What's my name in Japanese? (make requests here!)

[mikinsmith]

Hi, could somebody please help me say my name in Japanese. It is Mikin Smith. Thanks

[Jessi]

mikinsmithさん,

Could you please let me know how to pronounce your name Mikin? Smith would be スミス (Sumisu)

[benjaminsmith062064]

benjaminsmith062064-san,

Your friend's name would be something like:

パニダ・チョムプバッパー (Panida Chomupubappaa)

I hope this helps!

That's excellent =) Thank you! Would you just be able to help me on the pronunciation of Sumisu please? I'm still a bit confused on exactly how to say it and which parts I should pronounce or not...Thanks again!

[brad12]

I think you should go with this website..

Hiragana chart

[veganarchist]

Split it into 3 ie su・mi・su and go to either of the web pages below and learn how to pronounce each syllable seperately then put it together simple

http://www.japanesepod101.com/learningcenter/reference/katakana_chart



http://japanese.about.com/library/blkatakanaaudio.htm [/url]

[benjaminsmith062064]

Oh thanks...That's all I wondered...I know how to pronounce each of the syllables...It's just that I'd noticed that a lot of words with "su" in...You don't necessarily pronounce the "u" especially if it's at the end...So...I didn't know if you did say it as Sumisu...Or if it was more like Sumis...Or just Smis...That's what confused me...But I take it you do say all 3 syllables then? Thanks =)

[kevi956398]

no worries :D

[mimoglay]

Oh thanks...That's all I wondered...I know how to pronounce each of the syllables...It's just that I'd noticed that a lot of words with "su" in...You don't necessarily pronounce the "u" especially if it's at the end...So...I didn't know if you did say it as Sumisu...Or if it was more like Sumis...Or just Smis...That's what confused me...But I take it you do say all 3 syllables then? Thanks =)

Actually, you would say it sort of like "Smeess" almost like you say it in English, but with the "i" sounding more like "ee" and without a 'th" but using an "s" sound there instead.

The rule with "su" is that if it occurs before an unvoiced consonant or at the end of the word, you typically do not pronounce the "u." So, "desu" and "masu" sound like "dess" and "mass." As for voiced vs unvoiced consonants, if you are actually making a sound with your larynx, then it is voiced. For example, "g" is the voiced version of "k" and "d" is the voiced version of "t."

So you would say "suki" (unvoiced, meaning=like) as "ski" but you pronounce the "u" in "sugoi" (voiced, meaning=amazing).

The weird thing about names is that you have to use katakana to represent the way they sound, not the way they are spelled. For example, my name is Diane, but if I just transcribe that to katakana ("di-a-ne"), it sounds like Dee-ah-nay, so instead it must be spelled "Da-i-a-n."

Be careful with Kanji. I tried to turn my last name into kanji based on sound, and was told by native Japanese speakers that it was just weird. However, one person did suggest that I use these kanji for my first name: 大安 (dai-an) which means "auspicious day" which they felt was a very nice name to have.

[jorijaatinen4800]

Hi There,

I've just joined, and was excited to see I could ask this question.

My name is written in english as Jori Jaatinen. However, in romanji I'd write it as yo-ri ya-a-ti-ne-n. Is someone able to confirm that the correct katakana would hence be:
ヨリ ヤアチネン

Thanks in advance (haven't worked out how to write that yet).

Joz

[mimoglay]

My name is written in english as Jori Jaatinen. However, in romanji I'd write it as yo-ri ya-a-ti-ne-n. Is someone able to confirm that the correct katakana would hence be:
ヨリ ヤアチネン

If the "a" in your last name is truly long, you would use the dash to indicate the lengthening of the vowel, and usually the dot is put between first and last names:

ヨリ・ヤーチネン

If the "ti" is your last name is pronounced more like "tee" then you would write your last name as ヤーティネン

[jorijaatinen4800]

Great, thanks mimoglay.

Yes, it is truely a long 'a' sound, and a short 'ti' sound.

[waterskyle4203]

My Name is Kyle Waters. I would like to know how to pronounce my name in Japanese.
The y sounds like a long i, my last name is just as it looks. Would my first name be kai-ru? My last name, I have no idea.
Also, since water = mizu, would I use that to introduce myself?
Thanks in advance!

[Jessi]

waterskyle4203さん,

Welcome! You are correct, your first name would be カイル (Kairu). Your last name would be ウォーターズ (Uo-ta-zu). You wouldn't translate your name into Japanese using "mizu".
So altogether: カイル・ウォーターズ (Kairu Uo-ta-zu)

Hope this helps!

[ebeasley7138]

I've already found my last name on here, but what would Eleanor be?

Thank you, thank you! <3

[Jessi]

ebeasley7138さん、

Your name would be エレノア (Erenoa) in Japanese