Dakuon · Handakuon · Chōon · Sokuon

JLPT N5 Japanese self-study　·　~12–15 min　·　The four sounds people trip on right after the kana

You know the 46 kana — now master the four tweaks that make them sound truly Japanese: voicing, the p-sounds, long vowels, and the little pause. Every example has audio.

What you'll learn

• Add ゛/゜ to form dakuon & handakuon
• Hear long vowels (chōon) and why length changes meaning
• Catch the small っ (sokuon) one-beat pause
• Tell apart tricky minimal pairs by ear

How to study “Dakuon · Handakuon · Chōon · Sokuon”

“Dakuon · Handakuon · Chōon · Sokuon” (The four sounds people trip on right after the kana) is a JLPT N5 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 12–15 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.