Pronunciation

は(ha): Pronounced as "hah" (like "ha" in "harmony"). は is Hiragana and ハ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [h]:

1. Tongue and Lip Position:

• For the [h] sound in Japanese (as in は, ひ, へ, ほ), the airflow is produced by letting air flow over the vocal cords and out of the mouth without obstructing the air with the tongue.

• Your tongue stays relatively flat in your mouth, and there's no contact between the tongue and the roof of the mouth.

2. Mouth Shape:

• [h] is a breathy sound, so your mouth should be relaxed and open slightly to let the air pass freely. It’s a soft, airy sound, not harsh like some other consonants.

3. Sound Difference from English [h]:

• The Japanese [h] sound is very similar to English, but は(ha), ひ(hi), へ(he), and ほ(ho) might sound a bit softer in certain contexts, especially when followed by vowels.

A soft [h] sound is followed by あ(a).

Pronunciation

ひ(hi): Pronounced as "hee" (like "he" in "healing"). ひ is Hiragana and ヒ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [h]:

1. Tongue and Lip Position:

• For the [h] sound in Japanese (as in は, ひ, へ, ほ), the airflow is produced by letting air flow over the vocal cords and out of the mouth without obstructing the air with the tongue.

• Your tongue stays relatively flat in your mouth, and there's no contact between the tongue and the roof of the mouth.

2. Mouth Shape:

• [h] is a breathy sound, so your mouth should be relaxed and open slightly to let the air pass freely. It’s a soft, airy sound, not harsh like some other consonants.

3. Sound Difference from English [h]:

• The Japanese [h] sound is very similar to English, but は(ha), ひ(hi), へ(he), and ほ(ho) might sound a bit softer in certain contexts, especially when followed by vowels.

A soft [h] sound, with the lips slightly spread and relaxed for い(i).

Pronunciation

ふ(fu): Pronounced as "foo" (like "food"), but softer. ふ is Hiragana and フ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [f]:

1. Tongue and Lip Position:

• Unlike English, where the top teeth touch the bottom lip when pronouncing [f], in Japanese [f] (ふ), you do not bite the lip.

• Instead, your upper teeth should lightly touch your lower lip, but it’s more like you’re blowing air rather than pressing hard.

2. Airflow:

• Just like in English [f], the air is forced out of your mouth, but because you don’t use as much pressure or contact, the sound is softer.

3. Mouth Shape:

• Your lips should be relaxed, and you should let the air flow through the slightly open gap between your upper teeth and lower lip.

4. Sound Difference from English [f]:

• The Japanese ふ has a softer, smoother sound than the [f] in English. It's not as sharp or forceful.

A soft [f] sound is followed by う(u).

Pronunciation

へ(he): Pronounced as "heh" (like "he" in "hen"). へ is Hiragana and ヘ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [h]:

1. Tongue and Lip Position:

• For the [h] sound in Japanese (as in は, ひ, へ, ほ), the airflow is produced by letting air flow over the vocal cords and out of the mouth without obstructing the air with the tongue.

• Your tongue stays relatively flat in your mouth, and there's no contact between the tongue and the roof of the mouth.

2. Mouth Shape:

• [h] is a breathy sound, so your mouth should be relaxed and open slightly to let the air pass freely. It’s a soft, airy sound, not harsh like some other consonants.

3. Sound Difference from English [h]:

• The Japanese [h] sound is very similar to English, but は(ha), ひ(hi), へ(he), and ほ(ho) might sound a bit softer in certain contexts, especially when followed by vowels.

A soft [h] sound followed by え(e).

Pronunciation

ほ(ho): Pronounced as "hoh" (like "ho" in "hotel"). ほ is Hiragana and ホ is Katakana.

Pronunciation of Japanese [h]:

1. Tongue and Lip Position:

• For the [h] sound in Japanese (as in は, ひ, へ, ほ), the airflow is produced by letting air flow over the vocal cords and out of the mouth without obstructing the air with the tongue.

• Your tongue stays relatively flat in your mouth, and there's no contact between the tongue and the roof of the mouth.

2. Mouth Shape:

• [h] is a breathy sound, so your mouth should be relaxed and open slightly to let the air pass freely. It’s a soft, airy sound, not harsh like some other consonants.

3. Sound Difference from English [h]:

• The Japanese [h] sound is very similar to English, but は(ha), ひ(hi), へ(he), and ほ(ho) might sound a bit softer in certain contexts, especially when followed by vowels.

A soft [h] sound is followed by お(o).