Learn how ん takes a beat in Japanese words, changes its sound with its surroundings and differs from a following な-row kana.
The idea
The nasal ん takes one mora: ほ・ん has two and で・ん・わ has three. Its precise sound adapts to the next sound; before ぼ it can sound m-like.
| Word | Morae |
|---|---|
| ほん | ほ・ん |
| でんわ | で・ん・わ |
| さんぼん | さ・ん・ぼ・ん |
Examples
- ほんを読みます。I read a book.
- にほんに行きます。I go to Japan.
- でんわをかけます。I make a phone call.
- 父は先生です。My father is a teacher.
- 水を三本買います。I buy three bottles of water.
- りんごを買います。I buy an apple.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not add a vowel after ん. It remains a separate mora even when it joins smoothly to the next sound.
Try it yourself
Fill the blank with one Hiragana character: ほ＿ (hon).
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ん
ん represents n; ほん is read hon.
Write denwa in Hiragana.
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でんわ
でんわ is read denwa: で = de; ん = n; わ = wa.
How many morae are in さんぼん? （四／三）
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四
さんぼん has four morae: さ・ん・ぼ・ん. Each ん takes one mora.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Fill the blank with one Hiragana character: ほ＿ (hon).
Write denwa in Hiragana.
How many morae are in さんぼん? （四／三）
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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Cover the table and read two example sentences aloud. Write one word from memory, then check each target kana against the table. For sound practice, use Japan Foundation recording 01-30 linked in Sources.