| Author | Message | ||
     tiktok |
I JUST started to learn Japanese, but one problem i am having is (with romanji characters at least) is i read the the "u" and the "i" are often left off words. Like how desu is pronouced Dess) Is this true? If so, how can i know when to drop the I and U? | ||
| Anonymous |
That happens in spoken language, just as when you sort of blur consonant or vowel blends when speaking fast in English. So, when you write, you don't have to skip them. You will learn when they are dropped as you hear more spoken Japanese. Good luck. | ||
| Naka |
I think there is a rule about it, but i don't know the one so i'll try to explain in my own words. First of all, it won't be a mistake to pronounce all "u" and "i" in those words in which they are usually dropped. May be it would sound a bit too official, but it's still correct. "i" and "u" are often reduced in fluent speech, so it's better to listen more, as it was told. If there are no native speakers or teachers, you can listen to japanese songs or watch anime to get used to pronunciation. I guess they are usually reduced in the syllables with unvoiced consonant 1. at the end of the word - des/desu, -masu/mas ("-masu" form of the verbs, e.g. "ikimasu", "yomimasu"), -shi/sh (i think "shi" is an only syllable in which "i" is reduced at the end of the word) and 2. before the syllables that start with the unvoiced consonant - e.g. sukoshi/skoshi (or "skosh"), suki/ski, tsukareru/tskareru, tsukuru/tskuru, ashita/ashta. Of course, they are not always dropped, especially those that are not at the end of the word - it's optional, i suppose. So that's what i came up with. Hope it will be helpful. |