Pronunciation

か(ka): Pronounced as "kah" (like "karaoke"). か is Hiragana and カ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [k]:

• The tongue is placed near the soft part of the roof (the velum), creating a brief blockage of air.

• Japanese [k] is pronounced with a strong breath of air released after the blockage is removed, much like the English [kh] sound in words like "cat" or "key."

Start with a soft k sound, followed by あ(a).

Pronunciation

When か(ka) is inside a word, Japanese [k] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "sky").

Start with a soft k sound, followed by あ(a).

か is Hiragana and カ is Katakana.

Pronunciation

き(ki): Pronounced as "kee" (like "key"). き is Hiragana and キ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [k]:

• The tongue is placed near the soft part of the roof (the velum), creating a brief blockage of air.

• Japanese [k] is pronounced with a strong breath of air released after the blockage is removed, much like the English [kh] sound in words like "cat" or "key."

Start with a soft k sound, followed by い(i).

Pronunciation

When き(ki) is inside a word, Japanese [k] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "sky").

Start with a soft k sound, followed by い(i).

き is Hiragana and キ is Katakana.

Pronunciation

く(ku): Pronounced as "koo" (like "cool"). く is Hiragana and ク is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [k]:

• The tongue is placed near the soft part of the roof (the velum), creating a brief blockage of air.

• Japanese [k] is pronounced with a strong breath of air released after the blockage is removed, much like the English [kh] sound in words like "cat" or "key."

Start with a soft k sound, followed by う(u). Keep it smooth and avoid rounding your lips too much.

Pronunciation

When く(ku) is inside a word, Japanese [k] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "sky").

Start with a soft k sound, followed by う(u). Keep it smooth and avoid rounding your lips too much.

く is Hiragana and ク is Katakana.

Pronunciation

け(ke): Pronounced as "keh" (like "kettle"). け is Hiragana and ケ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [k]:

• The tongue is placed near the soft part of the roof (the velum), creating a brief blockage of air.

• Japanese [k] is pronounced with a strong breath of air released after the blockage is removed, much like the English [kh] sound in words like "cat" or "key."

Start with a soft k sound, followed by え(e).

Pronunciation

When け(ke) is inside a word, Japanese [k] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "sky").

Start with a soft k sound, followed by え(e).

け is Hiragana and ケ is Katakana.

Pronunciation

こ(ko): Pronounced as "koh" (like "co" in "coat"). こ is Hiragana and コ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [k]:

• The tongue is placed near the soft part of the roof (the velum), creating a brief blockage of air.

• Japanese [k] is pronounced with a strong breath of air released after the blockage is removed, much like the English [kh] sound in words like "cat" or "key."

Start with a soft k sound, followed by お(o).

Pronunciation

When こ(ko) is inside a word, Japanese [k] is usually not aspirated (there is no strong puff of air like in English words like "sky").

Start with a soft k sound, followed by お(o).

こ is Hiragana and コ is Katakana.