1. Syllables: Japanese syllables generally follow a consonant-vowel (CV) structure, though some begin with a consonant cluster (e.g., "sh," "ch," "ts") or are just a vowel (e.g., "a," "i," "u," "e," "o"). There are no consonant clusters at the *end* of a syllable.
2. Vowels: Japanese has five basic vowel sounds:
* a: As in "father" (ah)
* i: As in "machine" (ee)
* u: As in "put" (oo)
* e: As in "bed" (eh)
* o: As in "go" (oh)
These sounds are relatively consistent.
3. Consonants: Most consonants are similar to their English counterparts, but with some important differences:
* k, g, s, sh, t, ch, ts, n, h, f, m, y, r, w: These generally sound as they do in English, though the pronunciation can vary slightly depending on the surrounding sounds and regional dialects. For example, 'r' often sounds closer to a 'd' or 'l' sound depending on the speaker and region.
* p, b: These often sound less aspirated (less forceful) than in English.
* d: Often sounds more like a soft 'd' or even a 'j' sound, particularly between vowels.
4. Small Vowels (よみ仮名 - Yomi-gana): These are small versions of the hiragana characters 'い', 'う', 'え', 'お'. They are written next to a vowel or consonant and slightly modify the sound. This is crucial for accurate pronunciation. For example:
* きゃ (kya): ka + small i
* きゅ (kyu): ka + small u
* きょ (kyo): ka + small o
* しゃ (sha): shi + small a
* etc.
5. Pitch Accent: Unlike English which uses stress to emphasize certain syllables, Japanese uses pitch accent. This means the pitch of your voice rises or falls on certain syllables. While not crucial for understanding, mastering pitch accent can significantly improve your fluency and naturalness. The pitch accent pattern varies depending on the word and the dialect.
6. Loanwords (カタカナ語 - Katakana-go): Words borrowed from other languages (mostly English) are written in katakana. Their pronunciation can vary widely based on how they've been adopted into Japanese. Sometimes the pronunciation approximates the original word, while other times it's adapted to fit Japanese phonetic rules.
7. Dialects: Japanese has regional dialects, and pronunciations can vary slightly depending on the region.
In short: While the basics are relatively simple, accurate pronunciation requires attention to the vowel and consonant sounds, the use of small vowels, and an understanding of pitch accent (though pitch accent isn't essential for being understood). Using a good pronunciation guide alongside learning Japanese will be crucial. Resources like dictionaries with audio pronunciations and online language learning platforms are invaluable tools.