After learning the basic (voiceless) sounds of the gojuuon, there are three more pronunciation rules you must master: dakuon (voiced sounds), chouon (long vowels), and sokuon (double consonants). These three are among the most frequently tested topics in listening exams.
Dakuon: Add Two Dots, Voiceless Becomes Voiced
By adding two dots (゛) to the upper right of a kana, a voiceless consonant becomes voiced:
| Voiceless | → | Voiced | Sound Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| か(ka) | → | が(ga) | k → g |
| さ(sa) | → | ざ(za) | s → z |
| た(ta) | → | だ(da) | t → d |
| は(ha) | → | ば(ba) | h → b |
There are 4 rows that can take dakuon: か row, さ row, た row, and は row.
How to tell voiced from voiceless? Place your hand on your throat — when you say 「か」 your throat doesn't vibrate (voiceless), but when you say 「が」 it does (voiced).
Handakuon: The Small Circle Exclusive to the は Row
The は row has one more special variation — adding a small circle (゜) changes the sound to p:
| Original | → | Handakuon | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| は(ha) | → | ぱ(pa) | pa |
| ひ(hi) | → | ぴ(pi) | pi |
| ふ(fu) | → | ぷ(pu) | pu |
| へ(he) | → | ぺ(pe) | pe |
| ほ(ho) | → | ぽ(po) | po |
Handakuon only exists for the は row. Remember: two dots (゛) = voiced (dakuon), small circle (゜) = handakuon (p-sound).
Chouon (Long Vowels): Stretch for One Extra Beat
A long vowel in Japanese means stretching the vowel for one extra beat. The rules are as follows:
| Vowel Column | Long Vowel Spelling | Example |
|---|---|---|
| あ column | + あ | おかあさん (mother) |
| い column | + い | おにいさん (older brother) |
| う column | + う | くうき (air) |
| え column | + い (occasionally + え) | せんせい (teacher) |
| お column | + う (occasionally + お) | おとうさん (father) |
Notes:
- え column long vowels are usually written with 「い」 not 「え」: 先生 = せんせい (not せんせえ)
- お column long vowels are usually written with 「う」 not 「お」: お父さん = おとうさん (not おとおさん)
- In katakana, long vowels use the long vowel mark 「ー」: コーヒー (coffee)
Long vs. short vowels change meaning: おばさん (aunt) vs おばあさん (grandmother) — one beat difference, one generation apart.
Sokuon (Double Consonants): Pause for One Beat
The sokuon is written with a small 「っ」 and represents a one-beat pause at that position before pronouncing the next sound.
| Without Sokuon | With Sokuon | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| さか (hill) | さっか (author) | Extra one-beat pause in the middle |
| いた (was / board) | いった (went / said) | Extra one-beat pause in the middle |
The key to sokuon: you don't produce a sound — you hold silent for one beat. Your mouth gets ready for the next sound but doesn't release it yet.
Self-Test
Q1. What is the dakuon of 「か」? How is it written?
Show answer
が. Add two dots (゛) to the upper right of か. The pronunciation changes from ka to ga.
Q2. What is the difference between 「おばさん」 and 「おばあさん」?
Show answer
おばさん = aunt (short vowel), おばあさん = grandmother (long vowel). One beat difference, one generation apart.
Q3. How do you pronounce the sokuon 「っ」?
Show answer
Pause for one beat. Don't produce any sound — prepare your mouth for the next syllable and hold before releasing. For example, in 「いった」, there is a one-beat pause between い and た.
Summary
- Dakuon (゛): 4 rows can be voiced (か→が, さ→ざ, た→だ, は→ば)
- Handakuon (゜): Only the は row (は→ぱ)
- Chouon: Stretch the vowel for one extra beat; え column adds い, お column adds う
- Sokuon (っ): Pause for one beat, no sound produced
- Long vs. short vowel distinction matters: おばさん (aunt) vs おばあさん (grandmother)