Japanese Tongue Twisters to Challenge Yourself

Tackle the trickiest pronunciations. Practice these selected tongue twisters in Japanese at different speeds, view transcription hints, and track your progress.

Speed:

Twister Master: 0 of 52 completed

#1Difficulty: hard

生麦生米生卵

Pronunciation: 生麦 (なまむぎ) 生米 (なまごめ) 生卵 (なまたまご) / Namamugi Namagome Namatamago

Translation:"Raw wheat, raw rice, raw egg."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The challenge lies in the rapid repetition of the 'nama' (raw) prefix followed by words starting with 'm' and 'g' sounds. The 'm' and 'g' sounds are similar in mouth position, making it easy to stumble. Focus on clear articulation of each syllable.

#2Difficulty: hard

隣の客はよく柿食う客だ

Pronunciation: 隣 (となり) の客 (きゃく) はよく柿 (かき) 食 (く) う客 (きゃく) だ / Tonari no kyaku wa yoku kaki kuu kyaku da

Translation:"The customer next door is a customer who eats a lot of persimmons."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty comes from the rapid succession of 'kyaku' (customer) and 'kaki kuu' (eats persimmons). The 'k' sound combined with 'y' in 'kyaku' and the 'k' in 'kaki' requires precise tongue movement.

#3Difficulty: hard

東京特許許可局

Pronunciation: 東京 (とうきょう) 特許 (とっきょ) 許可 (きょか) 局 (きょく) / Tōkyō Tokkyo Kyoka Kyoku

Translation:"Tokyo Patent Office."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This is a classic hard one due to the repeated 'kyō', 'kyo', and 'kyoku' sounds. The combination of 'k' with 'y' and the short 'o' or long 'ō' sounds, especially the double 'k' in 'tokkyo', makes it very challenging to articulate quickly and clearly.

#4Difficulty: hard

赤巻紙青巻紙黄巻紙

Pronunciation: 赤巻紙 (あかまきがみ) 青巻紙 (あおまきがみ) 黄巻紙 (きまきがみ) / Akamakigami Aomakigami Kimakigami

Translation:"Red scroll, blue scroll, yellow scroll."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty comes from the repetition of 'makigami' (scroll) combined with the color names. The 'k' and 'g' sounds are voiced and unvoiced counterparts, and switching between them rapidly while maintaining the 'maki' structure is the main challenge.

#5Difficulty: hard

蛙ぴょこぴょこ三ぴょこぴょこ合わせてぴょこぴょこ六ぴょこぴょこ

Pronunciation: 蛙 (かえる) ぴょこぴょこ (ぴょこぴょこ) 三 (み) ぴょこぴょこ (ぴょこぴょこ) 合 (あ) わせてぴょこぴょこ (ぴょこぴょこ) 六 (む) ぴょこぴょこ (ぴょこぴょこ) / Kaeru pyokopyoko mi pyokopyoko awasete pyokopyoko mu pyokopyoko

Translation:"Frogs hopping, three hopping, altogether hopping, six hopping."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The extreme repetition of the onomatopoeia 'pyokopyoko' (hopping sound) is the core challenge. The 'pyo' sound requires a precise lip closure and release, and maintaining this rapidly without slurring is difficult.

#6Difficulty: hard

この釘は引き抜きにくい釘だ

Pronunciation: この釘 (くぎ) は引 (ひ) き抜 (ぬ) きにくい釘 (くぎ) だ / Kono kugi wa hikinukinikui kugi da

Translation:"This nail is a nail that is hard to pull out."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty lies in the sequence 'hikinukinikui' (hard to pull out), which has many 'i' and 'u' vowels and 'k' and 'n' consonants. The rapid alternation between these sounds, especially the 'ni-kui' part, makes it easy to trip up.

#7Difficulty: medium

バスガス爆発

Pronunciation: バス (ばす) ガス (がす) 爆発 (ばくはつ) / Basu gasu bakuhatsu

Translation:"Bus gas explosion."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The challenge is the rapid succession of 'su' sounds in 'basu' and 'gasu', followed by 'bakuhatsu' which starts with 'ba' and ends with 'tsu'. The similar 's' and 'tsu' sounds, combined with the voiced 'g' and unvoiced 'k' in close proximity, make it tricky.

#8Difficulty: hard

新進シャンソン歌手新春シャンソンショー

Pronunciation: 新進 (しんしん) シャンソン (しゃんそん) 歌手 (かしゅ) 新春 (しんしゅん) シャンソン (しゃんそん) ショー (しょー) / Shinshin shanson kashu shinshun shanson shō

Translation:"Up-and-coming chanson singer's New Year's chanson show."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This one is tough due to the repeated 'shin', 'shan', 'shu', and 'shō' sounds. The 'sh' sound requires precise tongue placement, and rapidly switching between 'shi', 'sha', 'shu', and 'sho' with the 'n' sound in between is a significant challenge.

#9Difficulty: medium

坊主が屏風に上手に坊主の絵を描いた

Pronunciation: 坊主 (ぼうず) が屏風 (びょうぶ) に上手 (じょうず) に坊主 (ぼうず) の絵 (え) を描 (か) いた / Bōzu ga byōbu ni jōzu ni bōzu no e o kaita

Translation:"The monk skillfully drew a picture of a monk on a folding screen."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty comes from the similar 'bōzu' (monk) and 'byōbu' (folding screen) sounds, both involving 'b' and long 'ō' or 'yō' sounds. The 'jōzu' (skillfully) also adds to the challenge with its 'jō' sound. Rapidly switching between these similar-sounding words requires careful articulation.

#10Difficulty: easy

庭には二羽鶏がいる

Pronunciation: 庭 (にわ) には二羽 (にわ) 鶏 (にわとり) がいる / Niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru

Translation:"There are two chickens in the garden."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This tongue twister plays on the repetition of 'niwa' (garden) and 'niwa' (two birds, counter for birds), followed by 'niwatori' (chicken). The challenge is to clearly distinguish the different meanings of 'niwa' while maintaining a smooth flow, especially the 'niwa ni wa niwa' sequence.

#11Difficulty: easy

李も桃も桃のうち

Pronunciation: すもももももももものうち / Sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi

Translation:"Plums and peaches are both in the peach family."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the repeating 'mo' particle and distinguish between 'sumomo' and 'momo'.

#12Difficulty: medium

竹藪に竹立て掛けた

Pronunciation: たけやぶにたけたてかけた / Takeyabu ni take tatekaketa

Translation:"I leaned bamboo against the bamboo grove."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the explosive /t/ and the repeating syllable 'ta' and 'te'.

#13Difficulty: hard

除雪車除雪作業中

Pronunciation: じょせつしゃじょせつさぎょうちゅう / Josetsusha josetsu sagyōchū

Translation:"Snowplow during snow removal work."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The challenge is repeating the 'jo-setsu-sha' /dʒo.se.tsu.ʃa/ sound followed by 'sagyōchū'.

#14Difficulty: hard

美術室技術室手術室

Pronunciation: びじゅつしつぎじゅつしつしゅじゅつしつ / Bijutsushitsu gijutsushitsu shujutsushitsu

Translation:"Art room, technology room, operating room."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty is switching between the initial syllables 'bi', 'gi', and 'shu' while repeating '-jutsushitsu'.

#15Difficulty: easy

赤パジャマ青パジャマ黄パジャマ

Pronunciation: あかぱじゃまあおぱじゃまきぱじゃま / Aka pajama ao pajama ki pajama

Translation:"Red pajamas, blue pajamas, yellow pajamas."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Keep the vowel colors 'aka, ao, ki' distinct while repeating 'pajama' smoothly.

#16Difficulty: medium

親亀の上に子亀、子亀の上に孫亀

Pronunciation: おやがめのうえにこがめ、こがめのうえにまごがめ / Oyagame no ue ni kogame, kogame no ue ni magogame

Translation:"A baby turtle on top of a parent turtle, and a grandchild turtle on top of the baby turtle."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Ensure you clearly articulate 'oyagame', 'kogame', and 'magogame' consecutively.

#17Difficulty: medium

貴社の記者汽車で帰社す

Pronunciation: きしゃのきしゃきしゃできしゃす / Kisha no kisha kisha de kishasu

Translation:"Your company's reporter returned to the office by train."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:All words contain the homophones of 'kisha'. Pay close attention to context and articulation.

#18Difficulty: easy

買った合羽は高かった

Pronunciation: かったかっぱはたかかった / Katta kappa wa takakatta

Translation:"The raincoat I bought was expensive."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty is in the repeating double consonants in 'katta', 'kappa', and 'takakatta'.

#19Difficulty: medium

暖かくなると言うが、なかなか暖かくならない

Pronunciation: あたたかくなるというが、なかなかあたたかくならない / Atatakaku naru to iu ga, naka-naka atatakaku naranai

Translation:"They say it will get warm, but it doesn't get warm easily."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Repeating 'atatakaku' and 'nakanaka' quickly twists the tongue due to repeating dental consonants.

#20Difficulty: easy

お綾や、親にお謝り

Pronunciation: おあやや、おやにおあやまり / Oayaya, oya ni oayamari

Translation:"Oaya, apologize to your parents."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the vowel transition in 'oayaya' and the similarity to 'oayamari'.

#21Difficulty: medium

右耳にミニ右耳

Pronunciation: みぎみみにみにみぎみみ (migi mimi ni mini migi mimi)

Translation:"Mini right ear on right ear"

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The difficulty is in the fast repetition of the 'mi' and 'gi' sounds. Keep your tongue relaxed.

#22Difficulty: hard

商社の社長が少々焦った

Pronunciation: しょうしゃのしゃちょうがしょうしょうあせった (shousha no shachou ga shoushou asetta)

Translation:"The trading company president panicked a bit."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This is a great test for palatal sounds like 'sho' and 'cha'. Practice moving from 'shousha' to 'shachou' smoothly.

#23Difficulty: medium

豚が豚をぶったらぶたれた豚がぶった豚をぶった

Pronunciation: ぶたがぶたをぶったらぶたれたぶたがぶったぶたをぶった (buta ga buta o buttara butareta buta ga butta buta o butta)

Translation:"When a pig hit a pig, the pig that was hit hit the pig that hit it."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the double consonants (geminates) in 'buttara', 'butta', and 'butareta'. The contrast between 'bu' and 'ta' is key.

#24Difficulty: easy

お皿の上にお猿が乗っている

Pronunciation: おさらのうえにおさるがのっている (osara no ue ni osaru ga notte iru)

Translation:"There is a monkey riding on a plate."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The trick is in switching between 'osara' (plate) and 'osaru' (monkey) quickly. The final vowel makes a huge difference.

#25Difficulty: hard

親切な神父、新設の診療所で診察

Pronunciation: しんせつなしんぷ、しんせつのしんりょうじょでしんさつ (shinsetsu na shinpu, shinsetsu no shinryoujo de shinsatsu)

Translation:"A kind priest examines patients at a newly established clinic."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This twister has many soft sibilant 'sh' sounds in combination with 'n'. Take it slow at first to avoid tripping on 'shinryoujo'.

#26Difficulty: easy

この子なかなかカタカナ書けなかったな

Pronunciation: このこなかなかかたかなかけなかったな (kono ko nakanaka katakana kakenakatta na)

Translation:"This kid couldn't write Katakana very well, could they?"

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This is a rhythmic sentence dominated by 'ka', 'ko', and 'na' syllables. Focus on maintaining a steady tempo.

#27Difficulty: hard

骨粗鬆症患者

Pronunciation: こつそしょうしょうかんじゃ (kotsusoshoushou kanja)

Translation:"Osteoporosis patient"

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Though short, 'kotsusoshoushou' is extremely difficult even for native speakers due to the succession of 'so' and 'shou' sounds.

#28Difficulty: hard

武具馬具武具馬具三武具馬具合わせて武具馬具六武具馬具

Pronunciation: ぶぐばぐぶぐばぐみぶぐばぐあわせてぶぐばぐむぶぐばぐ (bugu bagu bugu bagu mi bugu bagu awasete bugu bagu mu bugu bagu)

Translation:"Military gear, horse gear, military gear, horse gear, three gear sets, combined make six gear sets."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The alternation between voiced consonants 'b' and 'g' in 'bugu' and 'bagu' is a classic tongue twister challenge.

#29Difficulty: medium

貨客船の旅客

Pronunciation: かきゃくせんのりょかく / Kakyakusen no ryokaku

Translation:"Passengers of a cargo-passenger ship."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The transition between 'kya', 'kyoku', and 'ryo', 'kaku' is very tricky for continuous flow.

#30Difficulty: high

京の生鱈、奈良の生の鰹

Pronunciation: きょうのなまだら、ならのなまがつお / Kyō no nama dara, Nara no nama gatsuo

Translation:"Raw cod of Kyoto, raw bonito of Nara."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the alternating 'nama' sounds and matching nouns 'dara' and 'gatsuo' correctly without mixing them up.

#31Difficulty: low

古栗の木に古栗の実が成る

Pronunciation: ふるくりのきにふるくりのみがなる / Furu kuri no ki ni furu kuri no mi ga naru

Translation:"Old chestnuts grow on the old chestnut tree."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:This is relatively simple. Just keep the repetitive 'kuri' and 'ki', 'mi' distinct.

#32Difficulty: medium

伝染病予防法

Pronunciation: でんせんびょうよぼうほう / Densenbyō yobōhō

Translation:"Infectious Disease Prevention Law."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:A classic administration-related tongue twister. Focus on the distinction between 'byō' and 'bō' vowels.

#33Difficulty: medium

マサチューセッツ州

Pronunciation: まさちゅーせっつしゅう / Masachūsettsu-shū

Translation:"Massachusetts State."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Pronouncing 'chūsettsu' and the final 'shū' is famously difficult for native Japanese speakers because of katakana phonetics.

#34Difficulty: high

赤除雪車、黄除雪車、茶除雪車

Pronunciation: あかじょせつしゃ、きじょせつしゃ、ちゃじょせつしゃ / Aka josetsusha, ki josetsusha, cha josetsusha

Translation:"Red snowplow, yellow snowplow, brown snowplow."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Repeat 'josetsusha' rapidly along with color prefixes 'aka', 'ki', 'cha'. The 'sho' and 'sha' sounds easily get jumbled.

#35Difficulty: medium

駒込のわがまま者、与野のわがまま者

Pronunciation: こまごめのわがままもの、よののわがままもの / Komagome no wagamama mono, Yono no wagamama mono

Translation:"Selfish person of Komagome, selfish person of Yono."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the alternating 'ma' and 'mo' syllables in 'wagamama mono'.

#36Difficulty: low

地味なジープで事故十回

Pronunciation: じみなじーぷでじこじゅっかい / Jimina jiipu de jiko jukkai

Translation:"Ten accidents in a plain jeep."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Pay attention to the clean articulation of 'ji' and 'ju' sounds throughout the phrase.

#37Difficulty: medium

東京特許許可局局長

Pronunciation: とうきょうとっきょきょかきょくきょくちょう / Tōkyō tokkyo kyokakyoku kyokuchō

Translation:"Director of the Tokyo Patent Authorization Office"

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Practice switching between 'kyo', 'kyo', and 'kya' sounds quickly.

#38Difficulty: hard

東京特許許可局局長急許特許許可却下

Pronunciation: とうきょうとっきょきょかきょくきょくちょうきゅうきょとっきょきょかきゃっか / Tōkyō tokkyo kyokakyoku kyokuchō kyūkyo tokkyo kyoka kyakka

Translation:"The Director of the Tokyo Patent Authorization Office hastily rejected the patent authorization."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The absolute master version of the Tokyo Patent Office twister. Say it slowly first.

#39Difficulty: hard

新人歌手新春シャンソンショー

Pronunciation: しんじんかしゅしんしゅんしゃんそんしょー / Shinjin kashu shinshun shanson shō

Translation:"New singer's new year chanson show."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Alternating between 'shin', 'shu', and 'sha' makes the tongue trip.

#40Difficulty: easy

庭には二羽ニワトリがいる

Pronunciation: にわにはにわにわとりがいる / Niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru

Translation:"There are two chickens in the garden."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Keep the rhythm steady despite the repeating 'niwa' sound.

#41Difficulty: medium

裏庭には二羽、庭には二羽鶏がいる

Pronunciation: うらにわにはにわ、にわにはにわにわとりがいる / Uraniwa ni wa niwa, niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru

Translation:"There are two chickens in the backyard, and two chickens in the front yard."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:A longer version of the chicken twister. Pay attention to 'uraniwa' vs 'niwa'.

#42Difficulty: medium

お綾や、母親にお謝りなさい

Pronunciation: おあや、ははおやにおあやまりなさい / O-Aya, hahaoya ni o-ayamarinasai

Translation:"O-Aya, apologize to your mother."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The challenge is the repeated transition between 'aya' and 'oya'.

#43Difficulty: hard

竹藪に竹立てかけたのは竹立てかけたかったから竹立てかけた

Pronunciation: たけやぶにたけたてかけたのはたけたてかけたかったからたけたてかけた / Takeyabu ni take tatekaketa no wa take tatekaketatta kara take tatekaketa

Translation:"I leaned bamboo against the bamboo grove because I wanted to lean bamboo."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The rapid repetition of 'take tatekaketa' is highly prone to tongue-tying.

#44Difficulty: medium

美術室、技術室、手術室

Pronunciation: びじゅつしつ、ぎじゅつしつ、しゅじゅつしつ / Bijutsushitsu, gijutsushitsu, shujutsushitsu

Translation:"Art room, technology room, surgery room."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the subtle differences between 'bi', 'gi', and 'shu' followed by 'jutsushitsu'.

#45Difficulty: easy

派出所です。

Pronunciation: [haɕɯt͡sɯd͡ʑo desɯ]

Translation:"It is a police box."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Say it quickly five times. The rapid alternation of 'ha', 'shu', 'tsu', 'jo' is surprisingly difficult.

#46Difficulty: hard

歌うた歌いが歌うたえに来て、歌うたえと言うが、歌うた歌いだけ歌うたえば、歌うたうけれども、歌うた歌いだけ歌うたえぬ。

Pronunciation: [ɯtaɯtaɪ ɡa ɯta ɯtae ni kite...]

Translation:"A singer came to sing and asked me to sing, but if I could sing as well as a singer, I would sing, but I cannot sing like a singer."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The repetition of 'uta' and 'utai' requires good tongue control and clear vowel separation.

#47Difficulty: medium

瓜売りに瓜売りが来て瓜売りの残し、瓜売り帰る瓜売りの声。

Pronunciation: [ɯɾiɯɾi ni ɯɾiɯɾi ɡa kite...]

Translation:"A melon seller came to a melon seller to sell melons, and left melons behind, and as he returned his voice was heard."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The continuous loops of 'uri' and 'uriuri' require precise tongue movements.

#48Difficulty: hard

お茶立ちょ茶立ちょ茶立っちょ、ちゃっと立ちょ茶立ちょ、片手でお茶立て。

Pronunciation: [ot͡ɕa tat͡ɕo t͡ɕa tat͡ɕo...]

Translation:"Make tea, make tea, quickly make tea, make tea with one hand."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The sounds 'cha', 'cho', 'tacho' alternate rapidly. It tests your ability to produce soft 'ch' sounds.

#49Difficulty: medium

書写ざんの社僧正。

Pronunciation: [ɕoɕad͡zan no ɕasoːd͡ʑoː]

Translation:"The high priest of Mt. Shosha."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the alternating 'sho', 'sha', 'so', and 'jo' sounds. Keep the tongue in the correct position for palatals.

#50Difficulty: medium

マグマ大使のママはマママグマ、パパはパパマグマ。

Pronunciation: [maɡɯma taɪɕi no mama wa mama maɡɯma...]

Translation:"Ambassador Magma's mom is Mama Magma, dad is Papa Magma."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The continuous 'ma' and 'pa' sounds in 'mama magma' and 'papa magma' require rapid lip articulation.

#51Difficulty: medium

お湯殿に温水流れる。

Pronunciation: [ojɯdono ni onsɯi naɡaɾeɾɯ]

Translation:"Warm water flows in the bathroom."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:Focus on the vowel transitions: 'oyu-dono' and 'on-sui'.

#52Difficulty: hard

ブラジル人のミラクルビラ配り。

Pronunciation: [bɯɾaʑiɾɯd͡ʑin no miɾakɯɾɯ biɾakɯbaɾi]

Translation:"A Brazilian's miraculous flyer distribution."

💡 Pronunciation Tip:The liquid 'r' sound of Japanese (which is tapped, like a quick 'd' or 'l') is repeated frequently in 'Burajiru', 'mirakuru', 'bira'.

Tips for Tongue Twisters

How do tongue twisters help in language learning?

They strengthen your mouth muscles, train your tongue to hit unfamiliar phonetic targets, and build articulation speed for natural speaking.

What is the best way to practice?

Start at the slowest speed (0.5x), break down individual word pronunciations, repeat 5 times, and then gradually build up to 1.5x expert speed!