Sound contrast · Standard Japanese; Tokyo-area citation forms
Japanese /k/ vs /ɡ/k and g
A practical initial-consonant comparison in one shared following-vowel context, with dictionary-selected words and phonological support.
Practice these sounds/k/
An unvoiced back closure
A brief stop made toward the back of the mouth.
As in紙
/ɡ/
A voiced back closure
Compare this stop with /k/ across the different following vowels.
As in崖
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
A practical initial-consonant comparison in one shared following-vowel context, with dictionary-selected words and phonological support.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each word紙
/kami/paper鍵
/kaɡi/key顔
/kao/face壁
/kabe/wall風
/kaze/wind崖
/ɡake/cliff画家
/ɡaka/painter我慢
/ɡamaɴ/patience学校
/ɡakːoː/school学生
/ɡakɯseː/student10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.