Lena Torres
Japanese phonology is the system of sounds used in the Japanese language. There is no consensus on the number of distinct sounds (phonemes), but common approaches recognize at least 12 consonants and 5 vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/. The Japanese 'u' sound is usually written as /u/ or /ɯ/, and is described as a high and non-front sound. The 'u' sound is often dropped in certain words, such as in masu, where saying the u is considered textbook, rather than natural. The pronunciation of the 'u' sound also varies depending on the dialect and the position of the sound in the word.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Phonetic representation | "/u/" or "/ɯ/" |
| Pronunciation | Clipped version of a hard U, between the U sound in "sue" and "sun" |
| Lip position | Protrusion, with corners brought closer together horizontally |
| Vowels | /a, e, i, o, u/ |
| Consonants | At least 12 distinct consonants, up to 21 in some analyses |
| Kana | す (su) |
| Romaji | U" is usually pronounced, but sometimes dropped in natural speech |
| Devoicing | Occurs when the vowel is short and preceded by a voiceless consonant |
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What You'll Learn
Japanese phonology recognises 5 distinct vowels, including /u/
Japanese phonology refers to the system of sounds used in the Japanese language. It typically recognises 5 distinct vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/. The /u/ sound is articulated with lip protrusion, where the corners of the lips are brought closer together horizontally. This is in contrast to the spread lip position of vowels like /i/ or the vertical lip movement for the [β] allophone of /b/.
The Japanese /u/ is often described as a "clipped" version of the English /u/ sound, somewhere between the /u/ in "sue" and "sun". It is also sometimes referred to as an 'endo-labial close back rounded vowel', which means it is a rounded vowel that is pronounced without protruding the lips.
The Japanese /u/ sound can be affected by the context, such as the position in a word and the dialect being spoken. For example, in the word "suki", the /u/ sound is often dropped in the standard dialect but retained in the Kansai dialect. The pronunciation of /u/ can also vary based on the emotional context, with greater lip protrusion observed in angry or sad emotional contexts compared to emotionally neutral speech.
The phonetic realisation of the /u/ sound can be influenced by the surrounding consonants. For instance, /i/ and /u/ become voiceless when surrounded by certain consonants, resulting in a lack of vocal cord vibration during pronunciation. Additionally, the pairing of consonants and vowels in Japanese, such as ふ (/fu/) with the combination of /ɸ/ and /u/, creates unique sounds not found in English.
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The 'u' sound is pronounced with lip protrusion
The Japanese 'u' sound is usually written as "/u/" or "/ɯ/", with neither representation being incorrect. The sound is high and non-front, with the lips being rounded, unrounded, or compressed. The Japanese 'u' sound is sometimes referred to as an '"endo-labial close back rounded vowel", which means that it is a rounded vowel that is pronounced without protruding lips.
However, there are several dialects that use a rounded /u/, and even in compressed-lips dialects, speakers may round it depending on the circumstances. For example, trained singers may round their lips when pronouncing the 'u' sound for artistic purposes.
The Japanese 'u' sound is also affected by where it appears in a word and the dialect in which it is being spoken. For example, the 'u' sound in "suki" is often pronounced as "ski" in the standard dialect, but a proper "suki" is common in Kansai.
The 'u' sound in Japanese can be compared to the 'u' sound in English. In English, the 'u' sound is typically produced with rounded lips, as in the words "pool", "food", and "cool". However, there are variations in how the 'u' sound is pronounced, even within the same language. For instance, some Americans may pronounce the 'u' sound in "good" without rounding their lips.
In summary, while the Japanese 'u' sound is typically pronounced without protruding lips, there are exceptions and variations depending on dialect, word position, and individual speech patterns.
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The 'u' sound is sometimes dropped in certain words
The Japanese language has five distinct vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/. The pronunciation of the vowel /u/ in Japanese is quite complex and varies depending on the word and the dialect in which it is spoken. While the standard variety of Japanese, based on the Tokyo dialect, pronounces /u/ as a high and non-front vowel with lip protrusion, in certain words and dialects, the /u/ sound may be dropped or devoiced.
The phenomenon of vowel devoicing in Japanese, where certain vowels are not pronounced or are pronounced weakly, is well-documented. This occurs with the short vowels /i/ and /u/ when they are at the end of a word or followed by another voiceless consonant. For example, the /u/ sound in words like "sukoshi" and "hikari" may be dropped, while it is retained in words like "sugoi" and "bikkuri". The vowel /u/ may also be devoiced after certain consonants such as /k/, /s/, /t/, /h/, and sometimes /p/.
The pronunciation of the /u/ sound in Japanese can also vary depending on the context and the speaker's emotions. For example, the /u/ sound has been observed to have greater lip protrusion in angry or sad emotional contexts than in emotionally neutral speech. Additionally, the pronunciation of /u/ can differ across dialects. In the standard dialect, "suki" is often pronounced as "ski", while in the Kansai dialect, the full "suki" is common.
The complexities of Japanese phonology, particularly the interaction of vowels and consonants in different contexts, make it challenging to predict when the /u/ sound will be dropped or devoiced. While there are rules and patterns that can guide pronunciation, there are also many exceptions and variations across dialects. As a result, learners of Japanese are often advised to pay attention to natural pronunciation and speak in a way that feels natural, rather than strictly adhering to textbook pronunciations.
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The 'u' sound is affected by the dialect being spoken
The Japanese 'u' sound is typically described as a ""clipped" version of the English 'u' sound, somewhere between the 'u' in "sue" and "sun". This sound is written as /u/ or /ɯ/, and is a high and non-front vowel. The lips can be rounded, unrounded, or compressed.
The 'u' sound is also affected by its position in a word. For example, the 'u' in "desu" may be pronounced when speaking slowly or carefully, but is often dropped in fast or casual speech. The 'u' sound is typically dropped when it is at the end of a word, after an unvoiced consonant, or between two unvoiced consonants within a word. This is similar to English words like "cough", "rough", and "dough", where the 'u' is not always pronounced.
Different dialects of Japanese have different accent systems, with some distinguishing a greater number of contrastive pitch patterns than the Tokyo dialect. The Tokyo dialect is considered the standard variety of Japanese and is used as the basis for Japanese phonology. However, there is no overall consensus on the number of contrastive sounds (phonemes), with common approaches recognizing 12 distinct consonants and 5 distinct vowels, including /u/.
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The 'u' sound is usually written as /u/ or /ɯ/
The Japanese 'u' sound is a complex topic that depends on various factors, including the position in a word and the dialect being spoken. In Japanese, the 'u' sound is typically represented by the phonemes /u/ or /ɯ/, with neither being considered incorrect. The choice between the two depends on the preference of the individual performing the analysis.
The Japanese 'u' sound is often described as a clipped version of the hard 'u' sound in English, falling somewhere between the 'u' in "sue" and "sun". This sound can be written as /u/ or /ɯ/ depending on the analyst's preference. In phonetic terms, the Japanese 'u' sound is characterised as high and non-front, occasionally moving towards the centre after palatals. The rounding of the lips during pronunciation can vary, with possible realisations including rounded, unrounded, or compressed ( [ɯ̟ᵝ]).
The Tokyo prestige dialect, used in formal and careful speech, tends to favour a more rounded realisation of the 'u' sound, resembling [ɯ̟ᵝ]. This variation is influenced by the position of the 'u' sound within a word and the specific dialect being spoken. For instance, the 'u' in "desu" may be lengthened in phone conversations, while "suki" is often pronounced without the 'u' sound in the standard dialect but retained in Kansai.
The complexities of kanji and kana, two writing systems used in Japanese, further contribute to the challenges of deciphering the 'u' sound for non-native speakers. While the su character (す) in itadakimasu and sunomono is apparent when written in kana, the kanji representation of sunomono as 酢の物 obscures this similarity.
In summary, the Japanese 'u' sound is typically represented by the phonemes /u/ or /ɯ/, with variations influenced by factors such as word position, dialect, and writing system complexities.
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Frequently asked questions
Japanese does have a U sound, but it is not pronounced the same way as the English U sound. It is described as a clipped version of a hard U, somewhere between the U sound in "sue" and "sun".
The Japanese U sound is usually written as /u or /ɯ/, and is described as a high, non-front vowel. It can be pronounced with rounded, unrounded, or compressed lips.
Japanese has what is known as "vowel devoicing", where certain vowels are not pronounced or are muted. This includes the U sound, which is often dropped when it falls at the end of a word or before another voiceless consonant.
The U sound is more likely to be pronounced if it is in a polite or formal context. It is also dependent on the dialect and where the U sound falls within the word. For example, in the standard dialect, "suki" is often pronounced as "ski", but in Kansai, it is common to hear the full "suki".
