/i//iː/
耳黄色
A core Japanese quantity distinction with five real words per side. Vowel-length perception/training literature motivates the contrast class; these vowel-specific pools are editorial selections, not a recovered study list.
CHOOSE A SOUND
Japanese contrasts.
Start with a difference you find hard to hear. Words stay hidden during practice until you choose to show them.
Browse the examples below, then listen to A and B and match their target sound in a different word, X.
Practice
/ɯ//ɯː/
船空気
A core Japanese quantity distinction with five real words per side. Vowel-length perception/training literature motivates the contrast class; these vowel-specific pools are editorial selections, not a recovered study list.
/e//eː/
猫稽古
A core Japanese quantity distinction with five real words per side. Vowel-length perception/training literature motivates the contrast class; these vowel-specific pools are editorial selections, not a recovered study list.
/o//oː/
鳥通り
A core Japanese quantity distinction with five real words per side. Vowel-length perception/training literature motivates the contrast class; these vowel-specific pools are editorial selections, not a recovered study list.
/k//kː/
坂作家
Separate the medial singleton from its moraic geminate using ordinary lexical examples. Retained table words have exact provenance; added words are dictionary-curated candidates.
/t//tː/
音夫
Separate the medial singleton from its moraic geminate using ordinary lexical examples. Retained table words have exact provenance; added words are dictionary-curated candidates.
/s//sː/
朝あっさり
Separate the medial singleton from its moraic geminate using ordinary lexical examples. Retained table words have exact provenance; added words are dictionary-curated candidates.
/k//ɡ/
紙崖
A practical initial-consonant comparison in one shared following-vowel context, with dictionary-selected words and phonological support.
/t//d/
種駄目
A practical initial-consonant comparison in one shared following-vowel context, with dictionary-selected words and phonological support.
/s//ɕ/
魚写真
A practical initial-consonant comparison in one shared following-vowel context, with dictionary-selected words and phonological support.
A CLOSER LISTEN
What is a
minimal pair?
Two words form a minimal pair when one sound difference changes the word. Keeping the surrounding sounds the same gives you a specific difference to listen for.
Some lessons focus on tone or word stress instead of a single consonant or vowel. We label those separately, so you know what each exercise is testing.
In the exercise, listen to A and B, then a different word X. Choose the reference that shares the target sound, tone, stress or consonant feature. Words and IPA stay hidden unless you enable text hints, including after answering; you can replay the audio whenever you need it.
Read about the learning approach