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Index
Introduction to Japanese Language
Introduction to Japanese Kanji
Introduction to Japanese Hiragana
Introduction to Japanese Katakana
Introduction to Japanese Onomatopoeia
Introduction to Japanese Pronunciation
Introduction to Japanese Grammar
Below is a more detailed explanation of rules for Kanji.
促音化 (सोकुओन्का) Gemination
The first rule is that when two Kanji characters are combined, The first Kanji ends with "‐ki / ‐ku / ‐ti / ‐tu" and initial sound of the second Kanji is "k- / s- / t- / h-" that end sound of first Kanji changes to a small っ This is called सोकुओन्का (छुटाउने स्वर, डबल ध्वनि)
eg：一＋滴 (iti＋teki) → 一滴 (itteki) いってき
：国＋旗 (koku＋ki) → 国旗 (kokki) こっき
：学＋期 (gatu＋ki) → 学期 (gakki) がっき
：洗濯＋機 (sentaku＋ki) → 洗濯機 (sentakki) せんたっき
半濁音化 (हाम्दाकुओन्का) Unvoiced P sound
The sound rule is that when first Kanji ends with "-n / -tu" and initial sound of the second Kanji is "ha / hi / hu / he / ho" it will be changes to "pa / pi / pu / pe / po" This is called हाम्दाकुओन्का (हा ध्वनि बाट पा ध्वनि मा परिवर्तन)
eg：鉛＋筆 (en＋hitu) → 鉛筆 (enpitu) えんぴつ
：散＋歩 (san＋ho) → 散歩 (sanpo) さんぽ
：妊＋婦 (nin＋hu) → 妊婦 (ninpu) にんぷ
：文＋法 (bun＋hou) → 文法 (bunpou) ぶんぽー P sound and long vowel※
：憲＋法 (ken＋hou) → 憲法 (kenpou) けんぽー P sound and long vowel※
※Description on long vowel is here
Additionally, in the following cases applies to सोकुओन्का rule, therefore the first changes to a small っ then, apply to P sound change.
eg：切＋符 (kitu＋hu) → 切符 (kippu) きっぷ
：一＋般 (itu＋han) → 一般 (ippan) いっぱん
：日＋本 (niti＋hon) → 日本 (nippon) にっぽん
連濁 (रेन्दाकु) Sequential Voicing
The third rule is that when two word each with its own meaning characters are combined, initial sound of the first word will be changes to दाकुओन् (also known as तेन्तेन्) This is called रेन्दाकू (स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन मा परिणत)
eg：ごみ＋箱 (gomi＋hako) → ごみ箱 (gomibako)
：黒＋砂糖 (kuro＋sato-) → 黒砂糖 (kurozato-)
：株式＋会社 (kabusiki＋kaisya) → 株式会社 (kabusikigaisya)
This change often emerges when preceding word modifies following word. (eg. के को बक्स → फोहोर को बक्स / कोस्तो चिनी → कालो चिनी) In addition, there are a few exceptions. When words with same meaning appear together (eg. सुकी ＋ किराई / मन पर्नु र मन नपर्नु, इकू ＋ काएरू / जानु र फर्कनु) And also, When following word already contains voiced consonant (eg. याकी＋सोबा → याकिसोबा / चाउमिन, केइताई＋देन्वा → केइताइदेन्वा / मोबाइल) When following word is in Katakana
(eg. केन्क्यू-＋सेन्ता- → केन्क्यू-सेन्ता- / अनुसन्धान केन्द्र) are not voicing change.
連声 (रेन्ज्यो-) Linking
The fourth rule is when first Kanji ends with "‐m / -n / -t" and initial sound of the second Kanji is "vowel (a / i / u / e / o) or Ya horizontal row (ya / yu / yo) or Wa horizontal row (wa)" The initial sound of second kanji is modified by adding "m- / n- / t-" This is called रेन्ज्यो- (ध्वनिहरूको जडानलाई सहज बनाउनु)
eg：因＋縁 (in＋en) → 因縁 (in nen) いんねん
：銀＋杏 (gin＋an) → 銀杏 (gin nan) ぎんなん
：三＋位 (sam＋i) → 三位 (sam mi) さんみ
This change has many exceptions, so like "रेन्दाकु" it needs practice until for get used to it. M and N※ are called nasal sounds, it is a type of ん pronunciation. Detail is here
転音 (तेन्ओन्) Elision
The fifth rule is when two words combine, final vowel of first word changes to another vowel. This is called तेन्ओन् (स्वर वर्ण परिवर्तन)
eg：酒＋屋 (sake＋ya) → 酒屋 (sakaya) さかや
：木＋陰 (ki＋kage) → 木陰 (kokage) こかげ
：船＋旅 (hune＋tabi) → 船旅 (hunatabi) ふなたび
：雨＋傘 (ame＋kasa) → 雨傘 (amagasa) あまがさ तेन्ओन् र रेन्दाकु
This change often involves vowel changing from "e → a" and sometimes "o → a / i → o" can also be found. There are also irregular changes like "e → wa" eg. 上着 उवागी / ज्याकेट ue ＋ ki → uwagi. This is common in older Japanese words, and modern language is essentially the exception.
促音化 (सोकुओन्का) Gemination
The first rule is that when two Kanji characters are combined, The first Kanji ends with "‐ki / ‐ku / ‐ti / ‐tu" and initial sound of the second Kanji is "k- / s- / t- / h-" that end sound of first Kanji changes to a small っ This is called सोकुओन्का (छुटाउने स्वर, डबल ध्वनि)
eg：一＋滴 (iti＋teki) →
一滴 (itteki) いってき
：国＋旗 (koku＋ki) →
国旗 (kokki) こっき
：学＋期 (gatu＋ki) →
学期 (gakki) がっき
：洗濯＋機 (sentaku＋ki) →
洗濯機 (sentakki) せんたっき
半濁音化 (हाम्दाकुओन्का) P sound
The sound rule is that when first Kanji ends with "-n / -tu" and initial sound of the second Kanji is "ha / hi / hu / he / ho" it will be changes to "pa / pi / pu / pe / po" This is called हाम्दाकुओन्का (हा ध्वनि बाट पा ध्वनि मा परिवर्तन)
eg：鉛＋筆 (en＋hitu) →
鉛筆 (enpitu) えんぴつ
：散＋歩 (san＋ho) →
散歩 (sanpo) さんぽ
：妊＋婦 (nin＋hu) →
妊婦 (ninpu) にんぷ
：文＋法 (bun＋hou) →
文法 (bunpou) ぶんぽー
：憲＋法 (ken＋hou) →
憲法 (kenpou) けんぽー
Additionally, in the following cases applies to सोकुओन्का rule, therefore the first changes to a small っ then, apply to P sound change.
eg：切＋符 (kitu＋hu) →
切符 (kippu) きっぷ
：一＋般 (itu＋han) →
一般 (ippan) いっぱん
：日＋本 (niti＋hon) →
日本 (nippon) にっぽん
連濁 (रेन्दाकु) Sequential Voicing
The third rule is that when two word each with its own meaning characters are combined, initial sound of the first word will be changes to दाकुओन् (also known as तेन्तेन्) This is called रेन्दाकू (स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन मा परिणत)
eg：ごみ＋箱 (gomi＋hako) →
ごみ箱 (gomibako)
：黒＋砂糖 (kuro＋sato-) →
黒砂糖 (kurozato-)
：株式＋会社 (kabusiki＋kaisya) →
株式会社 (kabusikigaisya)
This change often emerges when preceding word modifies following word. (eg. के को बक्स → फोहोर को बक्स, कोस्तो चिनी → कालो चिनी) In addition, there are a few exceptions. When words with same meaning appear together (eg. सुकी ＋ किराई / मन पर्नु र मन नपर्नु, इकू ＋ काएरू / जानु र फर्कनु) And also, When following word already contains voiced consonant (eg. याकी＋सोबा → याकिसोबा / चाउमिन, केइताई＋देन्वा → केइताइदेन्वा / मोबाइल), When following word is in Katakana
(eg. केन्क्यू-＋सेन्ता- → केन्क्यू-सेन्ता- / अनुसन्धान केन्द्र) are not voicing change.
連声 (रेन्ज्यो-) Linking
The fourth rule is when first Kanji ends with "‐m / -n / -t" and initial sound of the second Kanji is "vowel (a / i / u / e / o) or Ya horizontal row (ya / yu / yo) or Wa horizontal row (wa)" The initial sound of second kanji is modified by adding "m- / n- / t-" This is called रेन्ज्यो- (ध्वनिहरूको जडानलाई सहज बनाउनु)
eg：因＋縁 (in＋en) →
因縁 (in nen) いんねん
：銀＋杏 (gin＋an) →
銀杏 (gin nan) ぎんなん
：三＋位 (sam＋i) →
三位 (sam mi) さんみ
This change has many exceptions, so like "रेन्दाकु" it needs practice until for get used to it. M and N※ are called nasal sounds, it is a type of ん pronunciation. Detail is here
転音 (तेन्ओन्) Elision
The fifth rule is when two words combine, final vowel of first word changes to another vowel. This is called तेन्ओन् (स्वर वर्ण परिवर्तन)
eg：酒＋屋 (sake＋ya) →
酒屋 (sakaya) さかや
：木＋陰 (ki＋kage) →
木陰 (kokage) こかげ
：船＋旅 (hune＋tabi) →
船旅 (hunatabi) ふなたび
：雨＋傘 (ame＋kasa) →
雨傘 (amagasa) あまがさ तेन्ओन् र रेन्दाकु
This change often involves vowel changing from "e → a" and sometimes "o → a / i → o" can also be found. There are also irregular changes like "e → wa" eg. 上着 उवागी / ज्याकेट ue ＋ ki → uwagi. This is common in older Japanese words, and modern language is essentially the exception.
Kanji ＋ pronunciation is complex and a bit stuffy, but knowing these five rules can make Kanji feel to close. In particular, first through third rule is frequently use word in daily life, so many learners wonder to why or how. All of occurrence of pronunciation changes can be considered think out for simplify pronunciation. In many regions of Japan winters are cold, this change in pronunciation may have originated as an energy saving measure during conversation.
Next, Introduction to Hiragana
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