撥音(はつおん)

A phonetics term composed of 撥(はつ) (to spring, to flick) and 音(おん) (sound). Refers specifically to the kana ん, the only Japanese syllable that consists of a consonant alone.

Pronunciation variation

The actual sound of ん changes based on what follows:

• Before b, p, m → [m] (e.g., 新聞(しんぶん) sounds like 'shimbun')
• Before d, t, n → [n] (e.g., 先(せん)に sounds like 'senni')
• Before g, k → [ŋ] (e.g., 漫画(まんが) sounds like 'manga')
• Before vowels or at end of word → nasalized vowel

Common collocations

• 撥音(はつおん)の発音(はつおん): pronunciation of the nasal n
• 撥音(はつおん)を含(ふく)む語(ご): words containing the nasal n
• 撥音(はつおん)便(びん): euphonic nasal insertion (a historical sound change)

Similar words

• 発音(はつおん): pronunciation — a homophone but written with different kanji (発(はつ) = emit, 音(おん) = sound); context usually makes the distinction clear
• 鼻音(びおん): nasal sound — a broader phonetics term for any nasal consonant; 撥音(はつおん) refers specifically to ん

Usage

Not to be confused with the homophone 発音(はつおん) (pronunciation), which uses different kanji. In writing, the distinction is clear; in speech, context determines meaning.