Rocket Japanese Community

Minnasan Konnichiwa!!

Perhaps you have studied Japanese grammar and excel in reading Japanese...but when it comes to speaking Japanese, you find it hard to show your ability and feel anxious over not being able to pick up all that is said...if that's you, well, I'm here to help you master some sound changes in Spoken Japanese.

てる / てく/ とく Teru / Teku / Toku
Many short and easy-to-say forms are used in conversational Japanese. The i sound in -teiru and- teikuis dropped making these -teru and -teku. -Teoku becomes -toku as its e sound is also dropped.

~ている / ~teiru --> ~てる / ~teru
Matteiru--> Matteru (I am waiting)
Utteiru --> Utteru (I am selling)
Mitteiru --> Mitteru (I am watching)

~ていく / ~teiku --> ~てく / ~ teku
Tsureteiku --> Tsureteku (I'll take with me)
Aruiteiku --> Aruiteku (I'll go walking)
Hashiteiku --> Hashitteku (I'll go running)
Deteiku --> Deteku (I'll leave)

~ておく / ~teoku --> ~とく / ~toku
Katteoku--> Kattoku (I'll have it bought (by then))
Iteoku --> Ittoku (I'll be there (by then))
Aketeoku --> Aketoku (I'll have it opened (by then))

I strongly recommend having your Japanese friends give you guidance on pronunciation! I hope you will feel comfortable using Japanese and enjoy talking to many Japanese people.