DAKUON

The three voiceless consonants, (k) is (g), (s) is (z), and (t) is (d). (b) is and (p)
form a pair too. The symbolic representation to indicate voicing of these
consonants in Japanese is very systematic. Two abbreviated strokes are added at
the upper right corner of each symbol. For example, you may recall that (ka) is
represnted by か, so (ga) is が, (ki) is き, (gi) ぎ, and so on.

It is important to note the voiced counterparts of し (shi) and ち (chi), which are
じ(ji) andち” (ji) respectively, are pronounced the same. Likewise, the voiced
counterparts of す(su) and つ (tsu), which areず (zu) and づ (zu), are pronounced
the same.

In the answer to the question of when to use one or the other, we can say that the
Modern Japanese, are じ(ji) andず(zu) are most commonly used. However,ち” (ji)
and づ (zu) are still used occasionally, but only in the following cases. In a

1. In a compound word in which the original syllable was ち (chi), but the
consonant become voiced as the result of compounding and euphonic change
change, for example:

はな (nose) +ち (blood) はなち” (nose bleed)

こ (small) +つつみ (package) こつつ”み (postal package)
かん (can) +つめ (る) (cram) かんつ”め (canned foods)

2. In a word in whichち (chi) andつ (tsu) repeat themselves, but the

secondち (chi) and つ(tsu) are voiced due to a euphonic change, for example:

ちち”む (to shrink)

ちかぢか (near future) ちか(い) (near)+ ちか(い) (near)
つつ”く (continue)
つきつ”き(monthly) つき (month) + つき (month)
Column & Rows to Remember the
Dakuon of Hiragana