第3課Lesson 3 of 16
S row
The s row has one surprise: シ is shi, not si. シ and ソ also each have a famous look-alike, ツ and ン, which you'll meet soon.
サシスセソ
All lessonsPronunciation
How it sounds
s is the English s, except シ is shi (like she). There is no si in Japanese, so English sea becomes シー. An English s at the end of a word usually becomes ス: ice is アイス.
Reading tips
Easy to mix up
シ and ツ (next lesson) are the classic pair. シ's short strokes lie flatter and stack on the left, and its long stroke sweeps up from the bottom.
ソ and ン (lesson 10) are the other classic pair. ソ's long stroke sweeps down from the top.
ス and ヌ (lesson 5): ヌ has an extra slash crossing it.
New kana
Picture each shape, then say it.
A Sock with a ribbed cuff. Say "sa".
A Shield, with the kana painted across its face. Say "shee".
A Suit and tie: the kana is the collar and the knot. Say "su".
A Security guard with a star on the hat.
Sew a button: the kana runs across it. Say "so".
Real vocabulary
Words you can read now
- スキーsukīskiing
- アイスaisuice cream
- ソースsōsusauce
- サーカスsākasucircus
- シーソーshīsōseesaw
- コースkōsucourse