The Japanese kana ん does not always have exactly the same sound. It moves toward the place where the next sound is made. This article gives you a clear way to hear the difference.

1. Six changes to listen for

Following soundMouth and nose feelingExample
b, p, mThe lips prepare to closeしんぶん, newspaper
t, d, n, rThe tongue moves toward the area behind the teethあんぜん, safe
ch, jThe front of the tongue risesはんにち, half a day
k, gThe back of the tongue risesぎんこう, bank
Vowels, y, wThe mouth stays more open and the sound remains nasalれんあい, love
Word-final positionThe sound ends through the nose without a strong tongue positionにほん, Japan

These six labels are listening guides. Do not exaggerate them in conversation.

2. Feel the mouth and nose

Place a finger under your nose and say ん slowly. You may feel a small vibration. Now compare しんぶん, ぎんこう, and れんあい. Your lips or tongue prepare differently because of the sound that follows.

3. Keep the mora rhythm

Example sentences

Counting the beats

4 seconds

The example sentences, recorded one by one.

Read the transcript

ほ・ん。
book, in two beats

せ・ん・せ・い。
teacher, in four beats

Example sentences

At natural speed

5 seconds

The example sentences, recorded one by one.

Read the transcript

ほん。
book

せんせい。
teacher

かんたん。
easy

In Japanese rhythm, ん takes one mora. Do not delete it or squeeze it into the previous vowel. For example, ほん has two beats: ほ・ん. Practice せ・ん・せ・い and か・ん・た・ん with four steady beats.

4. Examples in sentences

Example sentences

Connecting ん to the next sound

9 seconds

The example sentences, recorded one by one.

Read the transcript

しんぶん。
newspaper

ぎんこう。
bank

新しん聞ぶんを読よみます。
I read the newspaper.

銀ぎん行こうへ行いきます。
I go to the bank.

  • しんぶんを読みます。I read the newspaper.
  • ぎんこうへ行きます。I go to the bank.
  • にほんで勉強します。I study in Japan.

Keep the number of beats first. Then let ん connect naturally to the following sound.

5. Video and reference

YouTube video: the link will be added after the video is published. The video will compare lip movement, tongue movement, and nasal resonance.

For a technical table of Japanese places and manners of articulation, see the Japanese sound and IPA reference for teachers.

6. Two explanation levels

The Japanese N5 version uses simpler language. You can also read the [Japanese N5 version](/ja/n-secrets) to review mora rhythm. The N5 and N4 labels describe the readability of the explanation; they do not guarantee JLPT coverage.

If you want personal feedback on your pronunciation, you can book a Japanese trial lesson.