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5 levels of Tongue-twisters! How far can you go??

By Guidable Writers Jan 6, 2018

‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?’

‘She sells seashells by the seashore.’

How about the tongue-twister of your country? Today, I introduce you Japanese tongue-twisters (Hayakuchi-Kotoba早口言葉) separated into 5 levels. How many levels can you complete? Whether you are a beginner or advanced learner, just start from level1! As for level5, even Japanese TV announcer feels it is difficult to say! So…???

 

Level1 (Introductory)

This is the level that normal Japanese can say perfectly. For foreigner, I guess you need to practice first, but most of you can complete them!

 

・Basu gasu bakuhatsu (バスガス爆発)

・Ronyaku nannyo (老若男女)

・Jazu shanson kashu (ジャズシャンソン歌手)

・Katatatakiki (肩たたき機)

・Niwaniwa niwatoriga niwaimashita (庭には鶏が二羽いました)

 

Level2 (Beginner)

In this level, some Japanese people need to practice a bit to get it right. However, even if they practice again and again, some of them cannot finish the sentence! So, I think it is very difficult to say for you, especially if you a beginner of learning Japanese.

 

・Namamugi namagome namatamago (生麦生米生卵)

・Tonarino kyakuwa yoku kaki ku kyakuda (隣の客はよく柿食う客だ)

・Akapajama kipajama aopajama (赤パジャマ黄パジャマ青パジャマ)

・Burajirujin mirakuru birakubari (ブラジル人ミラクルビラ配り)

・Konokugiwa hikinikui kugida (この釘はひきぬきにくい釘だ)

 

Level3 (Intermediate)

Lots of Japanese can not say these smoothly in this level, even though they practice over and over again. But, it is good practice for actors and readers. If you can say one of these, you had better boast your success to your friends!

 

・Aomakigami akamakigami kimakigami (青巻紙赤巻紙黄巻紙)

・Tokyo tokkyo kyokakyoku (東京特許許可局)

・Kaeru pyokopyoko mipyokopyoko awasete pyokopyoko mupyokopyoko (かえるぴょこぴょこ三ぴょこぴょこあわせてぴょこぴょこ六ぴょこぴょこ)

・Sumomomo momomo momonouchi momomo sumomomo momonouchi (スモモも桃も桃のうち 桃もスモモも桃のうち)

・Bozuga byobuni jozuni bozuno eokaita (坊主が屏風に上手に坊主の絵を描いた)

 

Level4 (Advanced)

If you can say one of these perfectly, you must consider being an announcer in Japan! It is because this is the level for an announcer, a sport commentator and a radio performer. The length of the sentence is also getting longer, so you need to practice slowly many times.

 

・Kotsusoshosho sosho shoso (骨粗鬆症訴訟勝訴)

・Kikukuri kikukuri mikikukuri awasete kikukuri mukikukuri (菊栗菊栗三菊栗、合わせて菊栗六菊栗)

・Anoainuno onnano nu nunononawa nani? Anonunowa nanonai nunonano? (あのアイヌの女のぬう布の名は何?あの布は名のない布なの?)

・Tokyo tokkyo kyokakyokucho kyo kyukyo kyukakyoka kyohi (東京特許許可局長今日急遽休暇許可拒否)

・Tonarino takeyabuni taketatekaketanowa taketatekaketakattakara taketatekaketanosa (隣の竹やぶ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のさ)

 

Level5 (God level)

You must be a god if you can say this perfectly! As I said, it is very hard, for even special Japanese announcers! Please try one of these just for fun!

 

・Yushutsusha yushutsuyu yushutsusu (輸出車 輸出湯 輸出酢)

・Shoshano shachoga chosasho sosachu (商社の社長が、調査書捜査中)

・Bijutsusitsu gijutsusitu shuzutsushitsu bijutsujunbishitsu giijutsujunbishitsu shujutsujunbishitsu (美術室技術室手術室 美術準備室技術準備室手術準備室)

・Rabaka robaka robaka rabaka wakaranainode rabato robao kurabetara robaka rabaka wakaranakatta (ラバかロバかロバかラバか分からないので、ラバとロバを比べたらロバかラバか分からなかった)

・Utautaiga utautainikite utautaeto iuga utautaiga utautaudake utaikireba utautaukeredomo utautaidake utautaikirenaikara utautawanu (歌うたいが歌うたいに来て、歌うたえと言うが、歌うたいが歌うたうだけうたい切れば、歌うたうけれども、歌うたいだけ、歌うたい切れないから、歌うたわぬ)

 

How is your level? Normally, you need to say each sentence 3 times without mispronouncing! In addition, it could be good idea to suggest this at your party as a fun game since some people make funny mistakes. For example, one of my friend said ‘Tonarino kakiwa yoku kyaku ku kakida (from level2)’, which means the persimmon (Kaki) next to me often eats the human guest (Kyaku). (scary!) Actually, the original sentence means that the human guest (Kyaku) next to me often eats the persimmon (Kaki). So, someone will probably make a funny mistake if you do these!

 

MIKU/JAPAN