Let’s grasp the rule of Japanese accents of verbs
Abstract
- Can do: understand the rules for accents of verbs and be able to distinguish them.
- Study style: to grasp the sense of pitch by hands movement and pitch curbs
- Tools : not in particular
- Preparation : lists of verbs
企画者:中川千惠子・木下直子
Accents of verbs
There are two accent types for verbs. Hills and mountains.
Verbs with hills accent: Verbs with no down tone after accent.
Verbs with mountains accent: Verbs with down tone after accent.
辞書形 | て形 | た形 | |
丘の動詞 (Verbs with hills accent) | かう(買う)To buy | かって(買って) | かった(買った) |
山の動詞 (Verbs with mountains accent) | か˥う(飼う)To have (as a pet) | か˥って(飼って) | か˥った(飼った) |
Practice
One will say A1 or A2. Listener will answer with B1 when they hear A1. If they hear A2, they will answer with B2. Let’s try.
Q1
A1:あのう、ちょっと 来˥ていただけませんか。(excuse me, could you come here?) B1:はい、行きます。(Sure, I am coming.)
A2:あのう、ちょっと 着ていただけませんか。(excuse me, could you try this on?) B2:ええ。でもサイズが合うかなあ。(Sure, but I am not sure about the size…)
Q2
A1:もうか˥える(帰る)?(are you going home soon?) B1:ううん、まだかえら˥ない。時間き˥てないし。(no not going home yet. Time has not come.)
A2:もう変える?(Are you going to change soon?) B2:ううん、まだかえない。まだ新しいし。(No not going to change yet. It is still new.)