Long Vowels
Hiragana 3
Chapter 2 Β· Long Vowels
πΈ Long Vowels β Hold It Twice
Last chapter's small γ£ was a silent extra beat. This chapter's extra beat is a vowel: a long vowel is simply held for two beats instead of one. It is spelt by adding a vowel character, and it is what turns γγγγγ into "mother" and γγ°γγ into a different word entirely. Romaji is shown for everything.
π The Rule β ι·ι³
In katakana a long vowel is written with a line (γΌ). In hiragana, you add a vowel character after the vowel you want to stretch. The stretched vowel takes two beats, not one: γγγγγ is o-ka-a-sa-n, five beats, not four.
| Vowel sound | Long version written⦠| Examples | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | add γ | γγγγγ Β· γγ°γγγ | okΔsan Β· obΔsan |
| i | add γ | γγ«γγγ Β· γγγγγ | oniisan Β· ojiisan |
| u | add γ | γγγγ Β· γγγγ | kΕ«kΕ Β· yΕ«mei |
| e | add γ (usually) | γγγγ Β· γ¨γγ Β· γγγ | sensei Β· tokei Β· eiga |
| e | add γ (a few words) | γγγγγ Β· γγ | onΔsan Β· Δ |
| o | add γ (usually) | γγ¨γγγ Β· γγγγ¨γ | otΕsan Β· arigatΕ |
| o | add γ (a few words) | γγγγ Β· γ¨γγ Β· γγγ | Εkii Β· tΕi Β· kΕri |
βοΈ Short or Long? β A Meaning Changes
Length is as important as the pause you learned last chapter. These pairs are real words that differ only by a vowel.
| Short | Say it | English | Long | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| γγ°γγ | obasan | aunt | γγ°γγγ | obΔsan | grandmother |
| γγγγ | ojisan | uncle | γγγγγ | ojiisan | grandfather |
| γγ | yuki | snow | γγγ | yΕ«ki | courage |
| γ¨γ | toru | to take | γ¨γγ | tΕru | to pass through |
π Read It β New Words
Family words first, since you'll use them in Japanese Basic Conversation 1. Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji, and hold the long vowels.
| # | Word | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γγγγγ | okΔsan | mother | o-ka-a-sa-n: five beats |
| 2 | γγ¨γγγ | otΕsan | father | o-to-u-sa-n: the γ lengthens the γ |
| 3 | γγ°γγγ | obΔsan | grandmother | o-ba-a-sa-n |
| 4 | γγγγγ | ojiisan | grandfather | o-ji-i-sa-n |
| 5 | γγ«γγγ | oniisan | older brother | o-ni-i-sa-n |
| 6 | γγγγγ | onΔsan | older sister | o-ne-e-sa-n: a long e written with γ |
| 7 | γγγγ | sensei | teacher | se-n-se-i: the γ lengthens the γ |
| 8 | γγγγ¨γ | arigatΕ | thank you | a-ri-ga-to-u: the γ lengthens the γ¨ |
| 9 | γγγγ | Εkii | big | o-o-ki-i: a long o written with γ |
| 10 | γ¨γγ | tΕi | far | to-o-i |
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. How is a long vowel written in hiragana?
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By adding a vowel character after it: γ, γ, γ; and γ or γ after e and o (usually).
2. How many beats are in γγγγγ?
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Five: o Β· ka Β· a Β· sa Β· n.
3. Read aloud and translate: γγγγ Β· γγ¨γγγ Β· γγγγ¨γ
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sensei (teacher) Β· otΕsan (father) Β· arigatΕ (thank you)
4. What is the difference between γγ°γγ and γγ°γγγ?
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γγ°γγ is an aunt; γγ°γγγ is a grandmother. The long vowel changes the meaning.
5. Read aloud and translate: γγγγ Β· γ¨γγ Β· γγ«γγγ
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Εkii (big) Β· tΕi (far) Β· oniisan (older brother)
6. Write in hiragana: sensei Β· otΕsan Β· Εkii (check the long vowels).
Show answer
γγγγ Β· γγ¨γγγ Β· γγγγ