The pronunciation tab helps you learn how Japanese words sound through visual pitch patterns, multiple phonetic notation options, and audio playback.
Audio Playback
Listening to audio helps you hear the correct pronunciation. The audio player supports:
Tap to hear the word pronounced
Slow down playback to hear details (0.5x, 0.75x, 1x)
Repeat audio continuously for practice
Phonetic Notation
Choose how pronunciation is displayed based on your learning style:
Native Japanese script for reading practice
Romanized spelling for beginners learning kana
Pitch Accent
Japanese uses pitch (high/low tones) rather than stress to distinguish words. The pitch chart shows the tone pattern for each mora (syllable unit), helping you sound more natural.
Four Accent Patterns
Standard Japanese has four pitch patterns: Heiban (flat), Atamadaka (head-high), Nakadaka (middle-high), and Odaka (tail-high). Some words differ only by pitch accent.
Alternative Pronunciations
Many Japanese words have multiple valid pronunciations, including different pitch patterns, alternative kanji readings, or regional variations. These appear as separate entries with their own audio and pitch patterns.