Japanese pronunciation includes pitch accents, which are categorized into high and low pitches. When reading a word, you must check whether there is a pitch drop (a point where the pitch suddenly falls). For words with a pitch drop, each has a specific pitch drop position. Different pitch patterns require different pronunciation methods.
If a word has a pitch drop, it is marked with 「↓」.
If a word does not have a pitch drop, the symbol 「○」 is attached to the end of the word.
★ Pronunciation When Reading Words Only
When reading a word, you begin with a low pitch, and then the pitch gradually rises. It remains high until you reach the symbol ↓, which indicates where the pitch drops.
If you see the ↓ symbol, the pitch lowers starting from that point. For words without a pitch drop (marked with ○), the pitch remains high until the end of the word.
If the ↓ symbol appears on the first mora (syllable), it means the pronunciation starts with a high pitch and immediately drops in pitch after.
If the ↓ symbol appears at the end of the word, the pitch drops after that point.
When reading the word alone, the pronunciation is the same as that of a word with no pitch drop. The audio includes both the word’s standalone pronunciation and the version with “～です” added.
Some words have a pause in the middle, with the pitch rising again after the pause. In such cases, the pause is marked with △.
When a word has two possible pitch patterns, both pronunciations are listed before and after a 「／」symbol, either of which is acceptable.
★ Pronunciation of Sentences
When reading a sentence, you start with a low pitch, and the pitch gradually rises.
The pitch remains high until the ↓ symbol, from which point it gradually lowers.
In sentences where there are multiple pitch drops, the first ↓ indicates a larger drop, while the subsequent drops indicate smaller pitch changes.
If there is a pause in the sentence or a focal point you want to emphasize, the pitch rises again from that point.
For questions, the pitch rises at the end of the sentence.
Japanese pitch accent significantly affects the intonation of the entire sentence.
★ Practice Methods for Pitch Accent
When listening to the audio, pay close attention to the different pitch patterns of each word.
Then, check the pitch accent markings and identify where the pitch drops.
Think about how pitch variations are reflected in pronunciation.
When doing shadowing practice, try to notice pitch changes while imitating the pronunciation.
As you gradually understand the relationship between pitch and pronunciation, try to pay attention to pitch when speaking your own example sentences.
If you can develop the habit of thinking about pitch first before pronouncing, your Japanese pronunciation will become more natural and easy to understand.