Thread by @ExplainedQuotes

Elongated vowels (ー) in Japanese are quite tricky to hear but can change the meaning of the word completely. Here are some examples…

THREAD
#langtwt #Japanese #発音

In Japanese, elongated vowels are expressed by adding another vowel or ‘ー’. This symbol is casually called 伸ばし棒 (nobashi bō), or formally called 長音符 (chō onpu). In romaji, this is expressed by adding a bar on the vowel.

とる (toru): to take
とおる (tōru): to pass through

すじ (suji)：tendon
すうじ (sūji): numbers

おかみ (okami): mistress of a traditional Japanese inn
おおかみ (ōkami): wolf

こもん (komon): supervisor
こうもん (koumon, pronounced as kōmon): asshole

こうじん (kou jin, pronounced as kō jin): public figure
こじん (ko jin): dead person

そしき (soshiki): organisation
そうしき (soushiki, pronounced as sōshiki): funeral

しゅじん(shu jin): husband
しゅうじん (shū jin): prisoner

にんぎょ(ningyo): mermaid
にんぎょう (ningyou, pronounced as ningyō): a doll

くつ (kutsu): shoes
くつう (kutsū): shoes

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