Cha Chu Cho
Hiragana 3
Chapter 5 Β· Cha Chu Cho
πΈ Combined Sounds III β γ‘γ γ‘γ γ‘γ and γ«γ γ«γ γ«γ
Two more rows with the same rule: γ‘ and γ« plus a small γ, γ or γ. With these six you can read the word for tea, the country China, and the most useful word in the whole language for a learner, γ‘γγ£γ¨. Romaji is shown for everything.
𧩠The Rule Again β ζι³
The same rule on two more rows: an γ-row character + a small γ, γ or γ = one beat. Today: γ‘ and γ«. Note that γ‘ is chi, so γ‘γ is cha, not "chya".
| γ (ya) | γ (yu) | γ (yo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| γ‘ (chi) | γ‘γ cha | γ‘γ chu | γ‘γ cho |
| γ« (ni) | γ«γ nya | γ«γ nyu | γ«γ nyo |
The pattern is always: the first sound of the γ-row character, plus ya, yu or yo. With γ‘, the "ch" takes the place of the y.
| Two beats | Say it | One beat | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| γ«γ | ni-ya | γ«γ | nya |
| γ‘γγ | chi-yΕ | γ‘γγ | chΕ |
π Read It β New Words
Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji. Remember: each combined sound is one beat.
| # | Word | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γγ‘γ | ocha | (green) tea | o-cha: the γ is polite |
| 2 | γ‘γγγ | chairo | brown | cha-i-ro: lit. "tea colour" |
| 3 | γ‘γγγ | chawan | rice bowl; teacup | cha-wa-n |
| 4 | γ‘γγ£γ¨ | chotto | a little; just a moment | cho-t-to: small γ£ after γ‘γ |
| 5 | γ‘γγγ© | chΕdo | exactly; just | chΕ-do |
| 6 | γ‘γ γγγ | ChΕ«goku | China | chΕ«-go-ku |
| 7 | γ‘γ γγγ | chΕ«mon | an order (at a restaurant) | chΕ«-mo-n: you'll use it when ordering |
| 8 | γγγ«γγ | konnyaku | konjac (a jelly-like food) | ko-n-nya-ku |
| 9 | γ«γ γγγ | nyΕ«gaku | entering school | nyΕ«-ga-ku |
| 10 | γ«γγ | nyΔ | meow | nyΔ: a cat's cry |
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. How is γ‘γ romanised, and why is it not "chya"?
Show answer
cha: ch already contains the y sound, so no extra y.
2. What does a cat say in Japanese, and what is the sound of γ«γ?
Show answer
γ«γγ (nyΔ); nya.
3. Read aloud and translate: γγ‘γ Β· γ‘γγγ Β· γ‘γγγ
Show answer
ocha (tea) Β· chawan (rice bowl) Β· chairo (brown)
4. Read aloud and translate: γ‘γγ£γ¨ Β· γ‘γγγ© Β· γ‘γ γγγ
Show answer
chotto (a little) Β· chΕdo (exactly) Β· chΕ«mon (an order)
5. Read aloud and translate: γ‘γ γγγ Β· γγγ«γγ Β· γ«γ γγγ
Show answer
ChΕ«goku (China) Β· konnyaku (konjac) Β· nyΕ«gaku (entering school)
6. Write in hiragana: ocha Β· chotto Β· ChΕ«goku (check the small characters).
Show answer
γγ‘γ Β· γ‘γγ£γ¨ Β· γ‘γ γγγ