Translation guide
In Japanese, a "voiced sound" refers to a consonant pronounced with vocal cord vibration, such as the difference between /k/ and /g/. This concept is central to the dakuten (゛) mark, which transforms unvoiced kana into their voiced counterparts. The guide covers the linguistic term, the dakuten mark itself, and related phonetic phenomena.
The technical term for a sound produced with vocal cord vibration, as opposed to an unvoiced sound.
Standard linguistic term for a voiced consonant. Used in phonetics and language study.
「が」の子音は有声子音です。
The consonant in 'ga' is a voiced consonant.
Specifically refers to a voiced sound in the context of Japanese kana, especially those marked with dakuten. More common in discussions of Japanese phonology.
濁音には「が」「ざ」「だ」「ば」などがあります。
Voiced sounds include 'ga', 'za', 'da', 'ba', etc.
The diacritical mark added to kana to change an unvoiced consonant to its voiced counterpart (e.g., か → が).
The name of the dakuten mark itself. Literally 'voicing dot'.
「か」に濁点をつけると「が」になります。
Adding a dakuten to 'ka' makes it 'ga'.
Can refer to the voicing itself or the dakuten mark in informal contexts. Also used in compound words like 連濁 (rendaku).
Describing a sound that has vocal cord vibration, often contrasted with a 'clear' or unvoiced sound.
Literally 'muddied sound', a common way to describe a voiced sound in everyday language, especially when teaching children or non-specialists.
「が」は濁った音で、「か」は澄んだ音です。
'Ga' is a voiced sound, and 'ka' is a clear sound.
More technical phrasing using 有声 (voiced). Less common in casual speech.
有声の音と無声の音の違いを説明してください。
Please explain the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds.
The phenomenon where the first consonant of the second element in a compound becomes voiced (e.g., はな + ひ → はなび).
The linguistic term for sequential voicing. Essential for understanding Japanese word formation.
「花火」は連濁の例です。
'Hanabi' (fireworks) is an example of rendaku.
濁音 (dakuon) is specifically used for the voiced sounds in the Japanese kana system (が, ざ, だ, ば, etc.), while 有声子音 (yūsei shiin) is the general linguistic term for any voiced consonant. In Japanese language education, 濁音 is more common.
The word 濁 (daku) means 'muddy' or 'impure', contrasting with 清 (sei) 'pure' for unvoiced sounds. This imagery can help learners remember that voiced sounds are 'muddier'.
この字には濁りがついています。
This character has a dakuten on it.