日本語 · language learning guides

Japanese pronunciation guides

Explore what to listen for when speaking Japanese, then use the sentence library to practise aloud.

What to listen for in Japanese

Move from recognising Japanese text to producing complete, evenly paced sentences. Hear the native model, speak the same line, and use the word result to guide a focused repeat.

Mora timing

Japanese rhythm is organised around short timing units called morae. Long vowels, a syllable-final n, and the pause before a doubled consonant each occupy real space.

Long and short sounds

Vowel and consonant length can change meaning. Compare the duration in the reference instead of treating a doubled spelling as visual decoration.

Pitch movement

Japanese uses pitch patterns differently from English-style stress. The reference sentence provides the model, even when a word score is mainly diagnosing its segmental sounds.