Y-Column

や (ya) : Yak

ゆ (yu) : Unicorn

INFO

  • is an popular character as its used as the sign for Onsen/ Hot Strings in Japan
  • means Hot Water in Japanese. It is generally used with the polite prefix making it おゆ

よ (yo) : YoYo Dangling from a Finger


Japanese Digraphs (Youon)

Consonants with “i” sound + や, ゆ and よ
When representing a digraph や, ゆ and よ are written smaller font
Even though it looks longer the Youon is still considered as one character

り (ri)み (mi)ぴ (pi)び (bi)ひ (hi)に (ni)ち (chi)じ (ji)し (shi)ぎ (gi)き (ki)
りゃみゃぴゃびゃひゃにゃちゃじゃしゃぎゃきゃ
りゅみゅぴゅびゅひゅにゅちゅじゅしゅぎゅきゅ
りょみょぴょびょひょにょちょじょしょぎょきょ

INFO

  • The character technically is also part of the diagraph but it is not used anymore
  • When digraphs are prounced without the “i” sound
  • りゅう
    • Ryū (Dragon)
  • りゆう
    • RiYū (Reason)

ū, ō are used to show that thoose sounds need to be prolonged (They are followed by the character)

In Romaji characters like

  • きょう
    • Kyō (Today)
  • きよう
    • KiYō (Handy/ Skilled)

Example Words

  • ゆめ
    • YuMe (Dream)
  • やま
    • YaMa (Mountain)
  • やすい
    • YaSuI (Cheap)
  • りょうり
    • RyōRi (Cooking)
  • かいしゃ
    • KaISya (Company)
  • じゅうどう
    • JyūDō (Judo - National Sport)
  • しゅくだい
    • SyuKuDaI (Homework)
  • びょういん
    • ByōIN (Hospital)