Pronunciation

The Japanese character あ is pronounced as "ah" (like the "a" in "father"). It represents the vowel sound a in the Japanese syllabary, あ is Hiragana and ア is Katakana.

Tips for Pronunciation:

1. Open your mouth naturally.

2. Relax your tongue and let the sound flow without tension.

3. Make a clean and soft "ah" sound.

This sound is foundational in Japanese, so mastering it will help with many other words and sounds.

Pronunciation

The Japanese character い is pronounced as "ee" (like the "ee" in "see" or "meet"). It represents the vowel sound i in the Japanese syllabary, い is Hiragana and イ is Katakana.

Tips for Pronunciation:

1. Stretch your lips slightly into a small smile, but keep it natural and relaxed.

2. Keep the sound long and steady, avoiding any diphthongs (don’t add a "y" sound like in "yeet").

3. Make the sound soft and even.

This is the second vowel in Japanese and is also essential for building words and phrases.

Pronunciation

The Japanese character う is pronounced as "oo" (like the "oo" in "food" or "too"). It represents the vowel sound u in the Japanese syllabary, う is Hiragana and ウ is Katakana.

Tips for Pronunciation:

1. Round your lips slightly but don’t overdo it—keep them relaxed.

2. Let the sound come from the back of your mouth, smooth and steady.

3. Avoid making it overly rounded or stressed, like the "u" in "blue" in some English accents.

In Japanese, う is often soft and subtle, especially in casual speech or when it appears at the end of a word.

Pronunciation

The Japanese character え is pronounced as "eh" (like the "e" in "net" or "get"). It represents the vowel sound e in the Japanese syllabary, え is Hiragana and エ is Katakana.

Tips for Pronunciation:

1. Keep your mouth slightly open and your tongue relaxed.

2. Aim for a short, crisp sound without trailing off or adding any diphthongs (avoid making it like "ay").

3. Keep it smooth and even.

This vowel is straightforward and commonly used in Japanese words and phrases.

Pronunciation

The Japanese character お is pronounced as "oh" (like the "o" in "go" or "open"). It represents the vowel sound o in the Japanese syllabary, お is Hiragana and オ is Katakana.

Tips for Pronunciation:

1. Round your lips slightly and relax your jaw.

2. Produce a clear and steady "oh" sound without adding any diphthongs (don’t let it slide into "ow").

3. Keep the sound smooth and even, without stress.