が(ga): Pronounced as "gah" (like "ga" in "garden"). が is Hiragana and ガ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [g]:
1. Tongue Position:
• The tongue should be placed against the soft part of the roof of your mouth, towards the back (this is the velar position).
• The [g] sound is produced by vibrating your vocal cords while pushing air out as you create contact between the back of your tongue and the soft palate (velum).
2. Mouth Position:
• Keep your mouth open slightly, and let the airflow pass through the back of your mouth as your vocal cords vibrate.
3. Sound:
• The [g] sound is a hard, voiced consonant, and the key is to avoid making it too soft or airy. It should be clear and firm, like the "g" in the English words "go," "give," or "garden."
A voiced g sound is followed by あ(a).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 学校 | がっこう | school |
| 2 | 我慢 | がまん | endurance |
| 3 | 崖 | がけ | cliff |
| 4 | ガラス | ガラス | glass |
| 5 | 外国 | がいこく | foreign country |
In casual or rapid speech, especially in the middle of a word, the g sound can sometimes become a nasalized sound, similar to the "ng" in "sing."
A voiced g sound is followed by あ(a).
が is Hiragana and ガ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 鏡 | かがみ | mirror |
| 2 | 漫画 | まんが | comics |
| 3 | 運河 | うんが | canal |
| 4 | 大学 | だいがく | university |
| 5 | 銘柄 | めいがら | brand |
ぎ(gi): Pronounced as "gee" (like "gi" in "geek"). ぎ is Hiragana and ギ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [g]:
1. Tongue Position:
• The tongue should be placed against the soft part of the roof of your mouth, towards the back (this is the velar position).
• The [g] sound is produced by vibrating your vocal cords while pushing air out as you create contact between the back of your tongue and the soft palate (velum).
2. Mouth Position:
• Keep your mouth open slightly, and let the airflow pass through the back of your mouth as your vocal cords vibrate.
3. Sound:
• The [g] sound is a hard, voiced consonant, and the key is to avoid making it too soft or airy. It should be clear and firm, like the "g" in the English words "go," "give," or "garden."
A voiced g sound is followed by い(i).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 技術 | ぎじゅつ | technology |
| 2 | 銀行 | ぎんこう | bank |
| 3 | 銀 | ぎん | silver |
| 4 | 議論 | ぎろん | discussion |
| 5 | 牛乳 | ぎゅうにゅう | milk |
In casual or rapid speech, especially in the middle of a word, the g sound can sometimes become a nasalized sound, similar to the "ng" in "sing."
A voiced g sound is followed by い(i).
ぎ is Hiragana and ギ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 詐欺 | さぎ | scam |
| 2 | 合鍵 | あいかぎ | duplicate key |
| 3 | 雨着 | あまぎ | raincoat |
| 4 | 産業 | さんぎょう | industry |
| 5 | うさぎ | うさぎ | rabbit |
ぐ(gu): Pronounced as "goo" (like "gu" in "goose"). ぐ is Hiragana and グ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [g]:
1. Tongue Position:
• The tongue should be placed against the soft part of the roof of your mouth, towards the back (this is the velar position).
• The [g] sound is produced by vibrating your vocal cords while pushing air out as you create contact between the back of your tongue and the soft palate (velum).
2. Mouth Position:
• Keep your mouth open slightly, and let the airflow pass through the back of your mouth as your vocal cords vibrate.
3. Sound:
• The [g] sound is a hard, voiced consonant, and the key is to avoid making it too soft or airy. It should be clear and firm, like the "g" in the English words "go," "give," or "garden."
A voiced g sound is followed by う(u).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 具合 | ぐあい | condition |
| 2 | 軍隊 | ぐんたい | army |
| 3 | 群衆 | ぐんしゅう | crowd |
| 4 | 偶然 | ぐうぜん | coincidence |
| 5 | 寓言 | ぐうげん | allegory |
In casual or rapid speech, especially in the middle of a word, the g sound can sometimes become a nasalized sound, similar to the "ng" in "sing."
A voiced g sound is followed by う(u).
ぐ is Hiragana and グ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 雨具 | あまぐ | rain gear |
| 2 | 甘栗 | あまぐり | sweet chestnuts |
| 3 | 鶯 | うぐいす | Japanese nightingale |
| 4 | 急ぐ | いそぐ | hurry |
| 5 | 穴倉 | あなぐら | cave |
げ(ge): Pronounced as "geh" (like "ge" in "get"). げ is Hiragana and ゲ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [g]:
1. Tongue Position:
• The tongue should be placed against the soft part of the roof of your mouth, towards the back (this is the velar position).
• The [g] sound is produced by vibrating your vocal cords while pushing air out as you create contact between the back of your tongue and the soft palate (velum).
2. Mouth Position:
• Keep your mouth open slightly, and let the airflow pass through the back of your mouth as your vocal cords vibrate.
3. Sound:
• The [g] sound is a hard, voiced consonant, and the key is to avoid making it too soft or airy. It should be clear and firm, like the "g" in the English words "go," "give," or "garden."
A voiced g sound is followed by え(e).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 元気 | げんき | healthy |
| 2 | 玄関 | げんかん | entrance |
| 3 | 芸術 | 芸術 | art |
| 4 | 檄文 | げきぶん | apologetics |
| 5 | 芸能 | げいのう | entertainment |
In casual or rapid speech, especially in the middle of a word, the g sound can sometimes become a nasalized sound, similar to the "ng" in "sing."
A voiced g sound is followed by え(e).
げ is Hiragana and ゲ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 揚げ物 | あげもの | fried food |
| 2 | ひげ | ひげ | beard |
| 3 | 先月 | せんげつ | last month |
| 4 | 売上 | うりあげ | sales |
| 5 | 打ち上げ | うちあげ | launch |
ご(go): Pronounced as "goh" (like "go" in "goal"). ご is Hiragana and ゴ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [g]:
1. Tongue Position:
• The tongue should be placed against the soft part of the roof of your mouth, towards the back (this is the velar position).
• The [g] sound is produced by vibrating your vocal cords while pushing air out as you create contact between the back of your tongue and the soft palate (velum).
2. Mouth Position:
• Keep your mouth open slightly, and let the airflow pass through the back of your mouth as your vocal cords vibrate.
3. Sound:
• The [g] sound is a hard, voiced consonant, and the key is to avoid making it too soft or airy. It should be clear and firm, like the "g" in the English words "go," "give," or "garden."
A voiced g sound is followed by お(o).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ご飯 | ごはん | meal |
| 2 | ご馳走 | ごちそう | feast |
| 3 | 豪華 | ごうか | luxury |
| 4 | ごみ | ごみ | trash |
| 5 | ごまかす | ごまかす | to deceive |
In casual or rapid speech, especially in the middle of a word, the g sound can sometimes become a nasalized sound, similar to the "ng" in "sing."
A voiced g sound is followed by お(o).
ご is Hiragana and ゴ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 看護 | かんご | nursing |
| 2 | 暗号 | あんごう | cipher |
| 3 | 英語 | えいご | English |
| 4 | 黄金 | おうごん | gold |
| 5 | 午後 | ごご | afternoon |
