Audio & verbal engine

Listen · 聞く

Tap to hear. Say it back. Hold each for two beats to practise long vowels.

a [a] · Open wide

Jaw fully open, tongue flat and low. Like the 'a' in 'father', but shorter and sharper.

i [i] · Smile

Lips spread into a thin line, tongue high and forward. Like 'ee' in 'see', but clipped.

u [ɯ] · Flat lips

Lips relaxed and NOT rounded, tongue high and back. Not the English 'oo'. Keep the lips flat.

e [e] · Halfway

Mid-open mouth, tongue mid-front. Like 'e' in 'bed', never a diphthong like 'day'.

o [o] · Small circle

Lips lightly rounded, tongue mid-back. Like 'o' in 'or' without the r. One pure sound, no 'ow' glide.