Instructions
Building on what we learned in the last worksheet, where we mastered the Japanese vowels (A, I, U, E, O) and the K-row (ka, ki, ku, ke, ko), we are now going to expand our vocabulary! Today, we will introduce the S-row and the T-row. We will also explore a fascinating linguistic concept called Voicing—where a small mark can completely change the sound of a letter.
Part 1: Review & Reinforce
Before we move forward, let's see how well you remember the characters from Worksheet 1. Translate the following Hiragana words into Romaji (English sounds).
- あか (Hint: A color) — __
- いか (Hint: A sea creature) — __
- きく (Hint: To listen) — __
Part 2: Expanding the Alphabet (S & T Rows)
In Japanese, most rows follow a predictable pattern. However, the S and T rows have some "rebel" sounds that don't follow the rules! Look closely at shi, chi, and tsu.
| Character | Romaji | Pronunciation Hint |
|---|---|---|
| さ | sa | "sa" as in salad |
| し | shi | "she" as in sheep (Irregular) |
| す | su | "soo" as in soon |
| せ | se | "seh" as in seven |
| そ | so | "so" as in solar |
| た | ta | "ta" as in taco |
| ち | chi | "chee" as in cheese (Irregular) |
| つ | tsu | "tsoo" as in tsunami (Irregular) |
| て | te | "teh" as in teddy |
| と | to | "to" as in toe |
Part 3: Writing Practice
Carefully copy the new characters. Focus on the "rebel" sounds that look and sound different from the others.
| Character | Example | Practice 1 | Practice 2 | Practice 3 | Practice 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| し (shi) | し | ||||
| す (su) | す | ||||
| ち (chi) | ち | ||||
| つ (tsu) | つ | ||||
| と (to) | と |
Part 4: The Linguistics of "Dakuten" (The Magic Marks)
In linguistics, voicing is when you vibrate your vocal cords to change a sound. Try this: Put your hand on your throat and say "Ssssss." Now change it to "Zzzzzz." Feel the vibration? That is voicing!
In Japanese, we use a symbol called Dakuten (looks like two little dots: ") to turn "unvoiced" sounds into "voiced" sounds.
- S becomes Z (Example: さ sa → ざ za)
- K becomes G (Example: か ka → が ga)
- T becomes D (Example: た ta → だ da)
Challenge: Using this logic, if こ is "ko", what is ご? Answer: __
Part 5: Word Building
Now, let's combine your old knowledge (Vowels and K-row) with your new knowledge (S-row, T-row, and Dakuten) to translate these real Japanese words.
| Japanese Word | Romaji (Sound) | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| すし | su-shi | Sushi (Vinegared rice) |
| すず | Bell | |
| せかい | World | |
| かぞく | Family | |
| たかい | Expensive / Tall | |
| ちず | Map |
Part 6: Real-World Application & Reflection
Japanese is a "syllabic" language, meaning every character (except 'n') ends in a vowel.
Linguistic Task: Look at the word Tsunami. In English, many people don't pronounce the "T" (they say 'su-nah-me'). But in Japanese, we use the character つ (tsu).
Reflection Question: Now that you know つ is a single character, why do you think it's important to pronounce the "T" sound at the beginning of the word?
Answer: __
Answer Key
Part 1: Review
- aka (Red)
- ika (Squid)
- kiku (To listen)
Part 4: Dakuten Challenge go
Part 5: Word Building
- すず: su-zu
- せかい: se-ka-i
- かぞく: ka-zo-ku
- たかい: ta-ka-i
- ちず: chi-zu
Part 6: Reflection Sample Answer: Because in Japanese, 'tsu' and 'su' are different characters with different meanings. Skipping the 'T' changes the word entirely!