English
日本語
한국어
简体中文
繁體中文
Italiano
español
Deutsch
Русский
Imagine telling a Japanese speaker you like persimmons, and they gift you oysters. What happened!?
Description
Imagine telling a Japanese speaker you like persimmons, and they give you oysters as a present. What happened!?
Japanese is not a tonal language (single syllables carry distinct tones and each tone has a different meaning) but it doesn't mean that it doesn't use tones at all. Japanese has pitch accents (for simplicity let's say high vs. low pitches), so the relationship between the tones of multiple syllables carries different meanings.
For example:
雨が好きです。(I like rain.)
飴が好きです。(I like candy.)
If you write both phrases only using hiragana (or romanization):
あめがすきです。(Ame ga suki desu.)
あめがすきです。(Ame ga suki desu.)
They look the same! How do you differentiate the two when you speak?
If you like rain, you would say:
あ↑め↓ が すきです。(A↑ me↓ ga suki desu.)
If you like candy, you would say:
あ↓め↑ が すきです。(A↓ me↑ ga suki desu.)
The same goes for oysters (ka↑ki↓) and persimmons (ka↓ki↑)!
If you just discovered this and can't wait to learn more, don't hesitate to request a lesson! Also: nailing the pitch accents in everyday phrases will make your Japanese sound a LOT more natural, so if you'd like to practice your pitch accents, I'm here for you!
Japanese is not a tonal language (single syllables carry distinct tones and each tone has a different meaning) but it doesn't mean that it doesn't use tones at all. Japanese has pitch accents (for simplicity let's say high vs. low pitches), so the relationship between the tones of multiple syllables carries different meanings.
For example:
雨が好きです。(I like rain.)
飴が好きです。(I like candy.)
If you write both phrases only using hiragana (or romanization):
あめがすきです。(Ame ga suki desu.)
あめがすきです。(Ame ga suki desu.)
They look the same! How do you differentiate the two when you speak?
If you like rain, you would say:
あ↑め↓ が すきです。(A↑ me↓ ga suki desu.)
If you like candy, you would say:
あ↓め↑ が すきです。(A↓ me↑ ga suki desu.)
The same goes for oysters (ka↑ki↓) and persimmons (ka↓ki↑)!
If you just discovered this and can't wait to learn more, don't hesitate to request a lesson! Also: nailing the pitch accents in everyday phrases will make your Japanese sound a LOT more natural, so if you'd like to practice your pitch accents, I'm here for you!
This tutor's cancellation policy
Before request is confirmed (fixed)
- Cancellation possible at any time without charge.
After request is confirmed (fixed)
- Less than 1hours before lesson start time.→ 50% of price charged.
- No-Show→ 100% of price charged.
Lessons by this tutor
All Lessons
-
-
-
英語の母音・子音をマスターしよう！
発音特化のレッスンです。国際音声記号のチャートを用いて、英語と日本語の発音がどのように違うのかを解説します。レッスン後のフィードバックあり！25min 1,200P -
和製英語から学ぶ英単語！
英語圏の人に言ったら通じない、もしくは想定外の解釈をされてしまう『和製英語』を、正しい英単語とともに解説していきます。レッスン後のフィードバックあり！25min 1,200P -
-
-
-
【日本人向け】カナダでの留学・就職・生活Q&A【相談】
カナダで留学・就職・生活をしてみたい方の相談に乗ります！学生として、そして社会人として、15年カナダ（ブリティッシュコロンビア州、バンクーバー）にいた経験を活かして、質問にお答えします。25min 1,200P -
Free Conversation in Japanese【25 minutes】
Improve your Japanese speaking skills and boost your confidence with a 25-Minute Free Conversation Lesson!25min 1,200PHas Trial -
Free Conversation in Japanese【50 minutes】
Improve your Japanese speaking skills and boost your confidence with a 50-Minute Free Conversation Lesson!50min 2,400P -
English... only understood by Japanese speakers!? The mysteries of "wasei-eigo"
Learn about "English" (or English-sounding) words unique to Japan, and some examples you can use right away.25min 1,200P -
Moving to Japan Q&A
Have you ever thought you'd like to talk to someone about what it's like moving to (and living in) Japan? I moved back to Japan in the fall of 2023, so my knowledge is (fairly) recent.25min 1,200P
