Translation guide
The handakuten (半濁点) is a diacritical mark used in Japanese kana to indicate a change in pronunciation from an unvoiced to a semi-voiced sound, specifically turning h-series kana into p-series kana.
Referring to the symbol ゚ (or ゜) that is added to kana.
The standard Japanese term for the handakuten mark. Used in linguistic and educational contexts.
「ぱ」の右上にある丸は半濁点です。
The small circle at the top right of 'ぱ' is a handakuten.
Colloquially, the handakuten is often called 'maru' (circle) because of its shape. Common in everyday speech.
「ぱ」は「は」に丸をつけたものです。
'ぱ' is made by adding a circle to 'は'.
Describing the phonological process of turning an h-sound into a p-sound.
A technical linguistic term meaning 'semi-voicing' or the process of adding a handakuten. Rarely used outside academic contexts.
半濁音化によって「は」が「ぱ」になります。
Through semi-voicing, 'ha' becomes 'pa'.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers rarely need to say 'handakuten'. They might simply say 'maru' (circle) when referring to the symbol. The full term 'handakuten' is more common in formal or educational settings.