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Bookmark or Share- What are the differences between じ and ぢ, and ず and づ?In modern Japanese these pairs are pronounced exactly the same: ず, づ are pronounced either [dzu] or [zu].; じ, ぢ are pronounced either [dʑi] or [ʑi].
- The difference between 何/なに (nani) and なん (nan)?In そうなんですか (sounandesuka) the なん (nan) is used to explain something, give reasoning, or to emphasize something but in これはなんですか (korewanandesuka) the なん is treat as "what", how to know whe...
- etymology - Is the Japanese word "pan" (パン) related in its origins to ...Pan comes from the Portuguese word pão for wheat bread specifically and bread in general. The coincidence part is due to the fact the portuguese traders and then Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries were the first europeans to contact Japan in the 16th century.
- grammar - Is there a difference between the particle お (o) and the ...を and お used to be distinguished in pronunciation, but they merged about a thousand years ago. The distinction was retained in spelling for a long time after, just like how in English we still write knight even though no one pronounces the k or gh anymore.
- Why do Japanese speakers have difficulty pronouncing "L"?Why do westerners so often sound so awful when speaking Japanese? Because when learning another language, so many people try to learn that language as if it is a direct translation of their own.
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