the long "o" [Archive] - Japan Forum

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rickinto
Nov 21, 2002, 03:21
When writing in Hiragana, is the second "O" in the long sounding "O", written in the Hiragana symbol for "U"???

Thanks for the help....

thomas
Nov 21, 2002, 06:55
Take for example おうさま (ou-sama) = king. 

I think that not all "long o's" ( ô ) are transcribed as "ou" in hiragana, but also as "oo". However, please don't quote me on that and wait for the nihongo experts.
:)

moyashi
Nov 24, 2002, 13:18
I believe so too.
I wonder where the "u" "o" actually sound different?

Probably a left vintage usage from the Heian period.

Maciamo
Nov 25, 2002, 15:45
Usually a long "o" is spelled "ou", but sometimes it's "oo", like in ookii 大きい (big) or toori 通り (road, avenue). To avoid confusion, you can also pronounce "oo" as two separate "o", but in conversation both "ou" and "oo" sound the same.