Small marks on kana can signal a consonant contrast that distinguishes words such as かき and かぎ.
The idea
Dakuten ゛ changes kana in the か, さ, た and は rows: for example か→が and さ→ざ. Voiced consonants generally involve vocal-fold vibration; compare かき (persimmon) and かぎ (key), keeping the vowels and timing steady.
| Kana | Marked kana |
|---|---|
| か | が |
| さ | ざ |
| た | だ |
| は | ば |
| は | ぱ |
Examples
- 柿を食べます。I eat a persimmon.
- かばんの中に鍵がありません。There is no key in the bag.
- 傘を買います。I buy an umbrella.
- 雑誌を読みます。I read a magazine.
- 今日は風が強いです。The wind is strong today.
- 切符を買います。I buy a ticket.
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Watch out
The は row also changes how the sound is made: は→ば is not simply the same h with voice, and は→ぱ uses the separate circle mark ゜. Pronunciation varies with context.
Try it yourself
か に ゛をつけると、どれですか。（か／が）
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が
が is か with dakuten; it represents the voiced counterpart.
「ざっし」の初めのかなはどれですか。（さ／ざ）
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ざ
ざ is さ with dakuten, the marked kana in ざっし.
は に ゜をつけると、どれですか。（ば／ぱ）
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ぱ
ぱ takes the circle handakuten; ば instead takes dakuten.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
か に ゛をつけると、どれですか。（か／が）
「ざっし」の初めのかなはどれですか。（さ／ざ）
は に ゜をつけると、どれですか。（ば／ぱ）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Say かき and かぎ slowly, then at normal speed. Use a device voice if available, and compare the mark and reading in each example.