Learn Japanese at your own favorite place
Thank you for using Japanese Nepali laboratory jpnplab.com "Exploring Japanese Language and Culture" is website for learning Japanese language and culture necessary for daily life in Japan. Learn anytime, anywhere, at your pace. Let's get started!
Below is a more detailed explanation of rules for Kanji.
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 change to a small tsu This is called सोकुओन्का (छुटाउने स्वर, डबल ध्वनि)
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 change to "pa / pi / pu / pe / po" This is called हाम्दाकुओन्का (हा ध्वनि बाट पा ध्वनि मा परिवर्तन)
Additionally, in the following cases applies to सोकुओन्का rule, therefore the first change to a small tsu then, change to P sound.
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 change to दाकुओन् (also known as तेन्तेन्) This is called रेन्दाकू (स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन मा परिणत)
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.
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)
This change has many exceptions, so like "रेन्दाकु" it needs practice until for get used to it. M and N are called nasal sounds. Detail is here.
Elision
The fifth rule is when two words combine, final vowel of first word change to another vowel. This is called तेन्ओन् (स्वर वर्ण परिवर्तन)
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.
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 change to a small tsu This is called सोकुओन्का (छुटाउने स्वर, डबल ध्वनि)
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 change to "pa / pi / pu / pe / po" This is called हाम्दाकुओन्का (हा ध्वनि बाट पा ध्वनि मा परिवर्तन)
Additionally, in the following cases applies to सोकुओन्का rule, therefore the first change to a small tsu then, change to P sound.
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 change to दाकुओन् (also known as तेन्तेन्) This is called रेन्दाकू (स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन मा परिणत)
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.
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)
This change has many exceptions, so like "रेन्दाकु" it needs practice until for get used to it. M and N are called nasal sounds. Detail is here.
Elision
The fifth rule is when two words combine, final vowel of first word change to another vowel. This is called तेन्ओन् (स्वर वर्ण परिवर्तन)
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.
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 change to a small tsu This is called सोकुओन्का (छुटाउने स्वर, डबल ध्वनि)
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 change to "pa / pi / pu / pe / po" This is called हाम्दाकुओन्का (हा ध्वनि बाट पा ध्वनि मा परिवर्तन)
Additionally, in the following cases applies to सोकुओन्का rule, therefore the first change to a small tsu then, change to P sound.
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 change to दाकुओन् (also known as तेन्तेन्) This is called रेन्दाकू (स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन मा परिणत)
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.
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)
This change has many exceptions, so like रेन्दाकु it needs practice until for get used to it. M and N are called nasal sounds. Detail is here.
Elision
The fifth rule is when two words combine, final vowel of first word change to another vowel. This is called तेन्ओन् (स्वर वर्ण परिवर्तन)
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. 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
TOP > C/ROOM > KANJI > Adv/KANJI
© 2025 jpnplab.com All Right Reserved