JPEdLab Mora

Japanese pronunciation lessons

Learn Japanese pronunciation, one beat at a time

Short lessons with beat diagrams, audio, and the mistakes speakers of your language make most.

Mora and rhythmTake the test

Japanese counts beats, not letters

Most kana are one beat. Small ゃゅょ join the kana before them; ー, っ and ん each take a full beat.

客customer / guest
  1. きゃ
  2. く
2 beats
規約terms / rules
  1. き
  2. や
  3. く
3 beats

Choose a sound to practice

Start hereMora and rhythmCount beats, not syllables, and see where pitch accent fits.と・う・きょ・う
Long vowelsHold the vowel for two beats: ビル or ビール.ビル · ビールSmall っA silent, one-beat hold: 来て or 切って.肩 · 買ったん (moraic n)ん keeps a beat of its own: 火事 or 漢字.火事 · 漢字Contracted soundsSmall ゃゅょ make one beat: 客 or 規約.客 · 規約Voiced soundsDakuten changes the consonant: 柿 or 鍵.天気 · 電気Mixed practicePut っ, ん and long vowels side by side.坂 · 作家 · 参加

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