The three voiceless consonants, /k/, /s/, and /t/ have voiced counterparts and these are called dakuon. The voiced counterpart of /k/ is /g/, /s/ is /z/, and /t/ is /d/. The symbolic representation to indicate voicing of these consonants is very systematic and simple: add two dots at the upper right corner of each symbol. For instance, observe the following:
/ka/ か → /ga/ が /sa/ さ → /za/ ざ /ta/ た → /da/ だ
It is important to note that the voiced counterparts of /si/ し and /ti/ ち, which are /zi/ じ and /zi/ ぢ, respectively, are pronounced the same. Likewise, the voiced counterparts of /su/ す and /tu/ つ, which are /zu/ ず and /zu/ づ, are also pronounced the same.
The question that naturally arises is, when one uses one or the other? The answer to this question is that in most cases, we use じ for /zi/ and ず for /zu/. Cases where you use ぢ and づ are very limited and we will let you know whenever such cases arise.
The syllables beginning with /p/ are called the "semivoiced" counterparts of /b/, i.e. /pa/ /pi/ /pu/ /pe/ /po/. To indicate these sounds, attach a little circle (instead of two dots) at the upper right corner of /ha/ /hi/ /hu/ /he/ /ho/, respectively:
は、ひ、ふ、へ、ほ → ぱ、ぴ、ぷ、ぺ、ぽ
Follow the links in the table below to see brush-stroke and printed versions of the characters, and some usage examples of each.
| a | i | u | e | o | |
| /g/ | が | ぎ | ぐ | げ | ご |
| /z/ | ざ | じ | ず | ぜ | ぞ |
| /d/ | だ | ぢ | づ | で | ど |
| /b/ | ば | び | ぶ | べ | ぼ |
| /p/ | ぱ | ぴ | ぷ | ぺ | ぽ |