2.6. Hiraganas for /h/, /b/, /p/ + vowels


/h/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(ha)/ha/"ha" audio English "h" + Japanese "a".
There is a single-syllable word with this kana whose actual phoneme is (wa) /wa/. It will be explained in a later lesson.
(hi)/hi/"hyi" audio German "ch" in ich + Japanese "i".
(The combination "hy" is used for German "ch", because it sounds like English "hy")
The tongue position for this consonant is the same as that for English "y", but it is a voiceless consonant.
Since the Japanese don't distinguish "hyi" from "hi", you can pronounce /hi/ as "hi".
The Romanization is "hi".
(hu)/hu/"fu" audio Greek "ph" + Japanese "u".
(The letter "f" is used for Greek "ph", because it sounds like English "f")
The lips position for this consonant is the same as that for English "w", but it is a voiceless consonant.
Since the Japanese don't distinguish "fu" from "hu", you can pronounce /hu/ as "hu".
(he)/he/"he" audio English "h" + Japanese "e".
There is a single-syllable word with this kana whose actual phoneme is (e) /e/. It will be explained in a later lesson.
(ho)/ho/"ho" audio English "h" + Japanese "o".


/b/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(ba)/ba/"ba" audio English "b" + Japanese "a".
(bi)/bi/"bi" audio English "b" + Japanese "i".
(bu)/bu/"bu" audio English "b" + Japanese "u".
(be)/be/"be" audio English "b" + Japanese "e".
(bo)/bo/"bo" audio English "b" + Japanese "o".

Even though these hiragana are combinations of hiragana for /h/ + vowels and voiced sound marks, their consonants are not voiced "h".
See the next group for voiceless hiragana.


/p/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(pa)/pa/"pa" audio English "p" + Japanese "a".
(pi)/pi/"pi" audio English "p" + Japanese "i".
(pu)/pu/"pu" audio English "p" + Japanese "u".
(pe)/pe/"pe" audio English "p" + Japanese "e".
(po)/po/"po" audio English "p" + Japanese "o".

The circles at the right top of hiragana are used only for these hiragana. This mark is called a semi-voiced sound mark.

Thousands of years ago, hiragana for /h/ + vowels were pronounced as "p" + vowels. That's why those hiragana with voiced sound marks have the sound of "b". After the pronunciation of "p" shifted to "h", the semi-voiced sound mark was invented to stand for the sound of "p".


Hiragana examples:

Hiragana:(hu)(bu)(ki)
Phonemes:hu'buki
Meaning:snow storm (noun)


Hiragana:(he)(bi)
Phonemes:he'bi
Meaning:snake (noun)


Hiragana:(ha)(ba)
Phonemes:haba
Meaning:width (noun)


Hiragana:(bi)(bo)(u)
Phonemes:bibou
Meaning:beautiful face (noun)



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