賞 (しょう) vs 仕様 (しよう): the pronunciation difference
賞 (しょう) says しょ as one beat (2 beats); 仕様 (しよう) splits it into し・よ (3 beats).
Meaning and beats
| Example | Meaning | Beats |
|---|---|---|
| 賞しょう · shou | award / prize |
|
| 仕様しよう · shiyou | specification |
|
What changes
賞 (しょう) says しょ as one beat (2 beats); 仕様 (しよう) splits it into し・よ (3 beats).
Japanese contracted sounds (yōon) are kana with a small ゃ, ゅ or ょ, said together as one beat. Split them and 病院 (hospital) becomes 美容院 (hair salon).
In a sentence
- この映画は国際的な賞を取りました。
- 新しいアプリの仕様を確認します。
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.