2.2. Hiragana for k/g + vowels
Hiragana | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
---|---|---|---|
か | ka | [ ka ] Listen | English "k" + Japanese "a". |
き | ki | [ kʲi ] Listen | Similar to English "k" + Japanese "i", but the tongue position gets closer to the hard palate (the hard roof of the mouth). |
く | ku | [ kɯ ] Listen | English "k" + Japanese "u". |
け | ke | [ ke ] Listen | English "k" + Japanese "e". |
こ | ko | [ ko ] Listen | English "k" + Japanese "o". |
g + vowels:
Hiragana | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
---|---|---|---|
が | ga | [ ga ] Listen | English "g" + Japanese "a". |
ぎ | gi | [ gʲi ] Listen | Similar to English "g" + Japanese "i", but the tongue position gets closer to the hard palate. |
ぐ | gu | [ gɯ ] Listen | English "g" + Japanese "u". |
げ | ge | [ ge ] Listen | English "g" + Japanese "e". |
ご | go | [ go ] Listen | English "g" + Japanese "o". |
The consonants before "i" are different from others. This is called palatalisation.
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 (だくてん "dakuten" in Japanese).
The "g" in the middle of words can be pronounced like the [ŋ] in the English word singer [sIŋə]. You don't have to use [ŋ] at all.
Hiragana examples:
Hiragana: | きく |
Pitch: | L H |
Romanization: | ki ku |
Meaning: | chrysanthemum (noun) |
For your interest: The chrysanthemum is the symbol flower of the emperor of Japan.
Hiragana: | けいかく |
Pitch: | L H H H |
Romanization: | ke i ka ku |
Meaning: | plan (noun) |
Note: A combination of a kana with the vowel "e" and a kana for "i" is often pronounced as [e:], not [ei], in colloquial Japanese. As a result, this word is often pronounced [ke:kakɯ] instead of [keikakɯ]. The sound [e:] is the same as [e], but twice as long as [e]. Its Romanization is always "ei", not "ê".
Hiragana: | がか |
Pitch: | L H H H |
Romanization: | ga ka |
Meaning: | painting artist (noun) |
Hiragana: | こうこう |
Pitch: | L H |
Romanization: | kô kô |
Meaning: | high school (noun) |
Note: Remember a combination of a kana with the vowel "o" and a kana for "u" is pronounced with [o:], which is twice as long as [o]. In this case, the combination of the hiragana for "ko" and that for "u" is pronounced as [ko:], not [koɯ]. Its Romanization is "kô", not "kou".
Hiragana: | こうごう |
Pitch: | L H H L |
Romanization: | kô gô |
Meaning: | empress consort (noun) |
Hiragana: | かぎ |
Pitch: | L H |
Romanization: | ka gi |
Meaning: | key (noun) |