Da Ji Zu
Hiragana 2
Chapter 5 Β· Da Ji Zu
πΈ The D Row Begins β γ γ’ γ₯
The dakuten turns t into d, giving γ (da), γ’ (ji) and γ₯ (zu). One of these is common and two are rare, so this chapter is as much about when you will actually see them as about the shapes. Romaji is shown for everything.
| Plain | With γ | Sound before | Sound now |
|---|---|---|---|
| γ | γ | ta | da |
| γ‘ | γ’ | chi | ji |
| γ€ | γ₯ | tsu | zu |
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | γ | γ‘ | γ€ | γ¦ | γ¨ |
| d (t + γ) | γ | γ’ | γ₯ | γ§ | γ© |
The three highlighted characters are today's. γ§ and γ© come in Chapter 6.
β¨ Three New Characters β γ γ’ γ₯
π Read It β New Words
The first two entries are phrases you will hear all the time. Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji.
| # | Word | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γγγ γγΎγ | itadakimasu | (said before eating) | i-ta-da-ki-ma-su: said before a meal, like "let's eat" |
| 2 | γγ γγΎ | tadaima | I'm home | ta-da-i-ma: said when you arrive home |
| 3 | γ¨γγ γ‘ | tomodachi | friend | to-mo-da-chi: rendaku, γ¨γ + γγ‘ |
| 4 | γ γ | dare | who | da-re |
| 5 | γγγ | karada | body | ka-ra-da |
| 6 | γ γγγ | daigaku | university | da-i-ga-ku |
| 7 | γ γ | dame | no good; not allowed | da-me: you will hear it a lot |
| 8 | γ€γ₯γ | tsuzuku | to continue | tsu-zu-ku: γ₯, pronounced zu |
| 9 | γ―γͺγ’ | hanaji | nosebleed | ha-na-ji: γ’, pronounced ji |
| 10 | γ‘γ’γ | chijimu | to shrink | chi-ji-mu: γ’ again |
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Read aloud: γ Β· γ’ Β· γ₯
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da Β· ji Β· zu
2. Read aloud and translate: γ¨γγ γ‘ Β· γ γ Β· γγγ
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tomodachi (friend) Β· dare (who) Β· karada (body)
3. Read aloud: γγγ γγΎγ Β· γγ γγΎ. When do you say each?
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itadakimasu: before eating. tadaima: when you get home.
4. How are γ’ and γ₯ pronounced, and how common are they?
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Like γ (ji) and γ (zu). They are rare: mostly rendaku (γ―γͺγ’) and repeated sounds (γ€γ₯γ, γ‘γ’γ).
5. What is rendaku? Give one example from this chapter.
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A joined word's second part gets a voiced first sound: γ¨γ + γγ‘ = γ¨γγ γ‘; γ―γͺ + γ‘ = γ―γͺγ’; γ¦ + γγΏ = γ¦γγΏ.
6. Write in hiragana: daigaku Β· tsuzuku Β· dame (check the stroke order).
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γ γγγ Β· γ€γ₯γ Β· γ γ