pronunciation of Tsu

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.

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.

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]*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!

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]*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..

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