H15 · Long vowels

Before you start

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• H01あ い う え お
• H02か き く け こ
• H03さ し す せ そ
• H04た ち つ て と
• H05な に ぬ ね の
• H06は ひ ふ へ ほ
• H07ま み む め も
• H08や ゆ よ
• H09ら り る れ ろ
• H10わ を ん
• H11dakuten (゛): が ざ だ ば
• H12handakuten (゜): ぱ ぴ ぷ ぺ ぽ
• H13small ゃ ゅ ょ (yōon)
• H14small っ (sokuon)

What you learn

A long vowel lasts twice as long and is written with an extra vowel: おばあさん (grandmother) is not おばさん (aunt). えい and おう usually sound like long e and o; in romaji we double the vowel (obaasan, kyou).

You practise them in kana; underneath you can see how they are usually written.

• おばさんobasanaunt
• おばあさんobaasangrandmother
• おじさんojisanuncle
• おじいさんojiisangrandfather
• くうこうkuukouairportUsually written 空港
• きょうkyoutodayUsually written 今日
• いいiigood
• とけいtokeiclock, watchUsually written 時計
• せんせいsenseiteacherUsually written 先生
• がっこうgakkouschoolUsually written 学校

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.