Vowels Consonants
i u p t k
b d g
e o f(ø) s sh h
z j
a ts ch
(dz) (dj)
m n ŋ
r
(w) (y)
Basic syllable structure: (Consonant) + Vowel: (C)V
ka, me, ro, u, bi, ne
Double [or long] vowels: VV
[aa] okaasan, kaaten, sukaato
[ii] chiisai, oniisan, biiru, shiitsu
[uu] kuuki, chuushi, guuzen
[ee] oneesan, teenee, tokee, eega
[oo] otooto, imooto, ookii, oozee
[N.B.] [ee] and [oo] are often written as [ei] and [ou] respectively
Devoiced vowels: C(V)CV k(i)ku, s(u)ki, k(i)sha
C(V) mas(u), des(u), kas(u), okash(i), much(i)
V -----> (V) C ____ C [V = i or u; C = voiceless consonants;
syllable not accentuated]
v C ___. [word/sentence final V = u]
Palatalized consonants + Vowel: CyV / ChV [V = a,u,o]
nya, kyu, pyo, shu, cho
Double consonants [geminates] + Vowel: -CCV [C = /Q/]
gakki, hassen, toppi, hattatsu
/Q/ -----> [x]/ ______ [x] (x = p,t,s,sh,k)
hatsu + san -----> hassan
ichi + fun -----> ippun
hachi + kai -----> hakkai
Syllabic nasals: -C(C)V [C = /N/]
/N/ -----> [m] / _____ [p,b,m] shinpai, shinbun, senmon
[n] / _____ [t,d,s,z,sh,ch,n,r] hontoo, anzen, ronri
[ŋ] / _____ [k,g] ginkoo, shingoo
[N = n'] elsewhere man'in, tan'i, hon'ya
Nasalized [g]: optional - recognize this as [g]
[g] -----> [ġ] / V or N _____ V
daiġaku, kuġatsu, konġetsu, shinġoo
The nasalized [ġ] should not be overemphasized
particularly by Cantonese speakers. Use [g] instead.
Ref.: Japanese
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