つ
tsu
つ (tsu) is the name of the Japanese hiragana character つ.
Which one should you use?
While つ is the standard character, a smaller version known as the small tsu, ッ, is used as a geminate consonant to indicate a double consonant in words like 'matte' (待って).
How do you pronounce it?
tsu
Did you know?
- In modern internet 'kaomoji' emoticons, the character つ is often used to represent a hand reaching out, as seen in (´･ω･)つ旦 where it is serving a cup of tea.
Examples in context
- これは「つ」という文字です。Kore wa 'tsu' to iu moji desu.This is the character 'tsu'.
- 「つ」の書き方を教えてください。'Tsu' no kakikata o oshiete kudasai.Please teach me how to write 'tsu'.
- ひらがなの「つ」は丸いですね。Hiragana no 'tsu' wa marui desu ne.The hiragana 'tsu' is round, isn't it?
Example conversation
Misaki is teaching Daito how to write hiragana.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、次はつを書きます。Daito-kun, tsugi wa tsu o kakimasu.Daito, next we will write tsu.
- 大翔 Hirotoつはどうやって書きますか？tsu wa dou yatte kakimasu ka?How do you write tsu?
- 美咲 Misakiまず、このように書きます。mazu, kono you ni kakimasu.First, write it like this.
- 大翔 Hirotoできました。これがつですね。dekimashita. kore ga tsu desu ne.I did it. This is tsu, right?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries つ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
