Sorry to ask a simple question, but i want to get the sound of tsu pronunciation correct.
To me Tsu sounds like chu(chinese) or is it zhu(chinese), learned mandarin in asia.
i want to get tsu right so i can say Tsukae masu and O tsuri correctly.
Can Tsu be sounded differently like the english word read( As in "I am reading a book"- present tense and " I've read the book"-past tense)
Thank you for your time.
pronunciation of Tsu

jean
August 30, 2010

AyasakiHayate
September 1, 2010
For the first part of your question, "Tsu"(つ) sounds like the "ts" in "cats."
I don't really understand the second part of your question, so I apologize for not answering it.

Sayaka-Matsuura
September 6, 2010
Konnichiwa!
Try this: say this aloud
EIGHT SUITS
And again,
EIGHT SUITS
Now say fast twice:
EIGHT SUITS EIGHT SUITS
Check out what happens in between the two words - when eighT ends and you begin with SUits - there is a sound of T SU going on there.
That's the closest TSU sound of the Japanese つ pronunciation!
-Sayaka :P

CatPanda
September 8, 2010
[quo]*Quote from * Sayaka
Konnichiwa!
Try this: say this aloud
EIGHT SUITS
And again,
EIGHT SUITS
Now say fast twice:
EIGHT SUITS EIGHT SUITS
Check out what happens in between the two words - when eighT ends and you begin with SUits - there is a sound of T SU going on there.
That's the closest TSU sound of the Japanese つ pronunciation!
-Sayaka :P[/quo]
I have to give you a virtual high five on that one! That was clever!

Sayaka-Matsuura
September 12, 2010
Arigato Derek-san!
Truth be said... source unknown, but I heard it once through a Japanese student of mine who was reciting - EIGHT SUITS EIGHT SUITS - upon inquiring what all these "suits" was about - I found out it was a drill to master the "TSU" in Japanese. So... the student's are the clever ones!
= Sayaka :P

CatPanda
September 20, 2010
[quo]*Quote from * Sayaka
Arigato Derek-san!
Truth be said... source unknown, but I heard it once through a Japanese student of mine who was reciting - EIGHT SUITS EIGHT SUITS - upon inquiring what all these "suits" was about - I found out it was a drill to master the "TSU" in Japanese. So... the student's are the clever ones!
= Sayaka :P[/quo]
:lol: That's even more epic... Unfortunately I wasn't that clever and just learned it through practicing somehow or another..

Sayaka-Matsuura
September 28, 2010
Derek-san,
Surely you had your own unique technique to practice - and it was as clever as it could be for you!
- Sayaka :P