Tongue and mouth positions for common Japanese sounds
Sounds of Japan: Achieve a Native-like Japanese Accent: Tongue and mouth positions for common Japanese sounds
Common Japanese sounds involve specific tongue and mouth positions that contribute to their distinct pronunciation. Here is an overview of tongue and mouth positions for common Japanese vowels and consonants:
Vowels
Japanese vowels are produced without blocking air in the mouth, with the main distinction being tongue height and front/back position:
- あ (a): Tongue low and centered in the mouth.
- い (i): Tongue high and front.
- う (u): Tongue high and back, with rounded lips.
- え (e): Tongue mid and front.
- お (o): Tongue mid and back.
Consonants
- か (ka), き (ki), く (ku), け (ke), こ (ko): Tongue raised to the back of the mouth, blocking airflow fully at the velum/soft palate.
- た (ta), ち (chi), つ (tsu), て (te), と (to): Tongue tip touches the back of the upper front teeth and the blade of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge.
- さ (sa), し (shi), す (su), せ (se), そ (so): Tongue is closer to the alveolar ridge, with し (shi) farther forward than English “sh.”
- ば (ba), び (bi), ぶ (bu), べ (be), ぼ (bo): Both lips touch to block airflow.
- ま (ma), み (mi), む (mu): Both lips block airflow with nasal resonance.
- ん (n): The sound is nasal, produced by directing air through the nose, often involving the uvula.
Tongue Placement Tips
- For “t” sounds, the tongue tip contacts the back of the upper front teeth, with the tongue blade near the alveolar ridge.
- For “r” sounds, the tongue placement is very important — near the alveolar ridge without touching the back of the front teeth.
- Vowels are shorter and with less lip closure than English vowels, e.g., don’t round lips tightly on “o.”
This description captures key articulatory positions of Japanese sounds critical for accurate pronunciation. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6