Japanese Consonants: How to Pronounce た て と、だ で ど

Picture describing Japanese pronunciation [t] and [d]

Description of the Japanese Pronunciation た て と、だ で ど

た て と and だ で ど consist of the Japanese consonants [t] and [d] together with the Japanese vowels [a], [e] and [o] respectively. When you pronounce [t] and [d], the top of your tongue is going to touch your upper gums. This closure will cause a buildup of pressure. Then, you will release that pressure all at once by moving your tongue down. [t] is an unvoiced sound and [d] is a voiced sound.

Does it make sense to you? Let's try to pronounce た て と and だ で ど after the tutor on the video!

Wasabi Japanese Pronunciation Lessons

Words Exercise with the Pronunciation [t] [d] た て と、だ で ど

Please repeat the following words after the tutor on the video.

Words Roman Letters Meanings
たべる ta be ru to eat
たまご ta ma go egg
だれか da re ka someone
て te hand
でる de ru to leave, to go out
でんき de n ki electricity
ときどき to ki do ki sometimes
ところ to ko ro place
たいせつ ta i se tsu important
どうぶつ do u bu tsu animal

Sentences Exercise with the Pronunciation [t] [d] た て と、だ で ど

Please repeat the following sentences after the tutor in the video.

Japanese Sentences English Translations
卵たまごをよく食たべます。 I often eat eggs.
誰だれか車くるまから出でてきます。 Someone will get out of the car.
動物どうぶつを大切たいせつにします。 I consider animals to be important.

Tongue Twister Exercise with the Pronunciation [t] [d] た て と、だ で ど

Please repeat the following tongue twisters after the tutor on the video. Also, please focus on the pronunciation practice, not the meaning, because they were made only for the sake of practice.

Japanese Tongue Twisters Vocabulary

竹たけ屋やの竹たけ薮やぶに竹たけ立たてかけたのは、竹たけ立たてかけたかったから竹たけ立たてかけた。

竹たけ: bamboo, 竹たけ薮やぶ: bamboo thicket, 立たてかける: to lean ~ against ~

天道虫てんとうむし柄がらのテントとトド柄がらのトートを戸田とださんに届とどける。

天道虫てんとうむし: ladybug, テント: tent, トド: sea lion, トート（バッグ）: tote bag

ただの戸と棚だなとただのついたてをタダで立たててみた。

ただの: just, plain, 戸と棚だな: closet, ついたて: screen, タダ: free 立たてる: to set up

Conclusion

This is the how to pronounce [t] [d] た て と、だ で ど. We recommend that you practice the sentences above at least 5 times for each exercise, though we understand that pronunciation practice can be dull. Good pronunciation will give you listening and speaking ability, and thereby you will be confident enough to speak Japanese with native speakers. Thus, the ability you gain is well worth the time spent. We are looking forward to seeing you in the next lesson; [tɕ] ち.

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