15 Japanese Tongue Twisters to Test Your Pronunciation (With Audio Tips)
Challenge yourself with fun Japanese tongue twisters! From なまむぎ to 赤巻紙, these hayakuchi kotoba will level up your pronunciation and make you laugh.
Want a fun way to practice Japanese pronunciation? Tongue twisters (早口言葉 - hayakuchi kotoba, literally "fast-mouth words") are the ultimate challenge! They'll twist your tongue, make you laugh, and dramatically improve your speaking skills.
Japanese people LOVE tongue twisters – they're a party game, a speech therapy tool, and just plain fun. Ready to tie your tongue in knots? 😜
Why Tongue Twisters Help Your Japanese
🎯 Precision Practice
They force you to articulate clearly – no mumbling allowed!
🏃 Speed Training
Start slow, then speed up. Your mouth learns muscle memory.
😂 Fun Factor
Way more entertaining than repeating textbook phrases!
🔊 Sound Distinction
Many target similar sounds (like ら/な or き/ひ) that trip up learners.
Beginner Tongue Twisters 🟢
Perfect for those just starting out!
1. 生麦生米生卵 (Nama Mugi Nama Gome Nama Tamago)
The Classic! Every Japanese person knows this one.
| Japanese | 生麦生米生卵 |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | なまむぎ なまごめ なまたまご |
| Romaji | nama mugi nama gome nama tamago |
| Meaning | Raw wheat, raw rice, raw egg |
Why it's tricky: The "m" and "n" sounds keep switching!
Practice tip: Say it 3 times fast. If you can do 5 times without messing up, you've mastered it!
Challenge yourself:
- Slow speed: 🐢 5 seconds
- Normal speed: 🚶 3 seconds
- Fast speed: 🏃 under 2 seconds!
2. バスガス爆発 (Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu)
| Japanese | バスガス爆発 |
|---|---|
| Romaji | basu gasu bakuhatsu |
| Meaning | Bus gas explosion |
Why it's tricky: The "ba" and "ga" sounds bounce back and forth!
Say it 3 times fast: バスガス爆発、バスガス爆発、バスガス爆発！
3. 赤巻紙青巻紙黄巻紙 (Aka Makigami Ao Makigami Ki Makigami)
| Japanese | 赤巻紙青巻紙黄巻紙 |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | あかまきがみ あおまきがみ きまきがみ |
| Romaji | aka makigami ao makigami ki makigami |
| Meaning | Red rolled paper, blue rolled paper, yellow rolled paper |
Why it's tricky: So many "ma" and "ki" sounds! Plus the colors keep changing.
4. 庭には二羽鶏がいる (Niwa ni wa Niwa Niwatori ga Iru)
| Japanese | 庭には二羽鶏がいる |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | にわにはにわにわとりがいる |
| Romaji | niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru |
| Meaning | In the garden there are two chickens |
Why it's tricky: にわ (garden) and にわ (two birds counter) and にわとり (chicken) all sound similar!
Fun fact: This plays on the word にわ appearing three times with different meanings!
5. この釘はひきにくい釘だ (Kono Kugi wa Hikinikui Kugi da)
| Japanese | この釘はひきにくい釘だ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | kono kugi wa hikinikui kugi da |
| Meaning | This nail is a hard-to-pull-out nail |
Why it's tricky: "Ku", "ki", and "gu" keep repeating!
Intermediate Tongue Twisters 🟡
Ready for more challenge?
6. 東京特許許可局 (Toukyou Tokkyo Kyoka Kyoku)
The Ultimate "K" Challenge!
| Japanese | 東京特許許可局 |
|---|---|
| Romaji | toukyou tokkyo kyoka kyoku |
| Meaning | Tokyo Patent Licensing Bureau |
Why it's tricky: きょ (kyo) appears FOUR times! Your tongue will want to give up.
Pro tip: This is used to train news announcers in Japan. If they can say this clearly, they can say anything!
7. 隣の客はよく柿食う客だ (Tonari no Kyaku wa Yoku Kaki Kuu Kyaku da)
| Japanese | 隣の客はよく柿食う客だ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | tonari no kyaku wa yoku kaki kuu kyaku da |
| Meaning | The guest next door is a guest who eats a lot of persimmons |
Why it's tricky: か/き/く sounds everywhere! Plus きゃく repeats.
8. この竹垣に竹立てかけたのは竹立てかけたかったから (Kono Takegaki ni Take Tatekaketa no wa...)
| Japanese | この竹垣に竹立てかけたのは竹立てかけたかったから |
|---|---|
| Shorter version | この竹垣に竹たてかけた |
| Romaji | kono takegaki ni take tatekaketa no wa take tatekaketa katta kara |
| Meaning | The reason I leaned bamboo against this bamboo fence is because I wanted to lean bamboo against it |
Why it's tricky: た and け keep alternating in impossible combinations!
9. 坊主が屏風に上手に坊主の絵を描いた (Bouzu ga Byoubu ni...)
| Japanese | 坊主が屏風に上手に坊主の絵を描いた |
|---|---|
| Romaji | bouzu ga byoubu ni jouzu ni bouzu no e wo kaita |
| Meaning | A monk skillfully drew a picture of a monk on a folding screen |
Why it's tricky: ぼうず, びょうぶ, and じょうず all sound similar and require precise mouth positions!
10. すもももももももものうち (Sumomo mo Momo mo Momo no Uchi)
| Japanese | すもももももももものうち |
|---|---|
| Romaji | sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi |
| Meaning | Plums and peaches are both types of peaches (in the peach family) |
Why it's tricky: It's ALL "mo" sounds! 🍑
Visual breakdown:
- すもも = Japanese plum
- も = also
- もも = peach
- も = also
- もも = peach
- の = possessive
- うち = inside/family
Advanced Tongue Twisters 🔴
Only for the brave!
11. 魔術師手術中 (Majutsushi Shujutsu Chuu)
| Japanese | 魔術師手術中 |
|---|---|
| Romaji | majutsushi shujutsu chuu |
| Meaning | The magician is in surgery |
Why it's tricky: じゅ, しゅ, and ちゅ – all those palatalized sounds!
Try saying it 5 times fast! Most people can't! 😵
12. 新進シャンソン歌手総出演新春シャンソンショー (Shinshin Shanson...)
| Japanese | 新進シャンソン歌手総出演新春シャンソンショー |
|---|---|
| Romaji | shinshin shanson kashu sou shutsuen shinshun shanson shoo |
| Meaning | New Year's chanson show featuring all up-and-coming chanson singers |
Why it's tricky: しん and シャン alternate relentlessly!
13. 派出所で手術中 (Hashutsujo de Shujutsu Chuu)
| Japanese | 派出所で手術中 |
|---|---|
| Romaji | hashutsujo de shujutsu chuu |
| Meaning | In surgery at the police box |
Why it's tricky: Similar to #11 but with はしゅつ added!
14. 老若男女 (Rou Nyaku Nan Nyo)
| Japanese | 老若男女 |
|---|---|
| Romaji | rou nyaku nan nyo |
| Meaning | People of all ages and genders |
Why it's tricky: Short but deadly! The にゃ and にょ sounds require precise tongue placement.
15. 除雪車除雪作業中 (Josetsusha Josetsu Sagyou Chuu)
| Japanese | 除雪車除雪作業中 |
|---|---|
| Romaji | josetsusha josetsu sagyou chuu |
| Meaning | The snowplow is in the middle of snow removal work |
Why it's tricky: じょせつ keeps repeating with different endings!
How to Practice Tongue Twisters
Step 1: Slow and Steady
Say it slowly first. Get every sound right before speeding up.
Step 2: Break It Down
Split long ones into chunks. Master each part separately.
Step 3: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Say each one at least 10 times in a row. Your mouth needs muscle memory!
Step 4: Record Yourself
Listen back – you'll catch mistakes you didn't notice while speaking.
Step 5: Speed Challenge
Time yourself! Try to beat your previous record.
Step 6: Teach Someone
Teaching tongue twisters to friends is hilarious AND helps YOU improve!
Tongue Twister Game Ideas 🎮
Speed Battle
Two players race to say the same tongue twister 3 times. First one to finish (correctly!) wins!
Elimination Round
Everyone says a tongue twister. Mess up? You're out! Last person standing wins.
Leveling Up
Start with beginner twisters, progress to advanced. How far can you go without failing?
Drunk Test (With Tea! 🍵)
Classic party game – if you can't say the tongue twister, you drink (tea, of course!).
Quick Reference: All 15 Tongue Twisters
| # | Japanese (Short) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 生麦生米生卵 | 🟢 Easy |
| 2 | バスガス爆発 | 🟢 Easy |
| 3 | 赤巻紙青巻紙黄巻紙 | 🟢 Easy |
| 4 | 庭には二羽鶏がいる | 🟢 Easy |
| 5 | この釘はひきにくい釘だ | 🟢 Easy |
| 6 | 東京特許許可局 | 🟡 Medium |
| 7 | 隣の客はよく柿食う客だ | 🟡 Medium |
| 8 | この竹垣に竹たてかけた | 🟡 Medium |
| 9 | 坊主が屏風に... | 🟡 Medium |
| 10 | すもももももももものうち | 🟡 Medium |
| 11 | 魔術師手術中 | 🔴 Hard |
| 12 | 新進シャンソン... | 🔴 Hard |
| 13 | 派出所で手術中 | 🔴 Hard |
| 14 | 老若男女 | 🔴 Hard |
| 15 | 除雪車除雪作業中 | 🔴 Hard |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Japanese people actually use these?
YES! They're used at parties, in speech training, with kids, and even on TV variety shows. They're part of Japanese culture!
Will this really help my pronunciation?
Absolutely. Tongue twisters force precision and speed that normal practice doesn't. They're used by actors, announcers, and voice actors in Japan.
What if I can't do them?
Start slow! Everyone struggles at first. The goal is improvement, not perfection on day one.
Can I make up my own tongue twisters?
Japanese people do this for fun! Once you understand what makes them tricky, you can create your own.
Conclusion: Get Twisting! 🌀
Tongue twisters are the most FUN way to practice Japanese pronunciation. Start with the easy ones, challenge yourself with harder ones, and impress your Japanese friends!
Key takeaways: ✅ Start with 生麦生米生卵 – the essential one ✅ Practice slow first, then speed up ✅ Record yourself to catch mistakes ✅ Make it a game with friends! ✅ Use them as daily warm-ups before study
Your next step: You need to read these to practice! Master hiragana with KanaDojo → and unlock all these tongue twisters!
早口言葉、言えるかな？ (Hayakuchi kotoba, ieru kana?) Can you say the tongue twisters?
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