ぱ(pa): Pronounced as "pah" (like "pa" in "papa"). ぱ is Hiragana and パ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [p]:
1. Tongue Position:
• Similar to the [b] sound, the [p] sound involves bringing both lips together.
• Unlike [b], you do not use your vocal cords for the [p] sound, so there should be no vibration in your throat.
2. Mouth Position:
• Close your lips firmly together, as you would for the [b] sound.
• Then, push air out from your lungs, but do not use your vocal cords. The sound comes purely from the burst of air released when your lips part.
3. Sound:
• The [p] sound in Japanese is very similar to the English "p" sound in words like "pat" or "pool."
A voiceless p sound is followed by あ(a).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | パン | パン | bread |
| 2 | パンツ | パンツ | underwear |
| 3 | ぱさぱさ | ぱさぱさ | dry |
| 4 | パソコン | パソコン | computer |
| 5 | パパ | パパ | dad |
When ぱ(pa) is inside a word, Japanese [p] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "space").
A voiceless p sound is followed by あ(a).
ぱ is Hiragana and パ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 蛋白質 | たんぱくしつ | protein |
| 2 | 河童 | かっぱ | kappa |
| 3 | 電波 | でんぱ | radio waves |
| 4 | 圧迫 | あっぱく | compression |
| 5 | 一般 | いっぱん | general |
ぴ(pi): Pronounced as "pee" (like "pi" in "pizza"). ぴ is Hiragana and ピ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [p]:
1. Tongue Position:
• Similar to the [b] sound, the [p] sound involves bringing both lips together.
• Unlike [b], you do not use your vocal cords for the [p] sound, so there should be no vibration in your throat.
2. Mouth Position:
• Close your lips firmly together, as you would for the [b] sound.
• Then, push air out from your lungs, but do not use your vocal cords. The sound comes purely from the burst of air released when your lips part.
3. Sound:
• The [p] sound in Japanese is very similar to the English "p" sound in words like "pat" or "pool."
A voiceless p sound is followed by い(i).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ピアノ | ピアノ | piano |
| 2 | ピザ | ピザ | pizza |
| 3 | ピリ辛 | ピリカラ | spicy |
| 4 | ぴかぴか | ぴかぴか | shiny |
| 5 | ピンク | ピンク | pink |
When ぴ(pi) is inside a word, Japanese [p] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "space").
A voiceless p sound is followed by い(i).
ぴ is Hiragana and ピ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 安否 | あんぴ | safety |
| 2 | 神秘 | しんぴ | mystery |
| 3 | 実費 | じっぴ | actual cost |
| 4 | 出品 | しゅっぴん | exhibit |
| 5 | 鉛筆 | えんぴつ | pencil |
ぷ(pu): Pronounced as "poo" (like "pu" in "pool"). ぷ is Hiragana and プ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [p]:
1. Tongue Position:
• Similar to the [b] sound, the [p] sound involves bringing both lips together.
• Unlike [b], you do not use your vocal cords for the [p] sound, so there should be no vibration in your throat.
2. Mouth Position:
• Close your lips firmly together, as you would for the [b] sound.
• Then, push air out from your lungs, but do not use your vocal cords. The sound comes purely from the burst of air released when your lips part.
3. Sound:
• The [p] sound in Japanese is very similar to the English "p" sound in words like "pat" or "pool."
A voiceless p sound is followed by う(u).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | プリン | プリン | pudding |
| 2 | プール | プール | pool |
| 3 | ぷかぷか | ぷかぷか | floating |
| 4 | プラットホーム | プラットホーム | platform |
| 5 | プラス | プラス | plus |
When ぷ(pu) is inside a word, Japanese [p] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "space").
A voiceless p sound is followed by う(u).
ぷ is Hiragana and プ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 湿布 | しっぷ | compress |
| 2 | 還付 | かんぷ | refund |
| 3 | 分布 | ぶんぷ | distribution |
| 4 | 添付 | てんぷ | attached |
| 5 | 屈服 | くっぷく | surrender |
ぺ(pe): Pronounced as "peh" (like "pe" in "pet"). ぺ is Hiragana and ペ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [p]:
1. Tongue Position:
• Similar to the [b] sound, the [p] sound involves bringing both lips together.
• Unlike [b], you do not use your vocal cords for the [p] sound, so there should be no vibration in your throat.
2. Mouth Position:
• Close your lips firmly together, as you would for the [b] sound.
• Then, push air out from your lungs, but do not use your vocal cords. The sound comes purely from the burst of air released when your lips part.
3. Sound:
• The [p] sound in Japanese is very similar to the English "p" sound in words like "pat" or "pool."
A voiceless p sound is followed by え(e).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ペイント | ペイント | paint |
| 2 | ペット | ペット | pet |
| 3 | ペットボトル | ペットボトル | plastic bottle |
| 4 | ぺらぺら | ぺらぺら | fluent |
| 5 | ペンギン | ペンギン | penguin |
When ぺ(pe) is inside a word, Japanese [p] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "space").
A voiceless p sound is followed by え(e).
ぺ is Hiragana and ペ is Katakana.
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 閲兵 | えっぺい | military parade |
| 2 | 合併 | がっぺい | merger |
| 3 | 潔癖 | けっぺき | cleanliness |
| 4 | 隠蔽 | いんぺい | hiding |
| 5 | 残片 | ざんぺん | remnants |
ぽ(po): Pronounced as "poh" (like "po" in "poker"). ぽ is Hiragana and ポ is Katakana.
How to Pronounce Japanese [p]:
1. Tongue Position:
• Similar to the [b] sound, the [p] sound involves bringing both lips together.
• Unlike [b], you do not use your vocal cords for the [p] sound, so there should be no vibration in your throat.
2. Mouth Position:
• Close your lips firmly together, as you would for the [b] sound.
• Then, push air out from your lungs, but do not use your vocal cords. The sound comes purely from the burst of air released when your lips part.
3. Sound:
• The [p] sound in Japanese is very similar to the English "p" sound in words like "pat" or "pool."
A voiceless p sound is followed by お(o).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ぽつぽつ | ぽつぽつ | drop by drop |
| 2 | ぽっちゃり | ぽっちゃり | chubby |
| 3 | ポスター | ポスター | poster |
| 4 | ぽっち | ぽっち | click |
| 5 | ポケット | ポケット |
When ぽ(po) is inside a word, Japanese [p] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "space").
A voiceless p sound is followed by お(o).
No. | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 散歩 | さんぽ | stroll |
| 2 | 青っぽい | あおっぽい | bluish |
| 3 | 割烹 | かっぽう | Japanese cuisine |
| 4 | 遠方 | えんぽう | far away |
| 5 | しっぽ | しっぽ | tail |
