北 (きた) vs 切った (きった): the pronunciation difference
北 (きた) is 2 beats; 切った (きった) adds small っ, a silent one-beat hold, and is 3 beats.
Meaning and beats
| Example | Meaning | Beats |
|---|---|---|
| 北きた · kita | north |
|
| 切ったきった · kitta | cut (past) |
|
What changes
北 (きた) is 2 beats; 切った (きった) adds small っ, a silent one-beat hold, and is 3 beats.
Small っ is a one-beat pause before the next consonant. 来て (come) and 切って (cut) differ only by that pause.
In a sentence
- 駅の北にコンビニがあります。
- 包丁で野菜を小さく切った。
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.