20 Japanese Tongue Twisters: Hayakuchi kotoba

Japanese tongue twisters can be a great way to practice your pronunciation! It’s also fun to learn the meanings of these difficult phrases. In Japanese, tongue twisters are called 早口言葉 (hayakuchi kotoba) meaning “fast mouth words”. I recommend that you first practice them slowly, and try to build up the speed. For shorter ones, try and repeat them multiple times. 

By doing a few of these per day, I’m sure you’ll notice an improvement on the way you speak Japanese! Each tongue twister or hayakuchi kotoba will include a slower audio clip so you can practice.

1. 赤あかパジャマ黄きパジャマ茶ちゃパジャマ

Meaning: Red pajama, yellow pajama, brown pajama

Challenges: In this Japanese tongue twister, it’s difficult because of the back and forth between the sounds じゃ (ja), ちゃ (cha), and ま (ma).

2. 生麦なまむぎ生米なまごめ生卵なまたまご

Meaning: Raw wheat, raw rice, raw egg

Challenges: This is a bit easier than some of the other ones, so you’ll want to practice making it faster. The tricky part is in the ま(ma), む(mu), ぎ(gi), and ご(go) sounds.

3. 隣となりの客きゃくはよく柿かき食くう客きゃくだ

Pronunciation: Tonari no kyaku wa yoku kaki kuu kyaku da

Meaning: The customer next to me eats a lot of persimmons.

Challenges: In this difficult Japanese tongue twister, you’ll get practice with the sounds く(ku), きゃ (kya), and か (ka). 

4. かえるぴょこぴょこみぴょこぴょこ、合あわせてぴょこぴょこむぴょこぴょこ

Pronunciation: Kaeru pyoko pyoko mi pyoko pyoko awasete pyoko pyoko mu pyoko pyoko

Meaning: Frog jumps three times, together it’s six.

Challenges: Some challenges with this tongue twister is saying the word ぴょこ (pyoko) many times. The word is an onomatopoeia for the sound of jumping.

5.　スモモも桃ももも桃もものうち

Pronunciation: Sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi

Meaning: Plums and peaches are both like peaches.

Challenges:This is a great one to practice the sound of も (mo). Be careful to say も(mo) the correct number of times!

6.  バス ガス 爆発ばくはつ

Pronunciation: Basu gasu bakuhatsu

Meaning: Bus, gas, explosion

Challenges: In this Japanese tongue twister, you can practice the sounds ば (ba) and が (ga). 

7. 青巻紙あおまきがみ 赤巻紙あかまきがみ 黄巻紙きまきがみ

Pronunciation: Ao maki gami, aka maki gami, ki maki gami

Meaning: Blue rolled paper, red rolled paper, yellow rolled paper

Challenges: This is an easier one that is fun to say. Try and challenge yourself by saying it faster and faster.

8. 庭にわには鶏にわとりが二羽にわいました。

Pronunciation: Niwa ni wa niwatori ga niwa imashita.

Meaning: There are two chickens in the yard.

Challenges: You can practice saying the two sounds に (ni) and わ (wa) in this tongue twister.

9.　肩かたたたき機き

Pronunciation: Katatatakiki

Meaning: Shoulder massage machine

Challenges: This is a great one to practice the sound た (ta) in Japanese.

10.東京とうきょう特許とっきょ許可局きょかきょく

Pronunciation: Toukyou tokkyo kyoka kyoku

Meaning: Tokyo patent permit office

Challenges: In this famous Japanese tongue twister, you can practice the two sounds きょ (kyo) and きゃ (kya).

11. 摘出てきしゅつ手術しゅじゅつ

Pronunciation: Teki shutsu shujutsu

Meaning: Extraction surgery

Challenges: This word is difficult to say because of the two sounds しゅ (shu) and じ (ju) sounding very similar.

12. バナナの謎なぞはまだ謎なぞなのだぞ

Pronunciation: Banana no nazo wa mada nazo nano dazo

Meaning: The mystery of the banana is still a mystery

Challenges: In this tongue twister, you’ll be able to practice the sounds な (na), ぞ (zo), and だ (da).

13. あの子こもこの子こもとも子この子こ

Pronunciation: Anoko mo konoko mo tomoko no ko

Meaning: That child and this child are Tomoko’s kids.

Challenges: In this funny sentence, you’ll get to practice saying the sounds も (mo),の (no), and こ (ko).

14. この寿司すしは少すこし酢すが効ききすぎた。

Pronunciation: Kono sushi wa sukoshi su ga kiki sugita.

Meaning: This sushi has a bit too much vinegar

Challenges: This tongue twister can allow you to practice the す (su) and し (shi) sounds.

15. にゃんこ　子こニャンコ　孫まごにゃんこ

Pronunciation: Nyanko ko nyanko mago nyanko.

Meaning: kitty, baby kitty, grandbaby kitty

Challenges: In this cute phrase, you can practice the sound にゃ(nya) which can be difficult.

16. 低所ていしょ得者とくしゃ層そう

Pronunciation: Teisho tokusha sou

Meaning: Low income group

Challenges: This word can be difficult because of the sounds しょ(sho), しゃ (sha), and そ (so). Challenge yourself by trying to say it faster and faster!

17. 油あぶらアルバム

Pronunciation: Abura arubamu

Meaning: Oil album

Challenges: Although this phrase doesn’t mean anything, it uses two words that are hard to say together. Pay special attention to the ら (ra) and る(ru) sounds.

18. 魔術師まじゅつし 魔術まじゅつ修業中しゅぎょうちゅう

Pronunciation: Majutsushi majutsu shugyou chuu

Meaning: A magician is currently training in magic

Challenges: The three challenging sounds in this phrase are じゅ(ju), しゅ (shu), and ちゅ(chu).

19. 地図帳ちずちょうでチェジュ島とう探さがし

Pronunciation:  Chizu chou de che ju tou sagashi.

Meaning: Looking for Jeju island in a map book.

Challenges: Some of the challenging sounds in this Japanese tongue twister are the sounds ち (chi), ちょ(cho), ちぇ (che), and じゅ(ju).

20. 右目みぎめ右耳みぎみみ 右耳みぎみみ右目みぎめ

Pronunciation: Migime migi mimi migi mimi migi me

Meaning: Right eye right ear right ear right eye

Challenges: This one can be a challenge to keep up with all of the words. Try to say it slowly first and faster.

How  did you do with these Japanese tongue twisters? Speaking Japanese can use different parts of the mouth than you’re used to. Hopefully these hayakuchi kotoba can help you to improve your pronunciation to achieve fluency! If you’re interested in other Japanese language learning blog content, be sure to check out How to order coffee at a coffee shop in Japanese or How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

~Tanuki