ん
n
The English sound 'n' is written in Japanese as ん.
ん is a nasal consonant sound used within the Japanese writing system.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is n.
Did you know?
- ん is the only Japanese character that cannot start a word.
- The character ん is actually a simplified, cursive version of the kanji 无. This means its shape was born from the rapid, flowing handwriting styles used during the Heian period.
- The character ん can be used as a standalone word to mean 'yes' or 'uh-huh' in very casual conversation.
Examples in context
- 集められた使用人さんたちは、総勢・・・ひゃ、百人近いよ。The servants gathered there totalled … n-nearly one hundred!Tatoeba #75474 by fcbond, translation #328244 by fcbond
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are studying Japanese in a cafe.
- 健太 Kentaこの「ん」の音は難しいね。Kono 'n' no oto wa muzukashii ne.The 'n' sound is difficult, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yuiそうですね。でも練習しましょう。Sou desu ne. Demo renshuu shimashou.That's true. But let's practice.
- 健太 Kenta「しんぶん」って言えるかな？Shinbun tte ieru kana?I wonder if I can say 'shinbun' (newspaper)?
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、上手ですよ！Kenta-san, jouzu desu yo!Kenta, you are good at it!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ん, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
