Description of the Japanese Pronunciation びゃ びゅ びょ、ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ
びゃ びゅ びょ and ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ consist of the Japanese consonants [bj] and [pj] representing the sounds of the roman letters /by/ and /py/ with the Japanese vowels [a], [u] and [o] respectively. When you pronounce [bj] and [pj], your lip is going to close and simultaneously your tongue is going to touch the roof of your mouth, i.e. what you use to pronounce [j] (=/y/). This closure will cause a buildup of pressure. Then, you will release that pressure all at once by opening your mouth. [bj] is a voiced sound and [pj] is an unvoiced sound.
Does it make sense to you? Let’s try to pronounce びゃ びゅ びょ, ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ after the tutor on the video!
Wasabi Japanese Pronunciation Lessons
Words Exercise with the Pronunciation [bj] [pj] びゃ びゅ びょ、ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ
Please repeat the following words after the tutor on the video.
| Words | Roman Letters | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| さんびゃく | sa n bya ku | three hundred |
| デビュー | de byû | debut |
| インタビュー | i n ta byû | interview |
| びょうき | byo u ki | sick |
| びょういん | byo u in | hospital |
| ろっぴゃく | ro ppya ku | six hundred |
| コンピュータ | ko n pyû ta | computer |
| はっぴょう | ha ppyo u | presentation, announcement |
| でんぴょう | de n pyo u | slip, check, bill |
| 三票 | sa n pyo u | three votes |
Sentences Exercise with the Pronunciation [bj] [pj] びゃ びゅ びょ、ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ
Please repeat the following sentences after the tutor in the video.
| Japanese Sentences | English Translations |
|---|---|
| デビュー曲が三百万枚売れました。 | My debut song was sold three million [times]. |
| 病気の人が病院に行きます。 | Sick people go to a hospital. |
| 六百円の伝票をもらいました。 | I got a check for ¥600. |
Tongue Twister Exercise with the Pronunciation [bj] [pj] びゃ びゅ びょ、ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ
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 |
|---|---|
|
カエルぴょこぴょこ三ぴょこぴょこ、合わせてぴょこぴょこ六ぴょこぴょこ |
カエル: flog, 合わせる: to add |
|
ピョンヤンとピョンチャンはポピュラーな都市です |
ピョンヤン: a city name ピョンチャン: a city name ポピュラー: popular |
|
ビュッフェインタビューデビュー |
ビュッフェ: buffet, インタビュー: interview, デビュー: debut |
Conclusion
This is the how to pronounce [bj] [pj] びゃ びゅ びょ、ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ. 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; [mj] みゃ みゅ みょ.
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