2.6. Hiragana for h/b/p + vowels
h+ vowels:Hiragana | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
---|---|---|---|
は | ha | [ ha ] Listen | English "h" + Japanese "a". There is a single-kana postposition with this kana whose actual pronunciation is わ "wa". It will be explained in a later lesson. |
ひ | hi | [ çi ] Listen | German "ch" in ich + Japanese "i". The tongue position for this consonant is the same as that for English "y", but it is a voiceless consonant. Since the Japanese don't distinguish [çi] and [hi], you can pronounce it as English "h" + Japanese "i". |
ふ | hu (fu) | [ Φɯ ] Listen | Japanese "φ" + Japanese "u", or English "h" + Japanese "u". The lips position for Japanese "φ" is the same as that for English "w", but it is a voiceless consonant. Japanese people don't distinguish [Φɯ] and [hɯ]. Using English "f" is not recommended. |
へ | he | [ he ] Listen | English "h" + Japanese "e". There is a single-kana postposition with this kana whose actual pronunciation is え "e". It will be explained in a later lesson. |
ほ | ho | [ ho ] Listen | English "h" + Japanese "o". |
b+ vowels:
Hiragana | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
---|---|---|---|
ば | ba | [ ba ] Listen | English "b" + Japanese "a". |
び | bi | [ bi ] Listen | English "b" + Japanese "i". |
ぶ | bu | [ bɯ ] Listen | English "b" + Japanese "u". |
べ | be | [ be ] Listen | English "b" + Japanese "e". |
ぼ | bo | [ bo ] Listen | English "b" + Japanese "o". |
Even though these hiragana are combinations of hiragana for "h" + vowels and voiced sound marks, their consonants are not voiced "h". See the next group for corresponding voiceless hiragana.
p+ vowels:
Hiragana | Romanization | Pronunciation | Description |
---|---|---|---|
ぱ | pa | [ pa ] Listen | English "p" + Japanese "a". |
ぴ | pi | [ pi ] Listen | English "p" + Japanese "i". |
ぷ | pu | [ pɯ ] Listen | English "p" + Japanese "u". |
ぺ | pe | [ pe ] Listen | English "p" + Japanese "e". |
ぽ | po | [ po ] Listen | English "p" + Japanese "o". |
The circles at the right top of hiragana are used only for these hiragana. This mark is called a semi-voiced sound mark (はんだくてん "handakuten" in Japanese).
Thousands of years ago, syllables now represented by hiragana for "h" + vowels were pronounced as "p" + vowels. That's why those hiragana with voiced sound marks have the sound of "b". After the pronunciation of "p" shifted to "h", the semi-voiced sound mark was invented to stand for the sound of "p".
Hiragana examples:
Hiragana: | ふぶき |
Pitch: | H L L |
Romanization: | hu bu ki |
Meaning: | snowstorm (noun) |
Hiragana: | へび |
Pitch: | H L |
Romanization: | he bi |
Meaning: | snake (noun) |
Hiragana: | はば |
Pitch: | L H |
Romanization: | ha ba |
Meaning: | width (noun) |
Hiragana: | はなび |
Pitch: | H L L |
Romanization: | ha na bi |
Meaning: | fireworks (noun) |
Hiragana: | びぼう |
Pitch: | L H H |
Romanization: | bi bô |
Meaning: | beautiful face (noun) |