Japanese mora timing for Russian speakers

The idea

Russian has variable word stress and unstressed vowels may be reduced. Japanese mora counting includes vowel length and other timing units; pitch accent is a separate feature. Natural durations vary, so tapping is a guide, not a metronome. A basic kana often counts as one mora. Small っ, ん and a long vowel each add one; small ゃ, ゅ or ょ joins the preceding kana. Thus きゃく has two morae and きって has three.

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 reduce an unstressed vowel as you might in Russian, skip the time of っ, or give small ゃ a separate beat. Morae are not mechanically equal stressed beats.

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; both long vowels count.

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 きゃく, きって and コーヒー, then say them naturally.