Long vowels
Building block:Some vowels are held twice as long, and it changes the word.
How it works
- In hiragana a long vowel is written with a second vowel: おばあさん.
- えい and おう are usually said as a long え and a long お: せんせい, ありがとう. Type what's written.
- Katakana uses a long bar instead: コーヒー.
Examples
おばさん(aunt)おばあさん
おじさん(uncle)おじいさん