Hepburn romanization

The Hepburn system (Japaneseヘボン 式, Hebon - shiki ) is one of the two most important transcription systems for Japanese writing, more precisely, for the transcription of Japanese " syllabaries " Hiragana and Katakana in the Latin alphabet. The Hepburn system is the most widely used both in Japan and worldwide today.

• 4.1 particlesはandへ
• 4.2 particleを
• 4.3 syllable final -n (ん)
• 4.4 small tsu (っ)
• 4.5 Capitalization

• 8.1 advantages
• 8.2 disadvantages

Disambiguation

The Hepburn system (Japanese:ヘボン 式Hebon - shiki - Hebon is an old picture of the name Hepburn to the Japanese phonetic system ) exists in several slightly divergent variants, one of which can be viewed only two as common however: the older variant is标准 calledヘボン 式 ローマ字Hyōjun - shiki romaji - Hebon " standard Hepburn system " or simply " traditional Hepburn system" and can be found in Japan, for example, Japanese station signs. The other variant修正 ヘボン 式 ローマ字Shusei Hebon - shiki romaji, the so-called "revised Hepburn system" was introduced in the third edition of the Japanese- English dictionary " Kenkyusha 's Japanese - English Dictionary ", 1954 ( which has since " Kenkyusha 's New Japanese - English dictionary "is the name ) and is now the more recent Japanese dictionaries predominantly encountered Transkriptionsart. Also, in most scientific works of western authors, this newer version is applied.

The Hepburn system is named after Dr. James Curtis Hepburn, an American physician and missionary, in 1867, the first Japanese - English dictionary, which brought out和 英语 林集成( Waei gorin Shusei ) and then in the third edition of 1886 for the first time this was later named after the book edited by him Transkriptionsart dictionary used. This transcription system was, however, not alone, but rather in 1885 worked out of him by a committee of Japanese and foreign scholars with his involvement.

The other transcription system for the Japanese language, as a counter-proposal by a group headed by the physicist Dr. Aikitsu Tanakadate had been erected also in 1885,日本 式 ローマ字Nihon - shiki romaji " Nippon System" is, in 1937, slightly modified by the Cabinet for "System for the official use of" determined and 1954 once again confirmed it. This system is now called訓令 式 ローマ字Kunrei - shiki romaji " Kunrei system" and is closely related to the classification of the Japanese syllabary. It was standardized in 1989 as ISO 3602:1989 and even has been used for a further cabinet decision in 1994 today even stronger again by various official bodies. Occasionally it is also found in Western textbooks. " Mount Fuji" ( Hepburn ) writes there " Huzisan " ( Kunrei ).

In practice, the Hepburn system is currently far more common.

Kana table

1: In Hepburn's first editionえandエwere still transcribed as ye. In its third edition only at Sino Japanese words, if the second syllable starts with it, ie shoyen instead shoen and Sanyetsu instead San'etsu.

2: the hye in the last line is equal to a double special case, which was created by the newfangled interjectionひぇー っorヒェーッ, expressing the surprise. Since the ye- characters ( Hiragana: Katakanaゑ:ヱ) itself is no longer in use, had to stand in for the simple (small ) e- sign, as is the case with roomy, and each surface. However, since not an " exotic " term in the aforementioned interjection, one can write both in katakana and hiragana.

Long vowels

Vowels are usually short. Long vowels are correctly marked with a macron (¯ ). Due to the lack Makrons in popular keyboard layouts a circumflex (^ ) is used often. ( The German standard keyboard mapping T2 contains the macron as dead key AltGr T and thus enables the correct use of the Hepburn system. )

Vowel combinations can be represented as follows:

A A

The combination of a a is written as aa, if it is an internal word boundary:

• 真新しい まあたらしいma a ta ra shi i = maatarashii - brand new

In all other cases a a is contracted to a long ā:

• お婆さん おばあさんo ba a sa n = Obasan - Grandma

I I

• 兄さん にいさんni i sa n = niisan - [ older ] brother
• お爺さん おじいさんo ji i sa n = Ojiisan - Grandpa
• 美味しい おいしいo i shi i = oishii - delicious
• 新潟 にいがたni i ga ta = Niigata ( city name, literally " new Watt" )
• 灰色 はいいろha i i ro = haiiro - gray ( literally " ash - color" )

U U

The combination u u is written as uu, if it is an internal word boundary or to the present extension of certain verbs:

• 食う くうku u = kuu - eat
• 縫う ぬうnu u = nuu - sew

In all other cases, u u is contracted to a long ū:

• 数学 すうがくsu u ga ku = sūgaku - Mathematics
• 注意 ちゅういchu u i = Chui - Caution
• ぐうたらgu u ta ra = Gutara - slacker

E E

The combination of e e is written as ee, if it is an internal word boundary:

• 濡れ縁 ぬれえんnu re e n = nureen - not rain protected part of the " porch " (gear outside of Japanese houses)

In all other cases, the e e is contracted to a long ē:

• お 姉さんおねえさんo n e sa n = onēsan - (older) sister

O O

The combination o o is written as oo if it is an internal word boundary:

• 小躍り こおどりko o do ri = koodori - Freudensprung

In all other cases, o o contracted into a long ō:

• 大船 おおふなo o fu na = Ofuna - Ofuna
• 遠回り と お まわりto o ma wa ri = tōmawari - detour
• 大阪 おおさかo o sa ka = Osaka - Osaka

O U

The combination o u is written as ou if it is an internal word boundary or to the present extension of certain verbs:

• 追う おうo u = ou - track
• 迷う まようma yo u = mayou - can not decide
• 子馬 こうまko u ma = kouma - Foals

In all other cases, o u is contracted to a long ō:

• 学校 がっこうga ( t) ko u = Gakko - School
• 東京 とうきょうto u kyo u = Tōkyō - Tokyo
• 勉強 べんきょうbe n kyo u = Benkyo - learn
• 電報 でんぽうde n po u = Dempo - Telegram
• 金曜日 きんようびki n yo u bi = kin'yōbi - (Weekday Venus ) Friday
• 話そ う はなそ うha na so u = hanasō - we speak!

Combination of two different vowels except O U

The combination of e i is always written as egg, also in Sino Japanese words where their pronunciation a long ē comes close:

• 学生 がくせいga ku se i = Gakusei - students
• 経験 けいけんke i ke n = Keiken - Experience
• 制服 せいふくse i fu ku = seifuku - Uniform
• 姪 めいme i = mei - niece
• 招い て まねい てma n i te = maneite - call / invite and then

All the other combinations of two different vowels (except o u) are written separated:

• 軽い かるいka ru i = Karui - easy
• 鴬 うぐいすu gu i su = uguisu - Japan Buschsänger ( bird )
• 甥 おいo i = oi - Nephew

Vocal line with strain

An in (mostly) foreign language expressions by a stretch mark ( with horizontal letters: written verticallyー, in vertical letters) displayed long vowel in the Latin alphabet always a long vowel with macron ( ā, ī, ū, ē, ō ) is reproduced:

• セーラーse ( expansion stroke ) ra (strain underscore) = Sera - sailor ( sailor )
• パーティーpa (stretch mark) ti (strain underscore) = pa - Party
• レーナ(伶 奈) re (stretch mark) na = Rena - Lena
• ヒーターhi ( expansion stroke ) ta ( elongation underscore) = Hita - heating ( heater )
• タクシーta ku shi (strain underscore) = Takushi - Taxi
• スーパー マンsu (strain underscore) pa ( expansion stroke ) ma n = Supaman - Superman

More writing rules

Particlesはandへ

The charactersは(ha) andへ(he) be in Japanese, as far as they are used as grammatical particles ( postpositions ) asわandえpronounced and written in accordance with transcription wa or e. In the traditional system Hepburn latter was still written ye.

• 私 は 学校 に 行き ます わたし は がっこう に いき ます. Watashi wa Gakko ni ikimasu. - I go to school.
• ここ は 横浜 です ここ は よこはま です. Koko wa desu Yokohama. - Here is Yokohama.
• ここ へ 来 て は 行け ませ ん ここ へ き て は いけ ませ ん. Koko e kite wa ikemasen. - This should not come from you.

Of course, the reading and spelling ha and he is preserved when they are not needed as particles:

• 葉書 はがきha ga ki = Hagaki - Postcard

Particleを

The signを(actually where) is used in the modern Japanese only as a grammatical particle (post position) and then pronounced the same asおand written according to o.

• 何 を 見 てる の なに を み てる の? Nani o miteru no? - What are you watching (da) to?

Occasionally, even "where" written when demand for increased clarity prevails.

Syllable final -n (ん)

If a vowel or y -sound after a syllable final -n, an apostrophe is correctly placed to avoid ambiguity:

• 金曜日 きんようびkin'yōbi - Friday
• 慎一 しんいちShin'ichi - Shin'ichi (name )

Traditional Hepburn system: The syllable final -nん( katakanaン) is before m, b, p and m, otherwise always written as n:

• 音楽 おんがくongaku - music
• 勉強 べんきょうBenkyo - learn
• 乾杯 かんぱいKampai - Cheers
• 新聞 しんぶんShimbun - newspaper
• 電報 でんぽうDempo - Telegram

Revised Hepburn system: In this Japanese studies of preferred system, the syllable final -nん( katakanaン) always written as n, ie:

• 乾杯 かんぱいKanpai - Cheers
• 新聞 しんぶんshinbun - newspaper
• 電報 でんぽうDenpo - Telegram

Small tsu (っ)

Before consonantal syllables the small tsu (っ) shows the doubling of the following consonant (for example, k → kk). Sh → ssh, ts → tts but ch → tch valid (not compliant but analogous transcribed to the other, occasionally as cch ) For the digraphs:

• 学校 がっこうGakko - School
• 日本 にっぽんNippon - Japan ( ancient reading;日本Nihon is usually read )
• 仰る おっしゃるossharu - say ( politely)
• 一 通 いっつうittsū - a copy of ( a document)
• 一致 いっちitchi - Concord

The small tsu is at the end of a word, it expresses the abrupt end of the word and is reproduced with an apostrophe:

• アアアッaaa ' - abruptly Crashing " aaah "
• ひぇー っHye ' - surprise sound

Capitalization

At the beginning of a sentence and for proper names is usually capitalized, as is customary in English.

• 私 は 学校 に 行き ます わたし は がっこう に いき ます. Watashi wa Gakko ni ikimasu. - I'm going to school.
• ここ は 横浜 です ここ は よこはま です. Koko wa desu Yokohama. - Here is Yokohama.

Using the Hepburn system in Japan

• Japan Railways ( labeling of the station signs ): used the "traditional" Hepburn system and also used ā, ī, ū, ē, ō.
• Japanese company ( spelling of company and product names ): usually use the "traditional" Hepburn system without marking the long vowels ( Meiji Chocolate, Shiseido, Seiko, etc. )
• Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( spelling Japanese names in passports ): used the "traditional" Hepburn system shows long vowels but by suffix " h".
• Japanese Ministry of Transport ( labeling of the road signs): used the "revised " Hepburn system ( syllable final -n always n ), however, shows not to long vowels.
• Japanese Ministry of Education ( Teaching in Schools ): allows both the "official " Kunrei system as well as the teach "traditional" Hepburn system

Pronunciation

The vowels and consonants are pronounced in the Hepburn system as follows:

• M, d, b: as in English
• K, t, p: similar to the Germans, but not aspirated, ie, one hears no "h " after
• A, e, o: as in English, but only emphasizes short, double vowels are pronounced long: for example, as in a ball and ā as in bathroom
• I: similar to the Germans, but not with taut lips; usually emphasizes silent or weak between voiceless consonants and at low pitch accent at the end of a word
• U: u unrounded lips, often as u ( [ ɯ ] ) sounds; usually indicated dumb or weak between voiceless consonants and at low pitch accent at the end of a word
• H: as in English; is before a mute i like a fine ch pronounced in I and sounds similar to sch ( [ ç ] )
• F: According between h and f; blow through between the nearly closed lips; before a mute u if at the end of a word sometimes pronounced like ch
• N: is before m, b, p ( see syllable final - s) spoken as m and k as before g or ng ( Ingolf ( g is emphasized ) resp anchor, [ ŋ ]. ); otherwise it will continue to talk back in the throat, as the German n ( [ ɴ ]); is sometimes only indicated nasal ( the tongue touches the palate not )
• G: as in English, common ( [ ŋ ] ) as ng
• S: as voiceless s or German ß ( mass and dimensions, but not sun, [s ] )
• Sh: similar to German ch soft, but with tongue position as in the German sch ( [ ɕ ] )
• Ch: close connection ( affricate ) t sh ( [ t̠͡ɕ ] )
• Ts: like German z ( fence, [ ʦ ] )
• Y: like German j (jacket, someone [j])
• R: as with the tip of the tongue rolled r with a single blow; often sounds like a l or d
• W: similar to w in English, like short u before a vowel (Water, [ β ] )
• Z: as voiced s ( say, Sun, [z ] )
• J: word-initially and after n similarly voiced dsch ( jungle junkie, [ d̠͡ʑ ]); the word inside, that is, after a vowel, rather like the second g in garage, but almost like a voiced s; voiced counterpart to sh ( [ ʑ ] ).

The shutter sound that tch is represented by a double consonant (except nn and mm) or, as it is pronounced in Italian. That is, the following consonant is prepared and the air flow is stopped. The Doppeltkonsonant not mean as in English, that a stationary front vowel is short, but the consonant itself is long.

• 学校(がっこう): Gakko say: " ga " ( short pause) " KKO "

Emphasis

The pitch accent of the Japanese language is reproduced neither in the Japanese writing system still in the Hepburn system.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Hepburn system

Benefits

The Hepburn system has become in the English literature since 1886 published the third edition of the Japanese- English dictionary和 英语 林集成Waei - Gorinshūsei the American physician James Curtis Hepburn as standard and has prevailed after the Second World War in Germany, thus allowing an internationally reasonably uniform notation. It allows the using of the English sound-letter mapping of consonants and the normal " Italian " pronunciation of vowels reader unfamiliar acceptable for Japanese pronunciation of Japanese words and is far more intuitive than the Kunrei system as a pronunciation aid.

Disadvantages

The Hepburn system is only suitable as a pronunciation aid for German -native speakers, since many consonants are pronounced differently than in English, so the correct reading must be learned. The wide distribution of the Hepburn system helps that a phonetically accurate romanization of Japanese is largely uncommon in IPA phonetics.

The Hepburn system is sometimes misunderstood as a transliteration, but it is a transcription system because some syllables ( ji, to ) is the back - translation into Japanese syllabaries hiragana (じ/ぢ,ず/づ) and katakana (ジ/ヂ, ズ/ヅ) is not unique.