Pronunciation in Japanese is 発音, read はつおん (hatsuon). It refers to how speech sounds are produced or how a word is said. If you want to ask how written characters are read, 読み方 (よみかた, yomikata) is another useful word. The two ideas are related, but they answer slightly different questions.
Quick answer:
Pronunciation = 発音 = はつおん (hatsuon). “How do you pronounce this?” can be これはどう発音しますか。 — Kore wa dō hatsuon shimasu ka?
How Do You Say Pronunciation in Japanese?
The noun is 発音 (はつおん, hatsuon). You can use it when discussing the sounds of Japanese, English, or another language. Nihongo no hatsuon means “Japanese pronunciation,” and eigo no hatsuon means “English pronunciation.”
Example: 日本語の発音 — Japanese pronunciation
To make the verb “to pronounce,” add する (suru): 発音する (hatsuon suru). In polite speech, this becomes 発音します (hatsuon shimasu). The noun and verb therefore share the same central word.
When you mean “How is this kanji read?”, the everyday question どう読みますか may be more useful. It asks which reading to assign to the writing, while a question about hatsuon can focus on producing the sounds themselves.
Related Japanese Words
1. 発音 — Pronunciation
発音 is the general noun. Kono tango no hatsuon means “the pronunciation of this word.” The particle の connects the word or language with its pronunciation, much as English uses “of” in this phrase.
You can describe pronunciation with an adjective: 正しい発音 (ただしいはつおん, tadashii hatsuon), “correct pronunciation,” or 自然な発音 (しぜんなはつおん, shizen na hatsuon), “natural pronunciation.” The second expression uses な before the noun.
2. 発音する — To Pronounce
発音する is the verb. Kono kotoba o hatsuon suru means “to pronounce this word.” The thing being pronounced is marked with を, normally pronounced o as a particle.
To request the action politely, say 発音してください (はつおんしてください, hatsuon shite kudasai) — “Please pronounce it.” Naming the word makes the request more specific: Kono tango o hatsuon shite kudasai, “Please pronounce this word.”
3. 読み方 — Reading / How to Read
読み方 (よみかた, yomikata) means “way of reading” or “how to read.” It is especially useful for a name, Japanese kanji, or written expression whose reading you do not know. この漢字の読み方 means “the reading of this kanji.”
A reading and a pronunciation are connected, but they are not identical concerns. You may already know that a word is read hatsuon but still want help producing the sound smoothly. In that case, a question about hatsuon is more directly about the spoken form.
4. アクセント — Accent
アクセント (akusento) is the borrowed word “accent.” In a Japanese language lesson, it may refer to the pitch pattern of a word. In other contexts, it can have broader meanings related to emphasis or a distinctive accent.
Japanese word accent is not simply the same as strongly stressing one syllable in English. Pitch differences can matter, and patterns vary by region. If you are asking about the entire way a word is said, hatsuon is the broader starting word; if you are discussing the pitch pattern specifically, akusento can be useful.
Pronunciation in Japanese: Quick Comparison
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| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 発音 | はつおん — hatsuon | pronunciation |
| 発音する | はつおんする — hatsuon suru | to pronounce |
| 発音します | はつおんします — hatsuon shimasu | pronounce, polite form |
| 読み方 | よみかた — yomikata | reading / how to read |
| 読む | よむ — yomu | to read |
| アクセント | akusento | accent / a word’s pitch pattern in context |
| もう一度 | もういちど — mō ichido | once more |
| ゆっくり | yukkuri | slowly |
How to Pronounce Hatsuon
はつおん is written with the kana は・つ・お・ん. Practice it slowly as ha-tsu-o-n, then let the sounds connect. The tsu begins with a combined consonant sound, similar to the ending of English “cats” followed by a short vowel.
Keep the お after tsu. Do not turn the word into a single English-style syllable or drop the vowel simply because the romanization looks compact. The final ん is a Japanese nasal sound whose exact realization can depend on the following sound.
The vowel in tsu may sound light in natural speech. Begin with a careful version so you preserve the word’s structure, then listen to it in a full question. Avoid adding a heavy English stress on one part as a substitute for Japanese rhythm.
Asking How to Pronounce a Word
これはどう発音しますか。 — Kore wa dō hatsuon shimasu ka? — means “How do you pronounce this?” It is useful when the word is visible or already identified in the conversation. Dō means “how.”
For a written word or character, これは何と読みますか。 — Kore wa nan to yomimasu ka? — asks “How do you read this?” Another natural question is この漢字はどう読みますか。 — “How do you read this kanji?”
To ask for the pronunciation itself, この単語の発音を教えてください。 means “Please tell me the pronunciation of this word.” Oshiete kudasai is a useful polite request meaning “Please tell me” or “Please teach me,” depending on context.
If you need a demonstration, 一度言ってもらえますか。 — Ichido itte moraemasu ka? — asks “Could you say it once for me?” This focuses on hearing the word aloud, which may be more useful than an explanation of its spelling.
Useful Phrases for Pronunciation Practice
Once someone demonstrates a word, you may need repetition, a slower pace, or confirmation that your version is understandable. These expressions help you keep the practice focused. To explain your speaking level before asking for help, practice the phrases in how to say “I speak Japanese”.
- もう一度お願いします。 — Once more, please.
- ゆっくり言ってください。 — Please say it slowly.
- これで合っていますか。 — Is this correct?
- この発音で合っていますか。 — Is this pronunciation correct?
- 発音の練習をしています。 — I’m practicing pronunciation.
For practice, listen to one short phrase, repeat it, and compare it with the example. Pay attention to long vowels and small っ sounds in Japanese, since they can change a word’s identity. Asking for a slower example can help you hear these differences without needing technical vocabulary.
The question Kono hatsuon de atte imasu ka? asks whether your pronunciation is correct in the situation. If you want a particular regional accent, name it rather than assuming one example represents every Japanese speaker.
Example Sentences
The examples include the ordinary written form and a kana reading. The audio uses the kana so you hear the intended words rather than a possible alternative reading of the characters.
How do you pronounce this word?
Use: 単語 means word. どう asks how, and 発音します is the polite verb form.
I’m practicing Japanese pronunciation.
Use: の connects Japanese with pronunciation, and を marks what is being practiced.
Please tell me how to read this kanji.
Use: 読み方 asks for the reading assigned to the written character.
Common Mistakes
Do not confuse 発音 with 読み方 in every situation. If you cannot identify the reading of a kanji, yomikata is often the precise word. If you want help making the sounds, hatsuon is the broader pronunciation term.
Remember to add suru or a conjugated form when you need the verb “pronounce.” The noun hatsuon alone does not make a full question. Also keep the vowel sequence in はつおん rather than guessing an English pronunciation from the romanized letters.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pronunciation in Japanese
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is pronunciation in Japanese?
It is 発音 (はつおん, hatsuon). The word refers to pronunciation or the way speech sounds are produced.
How do you say to pronounce?
Add する: 発音する, hatsuon suru. The polite form is 発音します, hatsuon shimasu.
How do I ask how to pronounce this?
Say これはどう発音しますか。 — Kore wa dō hatsuon shimasu ka? It means “How do you pronounce this?”
What is the difference between hatsuon and yomikata?
Hatsuon concerns pronunciation. 読み方 (yomikata) concerns how writing is read, such as which reading a kanji or name has. The ideas are related but not identical.
How do I ask someone to say it more slowly?
Say ゆっくり言ってください。 — “Please say it slowly.” For another repetition, use もう一度お願いします, “Once more, please.”
How do I write hatsuon in hiragana?
Write はつおん. Practice the sequence ha-tsu-o-n, keeping the お after つ and then connecting the sounds smoothly.
Summary
Pronunciation in Japanese is 発音, はつおん, hatsuon. Add する for “to pronounce,” and use 読み方 when asking for the reading of written characters.
Practice Kore wa dō hatsuon shimasu ka? and Yukkuri itte kudasai so you can ask for a model and a slower repetition. These phrases help you turn a vocabulary question into useful listening and speaking practice.
