Hiragana · sound exceptions
The hiragana readings that need extra attention
Four base hiragana are usually romanized as shi, chi, tsu, and fu. Their positions are regular even when their spellings are not: each still belongs to the vowel column you would expect.
Their chart positions are still useful
し is the i sound in the s-row. ち and つ occupy the i and u positions in the t-row. ふ is the u position in the h-row. Remembering both the sound and the position keeps the whole chart connected.
- し · shi · s-row, i column
- ち · chi · t-row, i column
- つ · tsu · t-row, u column
- ふ · fu · h-row, u column
Do not force them into English syllables
Romanization is a label, not an exact recording of pronunciation. Listen for one compact Japanese beat and avoid adding a trailing vowel or an exaggerated English consonant cluster.
Reference
Four readings to compare
Keep the row and vowel position beside each special reading.
し is she, not see. One long swooping stroke, and the simplest letter in the whole set to write.
ち is chee, like the start of cheese — not tea. It is た turned around, so give it a second look.
つ is the ts in cats with an oo after it, all in one beat. English never starts a word that way, so this one takes practice.
ふ sits between English foo and hoo. Blow gently rather than biting your lip on the f.
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Practice the hiragana readings that need extra attention
Choose an answer, read the explanation, and finish the short set without leaving this page.