Hiragana for t/d + vowels

2.4. Hiragana for t/d + vowels

t + vowels:

Romanization	Pronunciation	Description
ta	[ta]	English "t" + Japanese "a".
ti (chi)	[i]	Similar to English "ch" + Japanese "i". You shouldn't round your lips when you pronounce [], unlike the [] in cheese [i:z].
tu (tsu)	[]	English "ts" + Japanese "u".
te	[te]	English "t" + Japanese "e".
to	[to]	English "t" + Japanese "o".

d + vowels:

Romanization	Pronunciation	Description
da	[da]	English "d" + Japanese "a".
zi (ji)	[i]	Exactly same as .
zu	[]	Exactly same as .
de	[de]	English "d" + Japanese "e".
do	[do]	English "d" + Japanese "o".

Note that

, and

have different consonants from others, because of a historical pronunciation shift. They are considered to have had the proper sounds "ti", "tu", "di", and "du" respectively.

The kana

and

have the same pronunciations as

and

, and the latter two are almost always used.

and

are used only for morae that come from

and

etymologically.

Hiragana examples:

Hiragana:

Pitch:

Romanization:

Meaning:

iron (noun)

Hiragana:

Pitch:

Romanization:

Meaning:

shape (noun)

Hiragana:

Pitch:

Romanization:

tô

Meaning:

lighthouse (noun)

Hiragana:

Pitch:

Romanization:

Meaning:

map (noun)

Hiragana:

Pitch:

Romanization:

Meaning:

right, correct (adjective)

Hiragana:

Pitch:

Romanization:

Meaning:

pipe (noun)

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