Japanese Sounds and Hiragana: Core Basics · Lesson 1 · 3 minutes
Say the sound A
Say the Japanese vowel a correctly
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Hear the sound A
Kenji arrives in Tokyo. He listens to train stops. The Japanese sound a sounds like ah in father.
Which English word has the same vowel sound as Japanese a?
- father
- cat
- cake
Answer: father
Japanese a is open like father, not flat like cat.
Keep it short
The sound does not slide. Open your mouth wide. Say a crisp, short ah.
How should Kenji say the Japanese sound a?
- Short and clean, like ah
- Long and sliding, like ay
Answer: Short and clean, like ah
Japanese vowels are clean and do not slide into other sounds.
Complete the rule for the Japanese sound a.
Open your mouth ___ and keep the sound ___.
Answer: Open your mouth wide and keep the sound short.
A is open and crisp without sliding.
Find A in words
Kenji hears the word asa, which means morning. Both syllables use the open sound a.
Build how Kenji pronounces asa.
Answer: ah sah
The word asa has two short ah sounds.
Put the steps to pronounce Japanese a in order:
Answer: Open your mouth wide → Make a clear ah sound → Cut the sound short cleanly
Opening wide makes the clear ah sound.
What to remember
- The Japanese sound a is open like the ah in father.
- Keep the sound short and crisp.
- Do not slide the vowel like in cat or cake.
Next in this course: Write hiragana A. It carries on in the Breni app.