Common Mistakes in Japanese Pronunciation – How to Avoid Them

When learning Japanese, pronunciation can be one of the trickiest aspects to master. Even though Japanese is often considered a straightforward language, its sounds and rhythm can confuse beginners. Small pronunciation mistakes can lead to misunderstandings, so it’s essential to practice correct pronunciation early on. In this article, we’ll walk you through the most common pronunciation mistakes learners make and provide practical tips on how to avoid them. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more natural and improve your overall fluency in Japanese.

Common Mistakes in Japanese Pronunciation

Mispronouncing unique Japanese sounds or stressing syllables incorrectly can lead to misunderstandings. Being aware of these common mistakes and practicing them helps improve clarity and fluency in conversations.

1. Mispronouncing Long and Short Vowels

Japanese distinguishes between short and long vowels, but many learners fail to recognize this difference. Incorrect pronunciation can change the meaning of a word entirely.

Want to sound more natural in Japanese conversations? Learn how to use filler words like ええと and あの effectively in this guide: How to Use Japanese Filler Words Naturally.

Incorrect	Correct	Meaning Difference
おばさん (obasan)	おばあさん (obaasan)	Aunt vs. Grandmother
こう (kou)	こ (ko)	This way vs. Child (shortened)

Fix: Pay attention to vowel length and practice stretching out long vowels correctly. Listen to native speakers and mimic their pronunciation.

2. Confusing the ‘R’ Sound

The Japanese ‘R’ sound is different from English. It is not a strong ‘R’ or ‘L’ but something in between.

 Saying ラーメン (ramen) as Lah-men or Rah-men
 Instead, tap your tongue against the roof of your mouth lightly, similar to a soft D or L sound.

Fix: Practice by saying “ladder” quickly—the sound between the ‘d’ is close to the Japanese ‘R’.

Understanding how to express giving and receiving in Japanese is essential for effective communication. Learn the nuances of verbs like あげる, もらう, and くれる in this guide: How to Give and Receive in Japanese.

3. Ignoring Pitch Accent

Japanese words have pitch accents that can change their meaning. Misplacing the pitch can lead to confusion.

Word	Incorrect	Correct	Meaning
はし (hashi)	HA-shi	ha-SHI	Chopsticks (high pitch on ‘shi’)
はし (hashi)	ha-SHI	HA-shi	Bridge (high pitch on ‘ha’)

Fix: Listen to native speakers and mimic their intonation patterns. Use pitch accent dictionaries like OJAD to learn correct pronunciation.

4. Mispronouncing ん (N Sound)

Many learners struggle with the nasal ん (n), especially when it comes before certain consonants.

• ん + B, M, P: It sounds more like an “m” (e.g., さんぽ → sampo)
• ん + T, D, K: Keep it as an ‘N’ sound (e.g., ほんだ → honda)

Fix: Pay attention to nasalization and practice with common words that contain ん.

Even advanced Japanese learners can stumble over common pitfalls like misusing particles or struggling with keigo. Discover how to avoid these mistakes in this guide: Common Mistakes Advanced Japanese Learners Make.

5. Speaking in a Monotone Voice

Japanese has a natural rhythm and flow, but many learners speak in a flat, robotic way, making their speech sound unnatural.

Fix:

• Listen to native speakers and imitate their intonation.
• Use shadowing techniques to match their speech patterns.
• Pay attention to the natural rise and fall of pitch in sentences.

The difference between Japanese and English pronunciation

The first difference between Japanese and English pronunciation is the number of vowels and consonants.

While Japanese has 5 vowels, English has at least 15. There are also about 20 consonants in English, which is more than the number of consonants in Japanese.

R and L are two of the most difficult sounds for Japanese people to pronounce. They are pronounced differently in English, of course, but in Japanese, they are pronounced similarly to R and L, only one. The pronunciation of "R" in Japanese is about between R and L in English.

So for Japanese people, the pronunciation of R and L in "Rain, ring, jewelry", etc. is very difficult. But for English speakers, if you separate the R and L pronunciations, it does not sound like Japanese speakers.

Even experienced students can slip up—discover the common mistakes advanced Japanese learners make and how to avoid them in our expert guide Common Mistakes Advanced Japanese Learners.

Final Thoughts

Fixing your Japanese pronunciation mistakes is not just about sounding better—it’s about becoming clearly understood and feeling confident in your language skills. Focusing on areas like pitch, vowel length, and syllabic structure early on will prevent habits that are hard to correct later.

Want to accelerate your pronunciation journey in a structured, immersive environment? At TLS – The Japanese Language School, we guide learners step by step through pronunciation practice, cultural immersion, and conversation drills that simulate real-life Japanese.

Master the rhythm of the language—from zero to fluent—with TLS.

 

FAQs 

1. How do Japanese pronounce words?

Japanese pronunciation is generally consistent, with each kana (syllable) representing a fixed sound. Native speakers focus on clear vowel enunciation, soft consonants, and proper pitch accent. Practice, listening, and repetition are key.

2.How do you say 1 to 10 in Japanese?

Here’s how to count from 1 to 10 in Japanese:

1. 一 (いち, ichi)
2. 二 (に, ni)
3. 三 (さん, san)
4. 四 (し / よん, shi/yon)
5. 五 (ご, go)
6. 六 (ろく, roku)
7. 七 (しち / なな, shichi/nana)
8. 八 (はち, hachi)
9. 九 (きゅう / く, kyuu/ku)
10. 十 (じゅう, juu)

Learn more number patterns and cultural usage through guided lessons at TLS, especially useful for JLPT prep.

3. What are the ABCs in Japanese pronunciation?

Unlike English, Japanese doesn’t use an alphabet system. Instead, it uses syllabaries: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Each character represents a syllable, not an individual letter. Pronunciation is thus based on consistent syllabic sounds like あ (a), か (ka), さ (sa), etc.

4. How is 'Z' pronounced in Japanese?

The Japanese "Z" is pronounced more softly, like a combination of “dz” or “z”. For instance, ぜんぶ (zenbu, meaning "all") sounds like “dzen-bu” to English ears.

5. Is ‘Z’ pronounced as Zee?

No. The English “zee” sound doesn’t appear in Japanese. Letters aren’t pronounced in isolation like in English, and "Z" as a character is typically part of syllables like ざ (za), ず (zu), or ぜ (ze), with soft, voiced consonants.

By fixing these common Japanese pronunciation mistakes, you will sound more natural and confident in conversations. Keep practicing, and you will master pronunciation in no time!