2.3. Hiraganas for /s/, /z/ + vowels


/s/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(sa)/sa/"sa" audio English "s" + Japanese "a".
(si)/si/"shi" audio English "sh" + Japanese "i".
Be sure that it is not "si" but "shi".
(su)/su/"su" audio English "s" + Japanese "u".
(se)/se/"se" audio English "s" + Japanese "e".
(so)/so/"so" audio English "s" + Japanese "o".


/z/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(za)/za/"dza" audio English "dz" + Japanese "a".
Be sure that it is not "za" but "dza".
The Romanization is "za".
(zi)/zi/"ji" audio English "j" + Japanese "i".
Be sure that it is not "zi" but "ji".
(zu)/zu/"dzu" audio English "dz" + Japanese "u".
Be sure that it is not "zu" but "dzu".
The Romanization is "zu".
(ze)/ze/"dze" audio English "dz" + Japanese "e".
Be sure that it is not "ze" but "dze".
The Romanization is "ze".
(zo)/zo/"dzo" audio English "dz" + Japanese "o".
Be sure that it is not "zo" but "dzo".
The Romanization is "zo".

Note that /si/ and /zi/ have different consonants from others.
Since the Japanese don't distinguish "dz" from "z", you can pronounce /z/ as not "dz" but "z".


Hiragana examples:

Hiragana:(su)(si)
Phonemes:su'si
Meaning:sushi (noun)

Tip: Sushi is a popular food in Japan. It is made of raw seafood (!) and rice. It tastes good, so give it a try if you have a chance. Some people expect Japanese foods are hot like Thai and Korean foods, but actually Japanese foods have delicate and elegant tastes. Japanese foods boast of being low-fat and healthful. That is a reason why the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world.


Hiragana:(ka)(sa)
Phonemes:ka'sa
Meaning:umbrella (noun)


Hiragana:(se)(i)(zi)
Phonemes:seizi
Meaning:politics (noun)


Hiragana:(so)(u)(zo)(u)
Phonemes:souzou
Meaning:imagination (noun)



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