Long Vowels ใใ vs ใใ: Why ๅ ็ Is ใใใใ but ใๅงใใ Is ใใญใใใ
This is the sister rule to ใๆฎต long vowels (ใใ / ใใ). The long โehโ sound is almost always written ใใ โ and pronounced as a long ฤ โ but a tiny set of words spell it ใใ. Here is the rule and the exceptions.
The ใใ Rule (default)
In most words โ especially kanji compounds โ the long โehโ is written ใใ and pronounced as one long ฤ (not e-i).
The ใใ Exceptions
A few native words spell the long ฤ as ใใ. The list is short โ memorize it.
How to Remember
- Default to ใใ for almost everything, especially kanji words.
- Memorize the ใใ short list (ใๅงใใ, ใใ, ใธใ) the same way you learned the ใใ words.
- Pronounce ใใ as a long ฤ in normal speech โ not a crisp โe-i.โ
Teacher's Note
Learn ใใ/ใใ together with ใใ/ใใ โ they are the same idea in two vowel rows. Note that ใๅงใใ (ใใญใใใ) sits right next to ใๅ ใใ (ใใซใใใ, older brother), which uses ใใ โ another small pattern worth filing away.
Spell and say long vowels right
Nihongo Pass pairs every word with audio, so ใใ and ใใ are clear in both writing and sound.
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