Japanese mora timing for Arabic readers

The idea

Japanese counts morae, short timing units, rather than simply counting syllables. A basic kana usually takes one mora; a long vowel, ん and small っ each add one. Small ゃ, ゅ and ょ join the preceding kana: きゃく is きゃ・く, while きって is き・っ・て. Arabic length contrasts are a useful comparison, but Japanese morae also include units such as ん. Pitch accent is separate, and natural timing is not perfectly equal.

Examples

• おばさんと公園こうえんで話はなします。I talk with my aunt in the park.
• おばあさんと公園こうえんで話はなします。I talk with my grandmother in the park.
• 切手きってを二枚にまい買かいます。I buy two postage stamps.
• ここに来きてください。Please come here.
• 父ちちはコーヒーを飲のみます。My father drinks coffee.
• 今日きょう、客きゃくが来きます。A guest is coming today.

Watch out

Do not add a beat for small ゃ or omit the time for small っ. A mora is not necessarily a stressed syllable.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the word with 3 morae: （きって／きて）

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   きって

   きって has three morae: き・っ・て; small っ takes time.

2. Choose the word with 4 morae: （コーヒー／コヒー）

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   コーヒー

   コーヒー has four: コ・ー・ヒ・ー; each long vowel adds a mora.

3. Choose the word with 2 morae: （きゃく／きやく）

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   きゃく

   きゃく has two: きゃ・く; small ゃ joins き.

Use it today

Tap the morae in きゃく, きって and コーヒー, then say each word naturally.