the vowels are elongated. Taking a little care can lead to great pronunciation and better communication in the long-run.

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