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.
== Summary ==
This wiki's latinization scheme generally 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"
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.
|+Regular letters
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Kana letters
!Japanese spelling
!Japanese spelling
! colspan="2" |Latinization
! colspan="2" |Latinization
Line 27: Line 24:
! rowspan="2" |Notes
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
|-
!hiragana/ katakana
!hiragana/ katakana <small>name</small>
!Wiki
!Wiki
!other
!''other''
|-
! colspan="5" |Base letters
|-
|-
!あ/ ア
!あ/ ア
|a
|'''a'''
|
|
|a
|a
Line 38: Line 37:
|-
|-
!ああ/ アア
!ああ/ アア
|aa
|'''aa'''
|a, ā, â, ah
|a, ā, â, ah
|a:
|a:
Line 44: Line 43:
|-
|-
!い/ イ
!い/ イ
|i
|'''i'''
|yi
|yi
|i
|i
Line 50: Line 49:
|-
|-
!いい/ イイ
!いい/ イイ
|ii
|'''ii'''
|ī, î, ih
|ī, î, ih
|i:
|i:
Line 56: Line 55:
|-
|-
!う/ ウ
!う/ ウ
|u
|'''u'''
|wu
|wu
|ɯ
|ɯ
Line 62: Line 61:
|-
|-
!うう/ ウウ
!うう/ ウウ
|uu
|'''uu'''
|u, ū
|u, ū
|ɯ:
|ɯ:
Line 68: Line 67:
|-
|-
!え/ エ
!え/ エ
|e
|'''e'''
|ye
|ye
|e
|e
Line 74: Line 73:
|-
|-
!えい/ エイ
!えい/ エイ
|ee
|'''ee'''
|e, ē, ê, ee
|e, ē, ê, ee, eh, ei, ey
|e:
|e:
|
|
|-
|-
!ええ/ エエ
!ええ/ エエ
|ee
|'''ee'''
|e, ē, ê, eh
|e, ē, ê, ee, eh, ei, ey
|e:
|e:
|
|
|-
|-
!お/ オ
!お/ オ
|o
|'''o'''
|
|wo
|o
|o
|
|
|-
|-
!おう/ オウ
!おう/ オウ
|oo
|'''oo'''
|o, ō, ô, oo
|o, ō, ô, oh, oo, ou, ow
|o:
|o:
|
|
|-
|-
!おお/ オオ
!おお/ オオ
|oo
|'''oo'''
|o, ō, ô, oh
|o, ō, ô, oh, oo, ou, ow
|o:
|o:
|
|
|-
|-
!か/ カ
!か/ カ
|ka
|'''ka'''
|
|
|ka
|ka
Line 110: Line 109:
|-
|-
!き/ キ
!き/ キ
|ki
|'''ki'''
|
|
|kʲi
|kʲi
Line 116: Line 115:
|-
|-
!く/ ク
!く/ ク
|ku
|'''ku'''
|
|
|kɯ
|kɯ
Line 122: Line 121:
|-
|-
!け/ ケ
!け/ ケ
|ke
|'''ke'''
|
|
|ke
|ke
Line 128: Line 127:
|-
|-
!こ/ コ
!こ/ コ
|ko
|'''ko'''
|
|
|ko
|ko
Line 134: Line 133:
|-
|-
!きゃ/ キャ
!きゃ/ キャ
|kya
|'''kya'''
|
|
|kʲa
|kʲa
Line 140: Line 139:
|-
|-
!きゅ/ キュ
!きゅ/ キュ
|kyu
|'''kyu'''
|
|
|kʲɯ
|kʲɯ
Line 146: Line 145:
|-
|-
!きょ/ キョ
!きょ/ キョ
|kyo
|'''kyo'''
|
|
|kʲo
|kʲo
Line 152: Line 151:
|-
|-
!が/ ガ
!が/ ガ
|ga
|'''ga'''
|
|
|ga
|ga
Line 158: Line 157:
|-
|-
!ぎ/ ギ
!ぎ/ ギ
|gi
|'''gi'''
|
|
|gʲi
|gʲi
Line 164: Line 163:
|-
|-
!ぐ/ グ
!ぐ/ グ
|gu
|'''gu'''
|
|
|gɯ
|gɯ
Line 170: Line 169:
|-
|-
!げ/ ゲ
!げ/ ゲ
|ge
|'''ge'''
|
|
|ge
|ge
Line 176: Line 175:
|-
|-
!ご/ ゴ
!ご/ ゴ
|go
|'''go'''
|
|
|go
|go
Line 182: Line 181:
|-
|-
!ぎゃ/ ギャ
!ぎゃ/ ギャ
|gya
|'''gya'''
|
|
|gʲa
|gʲa
Line 188: Line 187:
|-
|-
!ぎゅ/ ギュ
!ぎゅ/ ギュ
|gyu
|'''gyu'''
|
|
|gʲɯ
|gʲɯ
Line 194: Line 193:
|-
|-
!ぎょ/ ギョ
!ぎょ/ ギョ
|gyo
|'''gyo'''
|
|
|gʲo
|gʲo
Line 200: Line 199:
|-
|-
!さ/ サ
!さ/ サ
|sa
|'''sa'''
|
|
|sa
|sa
Line 206: Line 205:
|-
|-
!し/ シ
!し/ シ
|shi
|'''shi'''
|
|
|ɕi
|ɕi
Line 212: Line 211:
|-
|-
!す/ ス
!す/ ス
|su
|'''su'''
|
|
|sɯ
|sɯ
Line 218: Line 217:
|-
|-
!せ/ セ
!せ/ セ
|se
|'''se'''
|
|
|se
|se
Line 224: Line 223:
|-
|-
!そ/ ソ
!そ/ ソ
|so
|'''so'''
|
|
|so
|so
Line 230: Line 229:
|-
|-
!しゃ/ シャ
!しゃ/ シャ
|sha
|'''sha'''
|sya
|sya
|ɕa
|ɕa
Line 236: Line 235:
|-
|-
!しゅ/ シュ
!しゅ/ シュ
|shu
|'''shu'''
|syu
|syu
|ɕɯ
|ɕɯ
Line 242: Line 241:
|-
|-
!しょ/ ショ
!しょ/ ショ
|sho
|'''sho'''
|syo
|syo
|ɕo
|ɕo
Line 248: Line 247:
|-
|-
!ざ/ ザ
!ざ/ ザ
|za
|'''za'''
|
|
|(d)za
|(d)za
Line 254: Line 253:
|-
|-
!じ/ ジ
!じ/ ジ
|ji
|'''ji'''
|zhi, zi
|zhi, zi
|(d)ʑi
|(d)ʑi
Line 260: Line 259:
|-
|-
!ず/ ズ
!ず/ ズ
|zu
|'''zu'''
|
|
|(d)zɯ
|(d)zɯ
Line 266: Line 265:
|-
|-
!ぜ/ ゼ
!ぜ/ ゼ
|ze
|'''ze'''
|
|
|(d)ze
|(d)ze
Line 272: Line 271:
|-
|-
!ぞ/ ゾ
!ぞ/ ゾ
|zo
|'''zo'''
|
|
|(d)zo
|(d)zo
Line 278: Line 277:
|-
|-
!じゃ/ ジャ
!じゃ/ ジャ
|ja
|'''ja'''
|jya, zha, zya
|jya, zha, zya
|(d)ʑa
|(d)ʑa
Line 284: Line 283:
|-
|-
!じゃ/ ジュ
!じゃ/ ジュ
|ju
|'''ju'''
|jyu, zhu, zyu
|jyu, zhu, zyu
|(d)ʑɯ
|(d)ʑɯ
Line 290: Line 289:
|-
|-
!じょ/ ジョ
!じょ/ ジョ
|jo
|'''jo'''
|jyo, zho, zyo
|jyo, zho, zyo
|(d)ʑo
|(d)ʑo
Line 296: Line 295:
|-
|-
!た/ タ
!た/ タ
|ta
|'''ta'''
|
|
|ta
|ta
Line 302: Line 301:
|-
|-
!ち/ チ
!ち/ チ
|chi
|'''chi'''
|ci, ti
|ci, ti
|tɕi
|tɕi
Line 308: Line 307:
|-
|-
!つ/ ツ
!つ/ ツ
|tsu
|'''tsu'''
|tu
|tu
|tsɯ
|tsɯ
Line 314: Line 313:
|-
|-
!て/ テ
!て/ テ
|te
|'''te'''
|
|
|te
|te
Line 320: Line 319:
|-
|-
!と/ ト
!と/ ト
|to
|'''to'''
|
|
|to
|to
Line 326: Line 325:
|-
|-
!ちゃ/ チャ
!ちゃ/ チャ
|cha
|'''cha'''
|ca, cya, tya
|ca, cya, tya
|tɕa
|tɕa
Line 332: Line 331:
|-
|-
!ちゅ/ チュ
!ちゅ/ チュ
|chu
|'''chu'''
|cu, cyu, tyu
|cu, cyu, tyu
|tɕɯ
|tɕɯ
Line 338: Line 337:
|-
|-
!ちょ/ チョ
!ちょ/ チョ
|cho
|'''cho'''
|co, cyo, tyo
|co, cyo, tyo
|tɕo
|tɕo
Line 344: Line 343:
|-
|-
!だ/ ダ
!だ/ ダ
|da
|'''da'''
|
|
|da
|da
|
|
|-
|-
!ぢ/ ヅ
!ぢ/ ヂ
|dji
|'''dji'''
|di, ji
|di, ji
|(d)ʑi
|(d)ʑi
Line 356: Line 355:
|-
|-
!づ/ ヅ
!づ/ ヅ
|dzu
|'''dzu'''
|du, zu
|du, zu
|(d)zɯ
|(d)zɯ
Line 362: Line 361:
|-
|-
!で/ デ
!で/ デ
|de
|'''de'''
|
|
|de
|de
Line 368: Line 367:
|-
|-
!ど/ ド
!ど/ ド
|do
|'''do'''
|
|
|do
|do
Line 374: Line 373:
|-
|-
!ぢゃ/ ヂャ
!ぢゃ/ ヂャ
|dja
|'''dja'''
|dya, ja, jya
|dya, ja, jya
|(d)ʑa
|(d)ʑa
Line 380: Line 379:
|-
|-
!ぢゅ/ ヂュ
!ぢゅ/ ヂュ
|dju
|'''dju'''
|dyu, ju, jyu
|dyu, ju, jyu
|(d)ʑɯ
|(d)ʑɯ
Line 386: Line 385:
|-
|-
!ぢょ/ ヂョ
!ぢょ/ ヂョ
|djo
|'''djo'''
|dyo, jo, jyo
|dyo, jo, jyo
|(d)ʑo
|(d)ʑo
Line 392: Line 391:
|-
|-
!な/ ナ
!な/ ナ
|na
|'''na'''
|
|
|na
|na
Line 398: Line 397:
|-
|-
!に/ ニ
!に/ ニ
|ni
|'''ni'''
|
|
|nʲi
|nʲi
Line 404: Line 403:
|-
|-
!ぬ/ ヌ
!ぬ/ ヌ
|nu
|'''nu'''
|
|
|nɯ
|nɯ
Line 410: Line 409:
|-
|-
!ね/ ネ
!ね/ ネ
|ne
|'''ne'''
|
|
|ne
|ne
Line 416: Line 415:
|-
|-
!の/ ノ
!の/ ノ
|no
|'''no'''
|
|
|no
|no
Line 422: Line 421:
|-
|-
!にゃ/ ニャ
!にゃ/ ニャ
|nya
|'''nya'''
|
|
|nʲa
|nʲa
Line 428: Line 427:
|-
|-
!にゅ/ ニュ
!にゅ/ ニュ
|nyu
|'''nyu'''
|
|
|nʲɯ
|nʲɯ
Line 434: Line 433:
|-
|-
!にょ/ ニョ
!にょ/ ニョ
|nyo
|'''nyo'''
|
|
|nʲo
|nʲo
Line 440: Line 439:
|-
|-
!は/ ハ
!は/ ハ
|ha, (wa)
|'''ha, (wa)'''
|fa
|fa
|ha, (ɰa)
|ha, ɰa
|latinized/ pronounced '''wa''' as a particle
|latinized '''wa''' as a particle, otherwise ha
|-
|-
!ひ/ ヒ
!ひ/ ヒ
|hi
|'''hi'''
|fi
|fi
|çi
|çi
Line 452: Line 451:
|-
|-
!ふ/ フ
!ふ/ フ
|fu
|'''fu'''
|hu
|hu
|ɸɯ
|ɸɯ
Line 458: Line 457:
|-
|-
!へ/ へ
!へ/ へ
|he, (e)
|'''he, (e)'''
|fe
|fe
|he, (e)
|he, e
|latinized/ pronounced '''e''' as a particle.
|latinized '''e''' as a particle, otherwise he
|-
|-
!ほ/ ホ
!ほ/ ホ
|ho
|'''ho'''
|fo
|fo
|ho
|ho
Line 470: Line 469:
|-
|-
!ひゃ/ ヒャ
!ひゃ/ ヒャ
|hya
|'''hya'''
|fya
|fya
|ça
|ça
Line 476: Line 475:
|-
|-
!ひゅ/ ヒュ
!ひゅ/ ヒュ
|hyu
|'''hyu'''
|fyu
|fyu
|çɯ
|çɯ
Line 482: Line 481:
|-
|-
!ひょ/ ヒョ
!ひょ/ ヒョ
|hyo
|'''hyo'''
|fyo
|fyo
|ço
|ço
Line 488: Line 487:
|-
|-
!ば/ バ
!ば/ バ
|ba
|'''ba'''
|
|
|ba
|ba
Line 494: Line 493:
|-
|-
!び/ ビ
!び/ ビ
|bi
|'''bi'''
|
|
|bʲi
|bʲi
Line 500: Line 499:
|-
|-
!ぶ/ ブ
!ぶ/ ブ
|bu
|'''bu'''
|
|
|bɯ
|bɯ
Line 506: Line 505:
|-
|-
!ベ/ ベ
!ベ/ ベ
|be
|'''be'''
|
|
|be
|be
Line 512: Line 511:
|-
|-
!ぼ/ ボ
!ぼ/ ボ
|bo
|'''bo'''
|
|
|bo
|bo
Line 518: Line 517:
|-
|-
!びゃ/ ビャ
!びゃ/ ビャ
|bya
|'''bya'''
|
|
|bʲa
|bʲa
Line 524: Line 523:
|-
|-
!びゅ/ ビュ
!びゅ/ ビュ
|byu
|'''byu'''
|
|
|bʲɯ
|bʲɯ
Line 530: Line 529:
|-
|-
!びょ/ ビョ
!びょ/ ビョ
|byo
|'''byo'''
|
|
|bʲo
|bʲo
Line 536: Line 535:
|-
|-
!ぱ/ パ
!ぱ/ パ
|pa
|'''pa'''
|
|
|pa
|pa
Line 542: Line 541:
|-
|-
!ぴ/ ピ
!ぴ/ ピ
|pi
|'''pi'''
|
|
|pʲi
|pʲi
Line 548: Line 547:
|-
|-
!ぷ/ プ
!ぷ/ プ
|pu
|'''pu'''
|
|
|pɯ
|pɯ
Line 554: Line 553:
|-
|-
!ぺ/ ぺ
!ぺ/ ぺ
|pe
|'''pe'''
|
|
|pe
|pe
Line 560: Line 559:
|-
|-
!ぽ/ ポ
!ぽ/ ポ
|po
|'''po'''
|
|
|po
|po
Line 566: Line 565:
|-
|-
!ぴゃ/ ピャ
!ぴゃ/ ピャ
|pya
|'''pya'''
|
|
|pʲa
|pʲa
Line 572: Line 571:
|-
|-
!ぴゅ/ ピュ
!ぴゅ/ ピュ
|pyu
|'''pyu'''
|
|
|pʲɯ
|pʲɯ
Line 578: Line 577:
|-
|-
!ぴょ/ ピョ
!ぴょ/ ピョ
|pyo
|'''pyo'''
|
|
|pʲo
|pʲo
Line 584: Line 583:
|-
|-
!ま/ マ
!ま/ マ
|ma
|'''ma'''
|
|
|ma
|ma
Line 590: Line 589:
|-
|-
!み/ ミ
!み/ ミ
|mi
|'''mi'''
|
|
|mʲi
|mʲi
Line 596: Line 595:
|-
|-
!む/ ム
!む/ ム
|mu
|'''mu'''
|
|
|mɯ
|mɯ
Line 602: Line 601:
|-
|-
!め/ メ
!め/ メ
|me
|'''me'''
|
|
|me
|me
Line 608: Line 607:
|-
|-
!も/ モ
!も/ モ
|mo
|'''mo'''
|
|
|mo
|mo
Line 614: Line 613:
|-
|-
!みゃ/ ミャ
!みゃ/ ミャ
|mya
|'''mya'''
|
|
|mʲa
|mʲa
Line 620: Line 619:
|-
|-
!みゅ/ ミュ
!みゅ/ ミュ
|myu
|'''myu'''
|
|
|mʲɯ
|mʲɯ
Line 626: Line 625:
|-
|-
!みょ/ ミョ
!みょ/ ミョ
|myo
|'''myo'''
|
|
|mʲo
|mʲo
Line 632: Line 631:
|-
|-
!や/ ヤ
!や/ ヤ
|ya
|'''ya'''
|
|
|ja
|ja
Line 638: Line 637:
|-
|-
!ゆ/ ユ
!ゆ/ ユ
|yu
|'''yu'''
|
|
|jɯ
|jɯ
Line 644: Line 643:
|-
|-
!よ/ ヨ
!よ/ ヨ
|yo
|'''yo'''
|
|
|jo
|jo
Line 650: Line 649:
|-
|-
!ら/ ラ
!ら/ ラ
|ra
|'''ra'''
|
|la
|ɾa
|(d)ɾa
|
|
|-
|-
!り/ リ
!り/ リ
|ri
|'''ri'''
|
|li
|ɾʲi
|(d)ɾʲi
|
|
|-
|-
!る/ ル
!る/ ル
|ru
|'''ru'''
|
|lu
|ɾɯ
|(d)ɾɯ
|
|
|-
|-
!れ/ レ
!れ/ レ
|re
|'''re'''
|
|le
|ɾe
|(d)ɾe
|
|
|-
|-
!ろ/ ロ
!ろ/ ロ
|ro
|'''ro'''
|
|lo
|ɾo
|(d)ɾo
|
|
|-
|-
!りゃ/ リャ
!りゃ/ リャ
|rya
|'''rya'''
|
|lya
|ɾʲa
|(d)ɾʲa
|
|
|-
|-
!りゅ/ リュ
!りゅ/ リュ
|ryu
|'''ryu'''
|
|lyu
|ɾʲɯ
|(d)ɾʲɯ
|
|
|-
|-
!りょ/ リョ
!りょ/ リョ
|ryo
|'''ryo'''
|
|lyo
|ɾʲo
|(d)ɾʲo
|
|
|-
|-
!わ/ ワ
!わ/ ワ
|wa
|'''wa'''
|
|
|ɰa
|ɰa
|
|
|-
!を/ ヲ
|'''wo'''
|o
|(ɰ)o
|only used in the accusative particle
|-
|-
!ん/ ン
!ん/ ン
|n
|'''n'''
|m
|m
|ɴ~m~n~ŋ~iⁿ~ɯⁿ
|n~m~ɴ
|only used syllable-finally
|only used syllable-finally
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Other letters
!Japanese spelling
! colspan="2" |Latinization
! rowspan="2" |Sound (IPA)
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
|-
! colspan="5" |Marked kana
!hiragana/ katakana
!Wiki
!others
|-
|-
!
!<small>つ/ ツ</small>
|
|—, '
|—
|
|
|—,
|
|doubles following consonant, or adds <'> after a vowel if no consonant follows.
long consonant sounds double the (first) letter used to spell them
|-
|-
! colspan="5" |Clusters
!ぐゎ/ クヮ
|gwa
|ga
|gwa
|obsolete letter
|-
|-
!
!くゎ/ グヮ
|kwa
|
|ka
|
|kwa
|
|
|obsolete letter
|-
|-
! colspan="5" |Obsolete/ rare kana
!を/ ヲ
|wo
|o
|(ɰ)o
|largely obsolete letter, only used in the accusative particle
|-
|-
!ゐ/ ヰ
!ゐ/ ヰ
|wi
|'''wi'''
|i
|i
|i
|i
|
|obsolete letter
|-
|-
!ゑ/ ヱ
!ゑ/ ヱ
|'''we'''
|ye
|e, we
|e, he, ye
|e
|e
|
|obsolete letter
|-
!'''ゟ <small>conjoined yori</small>'''
|'''yori'''
|
|joɾʲi
|
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+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.
{| 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>
|-
!゛<small>dakuten</small>
|changes kana letter sound
|varies, see above
|also called '''dots (tenten)'''
|-
!゜<small>handakuten</small>
|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
|}

== 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.


== See also ==
== Kanji latinization ==


== Sources ==
==Sources ==
[[Category:Language 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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