日本語表示
PRONUNCIATION: BASIC SOUNDS
The T Sound and the Z-H Sound
/t/ and /ʒ/

GOAL

I can make the T sound and the Z-H sound.

TRY IT!

Read the sentence below.

Teresa wants to wear her casual beige dress at tea time tomorrow.

SOUNDS

Learn how to pronounce today's sounds.
Sound Profile

/t/

Voicing

no

Mouth

slightly open

Lips

Teeth

Tongue

the tip of the tongue touching behind the top front teeth + the sides of the tongue touching the top side teeth ➡ pulled back

Jaw

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Press the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth. The sides of your tongue should touch your top side teeth.

  3. Exhale. At the same time, pull your tongue back.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the T sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

cut ➡ katto (カット)

ticket ➡ chiketto (チケット)

yacht ➡ yotto (ヨット)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

/ʒ/

Voicing

yes

Mouth

slightly open

Lips

pushed forward

Teeth

Tongue

the front of the tongue close to but not touching behind the top front teeth

Jaw

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth and push your lips forward.

  2. Put the front of your tongue close to but not touching behind your top front teeth.

  3. Make a voiced sound.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the Z-H sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

beige ➡ beeju (ベージュ)

massage ➡ massaaji (マッサージ)

garage ➡ gareeji (ガレージ)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Press the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth. The sides of your tongue should touch your top side teeth.

  3. Exhale. At the same time, pull your tongue back.

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth and push your lips forward.

  2. Put the front of your tongue close to but not touching behind your top front teeth.

  3. Make a voiced sound.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the T sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

cut ➡ katto (カット)

ticket ➡ chiketto (チケット)

yacht ➡ yotto (ヨット)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the Z-H sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

beige ➡ beeju (ベージュ)

massage ➡ massaaji (マッサージ)

garage ➡ gareeji (ガレージ)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

WORDS

Practice today’s sounds in the words below.

/t/

time

tea

tent

bat

taxi

toast

/ʒ/

massage

garage

leisure

Asia

vision

genre

SENTENCES

Practice today’s sounds in the sentences below.

/t/

  1. Ted wants to eat toast and drink tea.
  2. Teresa and the team took a taxi to Tennessee.
  3. Matt hit the ball two times with his bat.
  4. Tony played with ten toys in his tent.
  5. Kate typed two papers for Tom.

/ʒ/

  1. My favorite movie genre is Asian anime.
  2. Ann usually has clear vision.
  3. I’m reading the book Decision-Maker for pleasure.
  4. My beige car is in the garage.
  5. I wore a cashmere robe during my massage.

/t/ + /ʒ/

  1. Tom took a taxi to the garage.
  2. I don’t like that genre.
  3. Teresa wants to wear her casual beige dress at tea time tomorrow.
  4. Ted’s television is usually too loud.
  5. It’s a pleasure to see you two in Asia!

DIALOGUES

Practice today’s sounds in the dialogues below.

/t/

Tutor:

What time is it? Is it time for tea?
Student:

Yes, it’s tea time. It’s two o’clock.
Tutor:

Do you want some toast? I can make some in ten minutes.
Student:

Sure, but don’t take too long. Your tea won’t be hot anymore.
Tutor:

Okay. Do you want some jam on your toast?
Student:

Sure! Jam on toast sounds great!

/ʒ/

Student:

Let’s watch an Asian movie.
Tutor:

Sure. What genre should we watch?
Student:

Hmm. It’s really hard to make a decision.
Tutor:

Aha, I know! There’s a new version of your favorite movie, Casual Cashmere. 
Student:

Oh, nice! They usually make a new version of Casual Cashmere every few years. Watching each version is always a pleasure.

/t/ + /ʒ/

Student:

I heard you’re going to Asia with Teresa.
Tutor:

Yes. We saw an Asian movie last week and it inspired us.
Student:

Wow, that was a quick decision! But, um, Asia is really big. Which part of Asia are you going to?
Tutor:

We’re going to Taipei, Taiwan. I want to take a tour and get a Taiwanese massage.
Student:

Wow! Spend some leisure time at the beaches too. I heard they’re excellent… And maybe you can find some treasure!

TRY IT AGAIN!

Reread the sentence below.

Teresa wants to wear her casual beige dress at tea time tomorrow.