半 (はん) vs 番 (ばん) vs パン: the pronunciation difference
半 (はん) and 番 (ばん) have the same beats; only は → ば changes, a voicing difference. 半 (はん) and パン have the same beats; only は → ぱ changes, a voicing difference.
Meaning and beats
| Example | Meaning | Beats |
|---|---|---|
| 半はん · han | half |
|
| 番ばん · ban | turn / number |
|
| パンぱん · pan | bread |
|
What changes
半 (はん) and 番 (ばん) have the same beats; only は → ば changes, a voicing difference.
半 (はん) and パン have the same beats; only は → ぱ changes, a voicing difference.
゛ makes a consonant voiced, and ゜ turns は into ぱ. 天気 (weather) and 電気 (electricity) differ only in voicing.
In a sentence
- 七時半に駅で会いましょう。
- 次は私の番です。
- 朝ごはんにパンを食べます。
Test yourself
Record one of the words. Mora compares your recording with that word and with its pair, then shows which one it sounds closer to.