Unit 1 - Section 8: Voiced, Semi-voiced, Contracted Sounds
Voiced, Semi-voiced, and Combination Sounds
Learn how to modify hiragana and katakana to create voiced sounds (dakuten ゛), semi-voiced sounds (handakuten ゜), and combination characters for more complex syllables.
Dakuten (゛) - Voiced Sounds
Adding dakuten (゛) marks make sounds more voiced. Two marks create a softer "voice":
| Original | + Dakuten | Sound | Example (Hiragana) | Example (Katakana) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| か ka | が ga | ga | がく (gaku) school | ガク |
| き ki | ぎ gi | gi | ぎゅうにゅう (milk) | ギター (guitar) |
| く ku | ぐ gu | gu | ぐっすり (deeply/soundly) | グループ (group) |
| け ke | げ ge | ge | げんき (healthy/energetic) | ゲーム (game) |
| こ ko | ご go | go | ごはん (rice/meal) | ゴリラ (gorilla) |
Also voiced:
- さ行: さ→ざ, し→じ, す→ず, せ→ぜ, そ→ぞ
- た行: た→だ, ち→ぢ, つ→づ, て→で, と→ど
- は行: は→ば, ひ→び, ふ→ぶ, へ→べ, ほ→ぼ
- ま行, や行, ら行: No dakuten forms exist
Handakuten (゜) - Semi-voiced Sounds
Adding handakuten (゜) marks only applies to the HA row and creates a P-sound:
| Original | + Handakuten | Sound | Example (Hiragana) | Example (Katakana) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| は ha | ぱ pa | pa | ぱぱ (papa) | パン (bread) |
| ひ hi | ぴ pi | pi | ぴんぴん (energetic) | ピアノ (piano) |
| ふ fu | ぷ pu | pu | ぷよぷよ (squishy/wobbly) | プール (pool) |
| へ he | ぺ pe | pe | ぺたぺた (stepping lightly) | ペット (pet) |
| ほ ho | ぽ po | po | ぽっかり (widely open) | ポップコーン (popcorn) |
Combination Characters (Youon)
Combining smaller characters creates new syllables:
Pattern: Small ゃ (ya), ゅ (yu), or ょ (yo) + consonant character
Examples:
- きゃ→きゅ→きょ (kya, kyu, kyo)
- しゃ→しゅ→しょ (sha, shu, sho)
- ちゃ→ちゅ→ちょ (cha, chu, cho)
- にゃ→にゅ→にょ (nya, nyu, nyo)
- ひゃ→ひゅ→ひょ (hya, hyu, hyo)
- みゃ→みゅ→みょ (mya, myu, myo)
- りゃ→りゅ→りょ (rya, ryu, ryo)
| Hiragana | Katakana | Romaji | Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| きゃ | キャ | kya | きゃー / キャラ | ah! / character |
| しゃ | シャ | sha | しゃしん / シャツ | photo / shirt |
| ちゃ | チャ | cha | ちゃんと / チャンピオン | properly / champion |
| にゃ | ニャ | nya | にゃー | meow! |
Double Consonants
A small つ (tsu) represents a doubled consonant and creates a pause:
がっこう (gakkō)
school
いった (itta)
went
ずっと (zutto)
all the time / always
さっき (sakki)
a moment ago
まっすぐ (massugu)
straight
あった (atta)
met / there was
Study Tips
Master These Special Sounds:
- Dakuten marks: Make consonants voiced (k→g, t→d, s→z, h→b)
- Handakuten marks: Only for HA row, makes p-sounds (h→p)
- Combination characters: Small や/ゆ/よ create ky/ny/hy/my/ry/by/py sounds
- Double consonants: Small つ creates a pause before the next sound
- Practice: Write these special sounds 10 times each until they feel natural
Course Navigation
Study Tips
- Read each example carefully
- Practice pronunciation aloud
- Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
- Finish the section quiz