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Index

Introduction to Japanese Language

Introduction to Kanji

Introduction to Hiragana

Introduction to Katakana

Introduction to Onomatopoeia

Introduction to Pronunciation

Introduction to Grammar

Introduction to Pronunciation

Japanese pronunciation is sound alike to Nepali pronunciation. Japanese vowels begin with आ इ उ ए ओ and consonants are का कि कु के को Nepali vowels also begin from अ then आ इ ई उ ऊ ए... and consonants also क का कि की कु कू... it's almost identical.

Moreover, syllable is pronounced as a single vowel "आ / इ / उ / ए / ओ" or composed of consonant + vowel patterns (eg. お は よ う / o ha yo u) in this way, each syllable is pronounced as a single unit. This is rule of "one letter one sound" (eg. in English "knife" is pronounced in /naɪf/ k sound in is not pronounced but in Japanese words is pronounce every letter) therefore this method of pronouncing words as spelling is simple and easy to listening, conversation and vocabulary learning.

As for points of difference between Japanese and Nepali pronunciation, Japanese syllables always end with vowel except ん or っ but in Nepali syllables often end with consonants or reduction vowels. For example, Thamel area of Kathmandu attracts many tourists, but Japanese tourists call to it as "thame (Lu)" but local people say it "thame (L)" so Japanese characteristic is that every syllable must end with a vowel. Then, let us introduce characteristics of Japanese pronunciation from various perspectives.

Identity for Japanese Rhythm

As mentioned above regarding "one letter one sound" rule, this also relates to rhythm of Japanese language, pronounces each syllable with same rhythm. For example, greeting कोन्निचिवा is not pronounced कोन् नी--चिवा all five characters are pronounced with same rhythm like this को न् नि चि वा even when speaking fast, pronounce words while maintaining same rhythm.

However, there are some exceptions, such as when rhythm is deliberately disrupted to emphasise emotion. For example, if you say वा ता सि सि रा ना इ (मलाई थाहा छैन) emphasising interjection वा ता सि सी- रा ना इ it can be put emotion. Give it a try to be mindful of rhythm "each syllable with same rhythm" in conversation. If want to learn more about pronunciation, let's move forward to Japanese accent.

Next, Introduction to Grammar

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