4. Basics of Pitch Accent
Japanese uses pitch for accents whereas English use word stress. For example, “student” in English would stress the first syllable. The vowel “u” is stressed. In Japanese there is mainly two pitches, high and low. For example, せんせい (sensee) has a pitch pattern of low-high-high-low. The location of the falling pitch is where the accent is placed in the word. Thus, the accent on せんせい is on the third mora.
It is advised to first develop listening skills in standard Japanese (Tokyo dialect) to fully comprehend the difference in pitch. Here are some rules to acknowledge.
- A fall in the pitch may happen anywhere in a word, but once the pitch falls, it stays low.
- The first two moras must have a different pitch. (i.e. high-low or low-high)
- It is possible for a word not to have any falling pitch.
The following list shows all of the possible patterns in standard Japanese for words up to four moras. Each
sold blue circle represents a mora in a word, and the blue ring circle indicates a following particle. In
the Japanese text, the red indicates pitch falls.
Practice the follwoing words with the correct rythm.
One-mora words (two accent patterns)
The pitch pattern of a one-mora word becomes clear when it is used in a sentence.
Accent position: 1
My hand hurts.
Accent position: 0
My stomach hurts.
Two-mora words (three accent patterns)
A two-mora word follows one of the three patterns.
Accent position: 1
I use chopsticks.
Accent position: 2
I cross a bridge.
Accent position: 0
I walk on the edge of a street.
Three-mora words (four accent patterns)
A three-mora word follows one of the four patterns.
Accent position: 1
Where do you go?
Accent position: 2
I go to Japan.
Accent position: 3
Everybody goes.
Accent position: 0
I go by car.
Four-mora words (five accent patterns)
A four-mora word follows one of the five patterns.
Accent position: 1
I like literature.
Accent position: 2
I go on Saturday.
Accent position: 3
Taiwan is hot.
Accent position: 4
I have a younger sister.
Accent position: 0
I go to a university.
