2.2. Hiraganas for /k/, /g/ + vowels


/k/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(ka)/ka/"ka" audio English "k" + Japanese "a".
(ki)/ki/"ki" audio English "k" + Japanese "i".
(ku)/ku/"ku" audio English "k" + Japanese "u".
(ke)/ke/"ke" audio English "k" + Japanese "e".
(ko)/ko/"ko" audio English "k" + Japanese "o".


/g/ + vowels:
HiraganaPhonemePronunciationDescription
(ga)/ga/"ga" audio English "g" + Japanese "a".
(gi)/gi/"gi" audio English "g" + Japanese "i".
(gu)/gu/"gu" audio English "g" + Japanese "u".
(ge)/ge/"ge" audio English "g" + Japanese "e".
(go)/go/"go" audio English "g" + Japanese "o".

As you see, the double points at the right top of hiragana mean they have a voiced consonant. This mark is called a voiced sound mark.

In the Northeastern Japan dialect, the /g/ in the middle of words is pronounced as /ng/, which is the same sound as "ng" in singer. You don't have to pronounce the /g/ as /ng/ at all.


Hiragana examples:

Hiragana:(ki)(ku)
Phonemes:kiku
Meaning:chrysanthemum (noun)

Tip: The chrysanthemum is the symbol flower of the emperor of Japan.


Hiragana:(ke)(i)(ka)(ku)
Phonemes:keikaku
Meaning:plan (noun)

Note: The phoneme /ei/ is often pronounced as "ee" in colloquial Japanese if quickly spoken.
So /kei/ becomes "kee", /sei/ becomes "see", etc.
Be sure that the "ee" is not "ee" in meet but a duplication of Japanese "e".


Hiragana:(ga)(ka)
Phonemes:gaka
Meaning:painting artist (noun)


Hiragana:(ko)(u)(ko)(u)
Phonemes:koukou
Meaning:high school (noun)

Note: Please remember /ou/ becomes "oo" in colloquial Japanese.



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