Japanese latinization guide: Difference between revisions

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This article describes official wiki policy for latinizing Japanese words and names, as well as Japanese titles using renderings of non-Japanese words and names.
This article describes official wiki policy for latinizing Japanese words and names, as well as Japanese titles using renderings of non-Japanese words and names.


Japanese uses three writing systems in tandem:
== General notes ==
In general, try to latinize Japanese words and names using the system as much as possible; but be sure to write Japanese names of media works, people, characters, and the like on their respective pages. If a latinization occurs right next to a Japanese spelling, write the latinization in ''italics''.


* '''kanji''', symbols that represent words or concepts. all have hiragana transcriptions of their pronunciation.
If an individual person or thing has a particular way of spelling their name in the latin alphabet, follow that rather than a standard latinization.
* '''hiragana''', letters for native and nativized Japanese words.
* '''katakana''', letters for foreign words, foreign names, slang, onomatopeia, in emphasis, and names of wildlife.


The two letter systems are collectively known as '''kana''' and repesent syllables and moras in words and names. Only vowels and syllable-final /ɴ/ are written by themselves. Moras are syllables narrowed for pronunciation effects, and are also called "morae" or "weighted syllables". Some varieties of Japanese operate per-syllable, but not the standard.
Japanese itself uses three writing systems: kanji (symbols that represent words or concepts), hiragana (letters representing syllables in native Japanese words) and katakana (letters representing syllables in foreign words, foreign names, slang, onomatopeia, in emphasis, and in names of animals); none of the three are to be distinguished in latinization. All kanji have hiragana transcriptions to describe the respective kanji's sound, and are used to form the basis of latinization here.


When latinizing, always go by the kana latinization section, even when the original text contains kanji. Only mark writing system is used if it's important to distinguishing and/or requested for a specific name. In thoses cases write superscript <sup>1</sup>, <sup>2</sup>, and <sup>3</sup> in latinizations for marking kanji, hiragana, and katakana, respectively.
== Kana ==
This wiki's latinization follows the current [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepburn_romanization Hepburn latinization] , with the following exceptions:


== Kana latinization ==
# Avoid using [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/macron#Noun macrons]. Instead, mark long vowels by doubling the respective vowel letter.
The letters are in Japanese order by default. Kana writing is almost entirely regular, with only 2-3 words not being pronounced as they are normally written, which are listed in the notes. Kana names are simply the sound(s) represent. They can be followed by "kana" or the specific type of kana if clarity is needed.
# Use apostrophes to separate letter clusters not being pronounced as a single sound.
# Latinize えい/エイ as ''ei''. This also applies to letters ending in the vowel sound e, but beginning with a consonant.
# Latinize おう/オウ as ''ou''. This also applies to letters ending in the vowel sound o, but beginning with a consonant.
# Latinize long consonants by doubling the respective letter. If the consonant is written using two letters, double only the first letter.
# Latinize ぢ/ヂ, ぢゃ/ヂャ, ぢゅ/ヂュ, ぢょ/ヂョ, and づ/ヅ as ''dji'', ''dja'', ''dju'', ''djo'', and ''dzu''; respectively. Albeit only when the letters are used in Standard Japanese.
# Never latinize を/ ヲ as ''o''. Always use ''wo''.


All latinized spelling clusters can be separated with an apostrophe <'>. This is not done in all-kana writing but is key to pronunciation and applies to writing with kanji.
A table below is shown for full detail. The letters are in Japanese order by default; with clusters following at the end of a group.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
Katakana are often used to adapt foreign names in way that is not immediately obvious. This will be shown in a table after the letters and marks.
|+Kana latinization summary table
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2" |Japanese
|+Kana letters
!Japanese spelling
! colspan="2" |Latinization
! colspan="2" |Latinization
! rowspan="2" |Sound (IPA)
! rowspan="2" |Sound (IPA)
! rowspan="2" |Notes
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
|-
!hiragana/ katakana <small>name</small>
!Hiragana
!Katakana
!Wiki
!Wiki
!''other''
!Others
|-
|-
! colspan="5" |Base letters
|あ
|ア
|-
!あ/ ア
|a
|'''a'''
|
|
|a
|a
|
|
|-
|-
|'''ああ'''
!ああ/ アア
|'''アア'''
|'''aa'''
|'''aa'''
|'''a, ā'''
|a, ā, â, ah
|a:
|a:
|
|
|-
|-
|い
!い/ イ
|'''i'''
|イ
|i
|yi
|''yi''
|i
|i
|
|
|-
|-
|'''いい'''
!いい/ イイ
|'''イイ'''
|'''ii'''
|'''ii'''
|'''ī'''
|ī, î, ih
|i:
|i:
|
|
|-
|-
|う
!う/ ウ
|'''u'''
|ウ
|u
|wu
|''wu''
|ɯ
|ɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|'''うう'''
!うう/ ウウ
|'''ウウ'''
|'''uu'''
|'''uu'''
|'''u, ū'''
|u, ū
|ɯ:
|ɯ:
|
|
|-
|-
|え
!え/ エ
|'''e'''
|エ
|e
|ye
|''ye''
|e
|e
|
|
|-
|-
|'''えい'''
!えい/ エイ
|'''エイ'''
|'''ee'''
|e, ē, ê, ee, eh, ei, ey
|'''ei, e'i'''
|'''e, ē'''
|e:
|e:
|
|Cluster also applies to syllables ending in the "e" sound
|-
|-
|'''ええ'''
!ええ/ エエ
|'''エエ'''
|'''ee'''
|'''ee'''
|'''e, ē, ê, eh'''
|e, ē, ê, ee, eh, ei, ey
|e:
|e:
|
|
|-
|-
|お
!お/ オ
|'''o'''
|オ
|o
|wo
|
|o
|o
|
|
|-
|-
|'''おう'''
!おう/ オウ
|'''オウ'''
|'''oo'''
|o, ō, ô, oh, oo, ou, ow
|'''ou, o'u'''
|'''o, ō'''
|o:
|o:
|
|Cluster also applies to syllables ending in the "o" sound
|-
|-
|'''おお'''
!おお/ オオ
|'''オオ'''
|'''oo'''
|'''oo'''
|'''o, ō, ô, oh'''
|o, ō, ô, oh, oo, ou, ow
|o:
|o:
|
|
|-
|-
|か
!か/ カ
|'''ka'''
|カ
|ka
|
|
|ka
|ka
|
|
|-
|-
|き
!き/ キ
|'''ki'''
|キ
|ki
|
|
|kʲi
|kʲi
|
|
|-
|-
|く
!く/ ク
|'''ku'''
|ク
|ku
|
|
|kɯ
|kɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|け
!け/ ケ
|'''ke'''
|ケ
|ke
|
|
|ke
|ke
|
|
|-
|-
|こ
!こ/ コ
|'''ko'''
|コ
|ko
|
|
|ko
|ko
|
|
|-
|-
|きゃ
!きゃ/ キャ
|'''kya'''
|キャ
|kya
|
|
|kʲa
|kʲa
|
|
|-
|-
|きゅ
!きゅ/ キュ
|'''kyu'''
|キュ
|kyu
|
|
|kʲɯ
|kʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|きょ
!きょ/ キョ
|'''kyo'''
|キョ
|kyo
|
|
|kʲo
|kʲo
|
|
|-
|-
|が
!が/ ガ
|'''ga'''
|ガ
|ga
|
|
|ga
|ga
|
|
|-
|-
|ぎ
!ぎ/ ギ
|'''gi'''
|ぎ ギ
|gi
|
|
|gʲi
|gʲi
|
|
|-
|-
|ぐ
!ぐ/ グ
|'''gu'''
|グ
|gu
|
|
|gɯ
|gɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|げ
!げ/ ゲ
|'''ge'''
|ゲ
|ge
|
|
|ge
|ge
|
|
|-
|-
|ご
!ご/ ゴ
|'''go'''
|ゴ
|go
|
|
|go
|go
|
|
|-
|-
|ぎゃ
!ぎゃ/ ギャ
|'''gya'''
|ギャ
|gya
|
|
|gʲa
|gʲa
|
|
|-
|-
|ぎゅ
!ぎゅ/ ギュ
|'''gyu'''
|ギュ
|gyu
|
|
|gʲɯ
|gʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ぎょ
!ぎょ/ ギョ
|'''gyo'''
|ギョ
|gyo
|
|
|gʲo
|gʲo
|
|
|-
|-
|さ
!さ/ サ
|'''sa'''
|サ
|sa
|
|
|sa
|sa
|
|
|-
|-
|し
!し/ シ
|'''shi'''
|シ
|shi
|
|
|ɕi
|ɕi
|
|
|-
|-
|す
!す/ ス
|'''su'''
|ス
|su
|
|
|sɯ
|sɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|せ
!せ/ セ
|'''se'''
|セ
|se
|
|
|se
|se
|
|
|-
|-
|そ
!そ/ ソ
|'''so'''
|ソ
|so
|
|
|so
|so
|
|
|-
|-
|しゃ
!しゃ/ シャ
|'''sha'''
|シャ
|sha
|sya
|
|ɕa
|ɕa
|
|
|-
|-
|しゅ
!しゅ/ シュ
|'''shu'''
|シュ
|shu
|syu
|
|ɕɯ
|ɕɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|しょ
!しょ/ ショ
|'''sho'''
|ショ
|sho
|syo
|
|ɕo
|ɕo
|
|
|-
|-
|ざ
!ざ/ ザ
|'''za'''
|ザ
|za
|
|
|(d)za
|(d)za
|
|
|-
|-
|じ
!じ/ ジ
|'''ji'''
|ジ
|ji
|zhi, zi
|zhi, zi
|(d)ʑi
|(d)ʑi
|
|
|-
|-
|ず
!ず/ ズ
|'''zu'''
|ズ
|zu
|
|
|(d)zɯ
|(d)zɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ぜ
!ぜ/ ゼ
|'''ze'''
|ゼ
|ze
|
|
|(d)ze
|(d)ze
|
|
|-
|-
|ぞ
!ぞ/ ゾ
|'''zo'''
|ゾ
|zo
|
|
|(d)zo
|(d)zo
|
|
|-
|-
|じゃ
!じゃ/ ジャ
|'''ja'''
|ジャ
|ja
|jya, zha, zya
|jya, zha, zya
|(d)ʑa
|(d)ʑa
|
|
|-
|-
|じゃ
!じゃ/ ジュ
|'''ju'''
|ジュ
|ju
|jyu, zhu, zyu
|jyu, zhu, zyu
|(d)ʑɯ
|(d)ʑɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|じょ
!じょ/ ジョ
|'''jo'''
|ジョ
|jo
|jyo, zho, zyo
|jyo, zho, zyo
|(d)ʑo
|(d)ʑo
|
|
|-
|-
|た
!た/ タ
|'''ta'''
|タ
|ta
|
|
|ta
|ta
|
|
|-
|-
|ち
!ち/ チ
|'''chi'''
|チ
|ci, ti
|chi
|ti
|tɕi
|tɕi
|
|
|-
|-
|つ
!つ/ ツ
|'''tsu'''
|ツ
|tsu
|tu
|tu
|tsɯ
|tsɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|て
!て/ テ
|'''te'''
|テ
|te
|
|
|te
|te
|
|
|-
|-
|と
!と/ ト
|'''to'''
|ト
|to
|
|
|to
|to
|
|
|-
|-
|ちゃ
!ちゃ/ チャ
|'''cha'''
|チャ
|ca, cya, tya
|cha
|tya
|tɕa
|tɕa
|
|
|-
|-
|ちゅ
!ちゅ/ チュ
|'''chu'''
|チュ
|cu, cyu, tyu
|chu
|tyu
|tɕɯ
|tɕɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ちょ
!ちょ/ チョ
|'''cho'''
|チョ
|co, cyo, tyo
|cho
|tyo
|tɕo
|tɕo
|
|
|-
|-
|だ
!だ/ ダ
|'''da'''
|ダ
|da
|
|
|da
|da
|
|
|-
|-
|'''ぢ'''
!ぢ/ ヂ
|'''ヂ'''
|'''dji'''
|'''dji'''
|'''di, ji'''
|di, ji
|(d)ʑi
|(d)ʑi
|
|
|-
|-
|'''づ'''
!づ/ ヅ
|'''ヅ'''
|'''dzu'''
|'''dzu'''
|'''du, zu'''
|du, zu
|(d)zɯ
|(d)zɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|で
!で/ デ
|'''de'''
|デ
|de
|
|
|de
|de
|
|
|-
|-
|ど
!ど/ ド
|'''do'''
|ド
|do
|
|
|do
|do
|
|
|-
|-
|'''ぢゃ'''
!ぢゃ/ ヂャ
|'''ヂャ'''
|'''dja'''
|'''dja'''
|'''dya, ja, jya'''
|dya, ja, jya
|(d)ʑa
|(d)ʑa
|
|
|-
|-
|'''ぢゅ'''
!ぢゅ/ ヂュ
|'''ヂュ'''
|'''dju'''
|'''dju'''
|'''dyu, ju, jyu'''
|dyu, ju, jyu
|(d)ʑɯ
|(d)ʑɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|'''ぢょ'''
!ぢょ/ ヂョ
|'''ヂョ'''
|'''djo'''
|'''djo'''
|'''dyo, jo, jyo'''
|dyo, jo, jyo
|(d)ʑo
|(d)ʑo
|
|
|-
|-
|な
!な/ ナ
|'''na'''
|ナ
|na
|
|
|na
|na
|
|
|-
|-
|に
!に/ ニ
|'''ni'''
|ニ
|ni
|
|
|nʲi
|nʲi
|
|
|-
|-
|ぬ
!ぬ/ ヌ
|'''nu'''
|ヌ
|nu
|
|
|nɯ
|nɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ね
!ね/ ネ
|'''ne'''
|ネ
|ne
|
|
|ne
|ne
|
|
|-
|-
|の
!の/ ノ
|'''no'''
|ノ
|no
|
|
|no
|no
|
|
|-
|-
|にゃ
!にゃ/ ニャ
|'''nya'''
|ニャ
|nya
|
|
|nʲa
|nʲa
|
|
|-
|-
|にゅ
!にゅ/ ニュ
|'''nyu'''
|ニュ
|nyu
|
|
|nʲɯ
|nʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|にょ
!にょ/ ニョ
|'''nyo'''
|ニョ
|nyo
|
|
|nʲo
|nʲo
|
|
|-
|-
|は
!は/ ハ
|'''ha, (wa)'''
|ハ
|fa
|ha, (wa)
|ha, ɰa
|
|latinized '''wa''' as a particle, otherwise ha
|ha, (ɰa)
|Latinized/ pronounced wa as a particle.
|-
|-
|ひ
!ひ/ ヒ
|'''hi'''
|ヒ
|hi
|fi
|
|çi
|çi
|
|
|-
|-
|ふ
!ふ/ フ
|'''fu'''
|フ
|fu
|hu
|hu
|ɸɯ
|ɸɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|へ
!へ/ へ
|'''he, (e)'''
|へ
|fe
|he, (e)
|he, e
|
|latinized '''e''' as a particle, otherwise he
|he, (e)
|Latinized/ pronounced e as a particle.
|-
|-
|ほ
!ほ/ ホ
|'''ho'''
|ホ
|ho
|fo
|
|ho
|ho
|
|
|-
|-
|ひゃ
!ひゃ/ ヒャ
|'''hya'''
|ヒャ
|hya
|fya
|
|ça
|ça
|
|
|-
|-
|ひゅ
!ひゅ/ ヒュ
|'''hyu'''
|ヒュ
|hyu
|fyu
|
|çɯ
|çɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ひょ
!ひょ/ ヒョ
|'''hyo'''
|ヒョ
|hyo
|fyo
|
|ço
|ço
|
|
|-
|-
|ば
!ば/ バ
|'''ba'''
|バ
|ba
|
|
|ba
|ba
|
|
|-
|-
|び
!び/ ビ
|'''bi'''
|ビ
|bi
|
|
|bʲi
|bʲi
|
|
|-
|-
|ぶ
!ぶ/ ブ
|'''bu'''
|ブ
|bu
|
|
|bɯ
|bɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ベ
!ベ/ ベ
|'''be'''
|ベ
|be
|
|
|be
|be
|
|
|-
|-
|ぼ
!ぼ/ ボ
|'''bo'''
|ボ
|bo
|
|
|bo
|bo
|
|
|-
|-
|びゃ
!びゃ/ ビャ
|'''bya'''
|ビャ
|bya
|
|
|bʲa
|bʲa
|
|
|-
|-
|びゅ
!びゅ/ ビュ
|'''byu'''
|ビュ
|byu
|
|
|bʲɯ
|bʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|びょ
!びょ/ ビョ
|'''byo'''
|ビョ
|byo
|
|
|bʲo
|bʲo
|
|
|-
|-
|ぱ
!ぱ/ パ
|'''pa'''
|パ
|pa
|
|
|pa
|pa
|
|
|-
|-
|ぴ
!ぴ/ ピ
|'''pi'''
|ピ
|pi
|
|
|pʲi
|pʲi
|
|
|-
|-
|ぷ
!ぷ/ プ
|'''pu'''
|プ
|p(u)
|
|
|pɯ
|pɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ぺ
!ぺ/ ぺ
|'''pe'''
|ぺ
|pe
|
|
|pe
|pe
|
|
|-
|-
|ぽ
!ぽ/ ポ
|'''po'''
|ポ
|po
|
|
|po
|po
|
|
|-
|-
|ぴゃ
!ぴゃ/ ピャ
|'''pya'''
|ピャ
|pya
|
|
|pʲa
|pʲa
|
|
|-
|-
|ぴゅ
!ぴゅ/ ピュ
|'''pyu'''
|ピュ
|pyu
|
|
|pʲɯ
|pʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|ぴょ
!ぴょ/ ピョ
|'''pyo'''
|ピョ
|pyo
|
|
|pʲo
|pʲo
|
|
|-
|-
|ま
!ま/ マ
|'''ma'''
|マ
|ma
|
|
|ma
|ma
|
|
|-
|-
|み
!み/ ミ
|'''mi'''
|ミ
|mi
|
|
|mʲi
|mʲi
|
|
|-
|-
|む
!む/ ム
|'''mu'''
|ム
|mu
|
|
|mɯ
|mɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|め
!め/ メ
|'''me'''
|メ
|me
|
|
|me
|me
|
|
|-
|-
|も
!も/ モ
|'''mo'''
|モ
|mo
|
|
|mo
|mo
|
|
|-
|-
|みゃ
!みゃ/ ミャ
|'''mya'''
|ミャ
|mya
|
|
|mʲa
|mʲa
|
|
|-
|-
|みゅ
!みゅ/ ミュ
|'''myu'''
|ミュ
|myu
|
|
|mʲɯ
|mʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|みょ
!みょ/ ミョ
|'''myo'''
|ミョ
|myo
|
|
|mʲo
|mʲo
|
|
|-
|-
|や
!や/ ヤ
|'''ya'''
|ヤ
|ya
|
|
|ja
|ja
|
|
|-
|-
|ゆ
!ゆ/ ユ
|'''yu'''
|ユ
|yu
|
|
|jɯ
|jɯ
|
|
|-
|-
|よ
!よ/ ヨ
|'''yo'''
|ヨ
|yo
|
|
|jo
|jo
|
|
|-
|-
|ら
!ら/ ラ
|'''ra'''
|ラ
|ra
|la
|(d)ɾa
|
|
|ɾa
|-
!り/ リ
|'''ri'''
|li
|(d)ɾʲi
|
|
|-
|-
!る/ ル
|り
|'''ru'''
|リ
|ri
|lu
|(d)ɾɯ
|
|
|-
|ɾʲi
!れ/ レ
|'''re'''
|le
|(d)ɾe
|
|
|-
|-
!ろ/ ロ
|る
|'''ro'''
|ル
|ru
|lo
|(d)ɾo
|
|
|-
|ɾɯ
!りゃ/ リャ
|'''rya'''
|lya
|(d)ɾʲa
|
|
|-
|-
!りゅ/ リュ
|れ
|'''ryu'''
|レ
|re
|lyu
|(d)ɾʲɯ
|
|
|ɾe
|-
!りょ/ リョ
|'''ryo'''
|lyo
|(d)ɾʲo
|
|
|-
|-
!わ/ ワ
|ろ
|'''wa'''
|ロ
|ro
|
|
|ɾo
|ɰa
|
|
|-
|-
!を/ ヲ
|りゃ
|'''wo'''
|リャ
|rya
|o
|(ɰ)o
|only used in the accusative particle
|-
!ん/ ン
|'''n'''
|m
|ɴ~m~n~ŋ~iⁿ~ɯⁿ
|only used syllable-finally
|-
! colspan="5" |Marked kana
|-
!
|
|
|ɾʲa
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="5" |Clusters
|-
|-
!
|りゅ
|
|リュ
|ryu
|
|
|
|ɾʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
! colspan="5" |Obsolete/ rare kana
|りょ
|-
|リョ
!ゐ/ ヰ
|ryo
|'''wi'''
|i
|i
|
|
|-
|ɾʲo
!ゑ/ ヱ
|'''we'''
|e, he, ye
|e
|
|
|-
|-
!'''ゟ <small>conjoined yori</small>'''
|わ
|'''yori'''
|ワ
|wa
|
|
|joɾʲi
|ɰa
|
|
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Foreign name romanization
!
!
!
!
!
|-
|-
|
|''ゐ''
|
|''ヰ''
|
|''wi''
|
|''i''
|i
|
|''Obsolete letter''
|-
|-
|を
|
|ヲ
|
|wo
|
|o
|
|
|(ɰ)o
|Mostly obsolete letter
|-
|-
|
|''ゑ''
|
|''ヱ''
|
|''we''
|
|''e, ye''
|e
|
|}
|''Obsolete letter''

== Marks and punctuation ==
Japanese has several unique marks combined with kana letters, and unique punctuation written alongside any text. They are listed below, when differing from Latin alphabet and English norms.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Marks/ punctuation
!Japanese spelling
! rowspan="2" |Use
! rowspan="2" |Latinization
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
|-
!hiragana/ katakana <small>name</small>
|ん
|ン
|n, n'
|m
|n, m
|Also used to double "m" sounds
|-
|-
|<small>つ</small>
!゛<small>dakuten</small>
|changes kana letter sound
|<small>ツ</small>
|varies, see above
|—, '
|also called '''dots (tenten)'''
|—
|—
|-
!゜<small>handakuten</small>
|Doubles following consonant or elongates previous vowel if no consonant appears
|changes kana letter sound
|varies, see above
|also called '''circle (maru)'''
|-
!ー <small>choo'onpu</small>
|lengthens vowel ''before''
|vowel doubled, or macron (¯) on vowel
|
|-
!々 <small>kanji repeating mark</small>
|repeats kanji symbol ''before''
|''none''
|
|-
!ゝ/ヽ<small>kana repeating mark</small>
|repeats kana letter ''before''
|''none''
|
|-
!<small>つ/ ツ sokuon</small>
|has 2 uses:

# lengthens consonant ''after''
# adds /ʔ/ after vowel
|marked 2 ways:

# ''(first written) consonant doubled''
# <'> written after the vowel
|also called '''small tsu'''
vowel usage colloquial
|}
|}


== See also ==
== Pitch accent/ tones ==
Japanese pitch accents/ tones aren't marked in any native writing, but are mandatory for proper pronuciation. They are latinized as the following marks over the relevant vowel:

* acute accents (´) mean pitch upticks. if a variety has tones, the acute accent goes only on pitched vowels with high tones. don't mark this on the most common word prosody type, heeban.
* up chevrons (^) mean high tones with a pitch uptick. this mark is only used for varieties that have tones.
* grave accents (`) mean low tones without a pitch uptick. this mark is only used for varieties that have tones.
* down chevrons (ˇ) mean low tones with a pitch uptick. this mark is only used for varieties that have tones.

Standard Japanese doesn't use tones, and some varieties of Japanese use neither pitch accent nor tones.


== Kanji latinization ==
* [[Japanese native names]] (for names written with Kanji)


==Sources ==
[[Category:Incomplete]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Latinization guides]]

Latest revision as of 16:02, 11 July 2023

This article describes official wiki policy for latinizing Japanese words and names, as well as Japanese titles using renderings of non-Japanese words and names.

Japanese uses three writing systems in tandem:

  • kanji, symbols that represent words or concepts. all have hiragana transcriptions of their pronunciation.
  • hiragana, letters for native and nativized Japanese words.
  • katakana, letters for foreign words, foreign names, slang, onomatopeia, in emphasis, and names of wildlife.

The two letter systems are collectively known as kana and repesent syllables and moras in words and names. Only vowels and syllable-final /ɴ/ are written by themselves. Moras are syllables narrowed for pronunciation effects, and are also called "morae" or "weighted syllables". Some varieties of Japanese operate per-syllable, but not the standard.

When latinizing, always go by the kana latinization section, even when the original text contains kanji. Only mark writing system is used if it's important to distinguishing and/or requested for a specific name. In thoses cases write superscript 1, 2, and 3 in latinizations for marking kanji, hiragana, and katakana, respectively.

Kana latinization

The letters are in Japanese order by default. Kana writing is almost entirely regular, with only 2-3 words not being pronounced as they are normally written, which are listed in the notes. Kana names are simply the sound(s) represent. They can be followed by "kana" or the specific type of kana if clarity is needed.

All latinized spelling clusters can be separated with an apostrophe <'>. This is not done in all-kana writing but is key to pronunciation and applies to writing with kanji.

Katakana are often used to adapt foreign names in way that is not immediately obvious. This will be shown in a table after the letters and marks.

Kana letters
Japanese spelling Latinization Sound (IPA) Notes
hiragana/ katakana name Wiki other
Base letters
あ/ ア a a
ああ/ アア aa a, ā, â, ah a:
い/ イ i yi i
いい/ イイ ii ī, î, ih i:
う/ ウ u wu ɯ
うう/ ウウ uu u, ū ɯ:
え/ エ e ye e
えい/ エイ ee e, ē, ê, ee, eh, ei, ey e:
ええ/ エエ ee e, ē, ê, ee, eh, ei, ey e:
お/ オ o wo o
おう/ オウ oo o, ō, ô, oh, oo, ou, ow o:
おお/ オオ oo o, ō, ô, oh, oo, ou, ow o:
か/ カ ka ka
き/ キ ki kʲi
く/ ク ku kɯ
け/ ケ ke ke
こ/ コ ko ko
きゃ/ キャ kya kʲa
きゅ/ キュ kyu kʲɯ
きょ/ キョ kyo kʲo
が/ ガ ga ga
ぎ/ ギ gi gʲi
ぐ/ グ gu gɯ
げ/ ゲ ge ge
ご/ ゴ go go
ぎゃ/ ギャ gya gʲa
ぎゅ/ ギュ gyu gʲɯ
ぎょ/ ギョ gyo gʲo
さ/ サ sa sa
し/ シ shi ɕi
す/ ス su sɯ
せ/ セ se se
そ/ ソ so so
しゃ/ シャ sha sya ɕa
しゅ/ シュ shu syu ɕɯ
しょ/ ショ sho syo ɕo
ざ/ ザ za (d)za
じ/ ジ ji zhi, zi (d)ʑi
ず/ ズ zu (d)zɯ
ぜ/ ゼ ze (d)ze
ぞ/ ゾ zo (d)zo
じゃ/ ジャ ja jya, zha, zya (d)ʑa
じゃ/ ジュ ju jyu, zhu, zyu (d)ʑɯ
じょ/ ジョ jo jyo, zho, zyo (d)ʑo
た/ タ ta ta
ち/ チ chi ci, ti tɕi
つ/ ツ tsu tu tsɯ
て/ テ te te
と/ ト to to
ちゃ/ チャ cha ca, cya, tya tɕa
ちゅ/ チュ chu cu, cyu, tyu tɕɯ
ちょ/ チョ cho co, cyo, tyo tɕo
だ/ ダ da da
ぢ/ ヂ dji di, ji (d)ʑi
づ/ ヅ dzu du, zu (d)zɯ
で/ デ de de
ど/ ド do do
ぢゃ/ ヂャ dja dya, ja, jya (d)ʑa
ぢゅ/ ヂュ dju dyu, ju, jyu (d)ʑɯ
ぢょ/ ヂョ djo dyo, jo, jyo (d)ʑo
な/ ナ na na
に/ ニ ni nʲi
ぬ/ ヌ nu nɯ
ね/ ネ ne ne
の/ ノ no no
にゃ/ ニャ nya nʲa
にゅ/ ニュ nyu nʲɯ
にょ/ ニョ nyo nʲo
は/ ハ ha, (wa) fa ha, ɰa latinized wa as a particle, otherwise ha
ひ/ ヒ hi fi çi
ふ/ フ fu hu ɸɯ
へ/ へ he, (e) fe he, e latinized e as a particle, otherwise he
ほ/ ホ ho fo ho
ひゃ/ ヒャ hya fya ça
ひゅ/ ヒュ hyu fyu çɯ
ひょ/ ヒョ hyo fyo ço
ば/ バ ba ba
び/ ビ bi bʲi
ぶ/ ブ bu bɯ
ベ/ ベ be be
ぼ/ ボ bo bo
びゃ/ ビャ bya bʲa
びゅ/ ビュ byu bʲɯ
びょ/ ビョ byo bʲo
ぱ/ パ pa pa
ぴ/ ピ pi pʲi
ぷ/ プ pu pɯ
ぺ/ ぺ pe pe
ぽ/ ポ po po
ぴゃ/ ピャ pya pʲa
ぴゅ/ ピュ pyu pʲɯ
ぴょ/ ピョ pyo pʲo
ま/ マ ma ma
み/ ミ mi mʲi
む/ ム mu mɯ
め/ メ me me
も/ モ mo mo
みゃ/ ミャ mya mʲa
みゅ/ ミュ myu mʲɯ
みょ/ ミョ myo mʲo
や/ ヤ ya ja
ゆ/ ユ yu jɯ
よ/ ヨ yo jo
ら/ ラ ra la (d)ɾa
り/ リ ri li (d)ɾʲi
る/ ル ru lu (d)ɾɯ
れ/ レ re le (d)ɾe
ろ/ ロ ro lo (d)ɾo
りゃ/ リャ rya lya (d)ɾʲa
りゅ/ リュ ryu lyu (d)ɾʲɯ
りょ/ リョ ryo lyo (d)ɾʲo
わ/ ワ wa ɰa
を/ ヲ wo o (ɰ)o only used in the accusative particle
ん/ ン n m ɴ~m~n~ŋ~iⁿ~ɯⁿ only used syllable-finally
Marked kana
Clusters
Obsolete/ rare kana
ゐ/ ヰ wi i i
ゑ/ ヱ we e, he, ye e
ゟ conjoined yori yori joɾʲi
Foreign name romanization

Marks and punctuation

Japanese has several unique marks combined with kana letters, and unique punctuation written alongside any text. They are listed below, when differing from Latin alphabet and English norms.

Marks/ punctuation
Japanese spelling Use Latinization Notes
hiragana/ katakana name
゛dakuten changes kana letter sound varies, see above also called dots (tenten)
゜handakuten changes kana letter sound varies, see above also called circle (maru)
ー choo'onpu lengthens vowel before vowel doubled, or macron (¯) on vowel
々 kanji repeating mark repeats kanji symbol before none
ゝ/ヽkana repeating mark repeats kana letter before none
つ/ ツ sokuon has 2 uses:
  1. lengthens consonant after
  2. adds /ʔ/ after vowel
 marked 2 ways:
  1. (first written) consonant doubled
  2. <'> written after the vowel
 also called small tsu

vowel usage colloquial

Pitch accent/ tones

Japanese pitch accents/ tones aren't marked in any native writing, but are mandatory for proper pronuciation. They are latinized as the following marks over the relevant vowel:

  • acute accents (´) mean pitch upticks. if a variety has tones, the acute accent goes only on pitched vowels with high tones. don't mark this on the most common word prosody type, heeban.
  • up chevrons (^) mean high tones with a pitch uptick. this mark is only used for varieties that have tones.
  • grave accents (`) mean low tones without a pitch uptick. this mark is only used for varieties that have tones.
  • down chevrons (ˇ) mean low tones with a pitch uptick. this mark is only used for varieties that have tones.

Standard Japanese doesn't use tones, and some varieties of Japanese use neither pitch accent nor tones.

Kanji latinization

Sources

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