Master Rōmaji A Beginner's Guide to the Japanese Roman Alphabet

A complete table of the Romaji transcription system, displaying the standard Japanese syllables in both straight (e.g., 'a', 'ka', 'sa') and contracted forms (e.g., 'kya', 'sha', 'cha').

Table of contents

Introduction
Key Rules of the Hepburn System:
Reference

Introduction

Rōmaji uses the Roman alphabet to write Japanese, making familiar brands like TOYOTA, Nintendo, and FUJITSU accessible to everyone. It’s one of the methods used to write Japanese, alongside Kana (hiragana and katakana) and Kanji. Among the various Rōmaji systems, the Hepburn system, created by American missionary James Curtis Hepburn in the 19th century, is notable for its widespread use.

He made it to help people from other countries pronounce Japanese better and used it in a dictionary he made in 1867.

The title page of the book "DICTIONARY; WITH AN ENGLISH AND JAPANESE INDEX" by J.C. Hepburn, A.M., M.D., published in Shanghai by the American Presbyterian Mission Press in 1867, featuring the author's name, title, place of publication, and the year. — Hepburn, J. C. (1867). *A Japanese and English dictionary*. Shanghai.

Now, not only foreigners but also Japanese people often use the Hepburn system to write their names and places in the Roman alphabet. It has also become one way to type on computers and smartphones.

Overhead view of a person typing on a laptop, possibly using Romaji input, with a notebook, pen, smartphone, and an orange placed on a white desk. — Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

Key Rules of the Hepburn System:

Basic Sounds: The vowels “あいうえお” are written as “a i u e o,” and combinations of consonants and vowels like “かきくけこ” become “ka ki ku ke ko.” However, there are special rules to note:

Extending Sounds: Long vowels are indicated by a line above the vowel: ā, ī, ū, ē, ō, for example, “Ōsaka.”
The Silent ‘っ’: This shows up as a doubled consonant in words like ‘Sapporo’ (‘ss’, ‘tt’, ‘pp’, etc.). For sounds like ‘chi’, ‘cha’, ‘chu’, ‘cho’, don’t double the ‘c’ but use a ‘t’, as in “hatcho.”
Nasal Sounds ‘ん’: Before /b/, /m/, /p/, ‘ん’ is written as ‘m’, not ‘n’. See “annai” (guidance) and “tempura” for examples.

Rōmaji bridges Japanese to the global alphabet, simplifying learning for beginners. With these basics, you’re on your way to understanding Japanese through the lens of Rōmaji, a step that brings the language’s beauty closer to learners worldwide.

Reference

Meiji Gakuin University. (n.d.). Wa-Ei Gorin Shūsei Digital Archives. Retrieved April 2, 2024 from https://mgda.meijigakuin.ac.jp/waei