{"id":176590575,"date":"2024-03-08T13:43:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T21:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog-new\/?p=176590575"},"modified":"2026-02-03T03:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T11:13:40","slug":"japanese-tongue-twisters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/japanese-tongue-twisters\/","title":{"rendered":"Try These 15 Japanese Tongue Twisters!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We all know about Sally and how she sells seashells by the seashore. This is just one example of a tongue twister.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many try to repeat a tongue twister until they master it perfectly. This is a phenomenon that stretches into different cultures and languages, and Japanese is no exception.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Called \u65e9\u53e3\u8a00\u8449 (hayakuchi kotoba), these popular Japanese tongue twisters are sure to leave your tongue in knots! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raw Goods<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you asked someone in Japan for a Japanese tongue twister, they would likely tell you this one. It is the first Japanese tongue twister that I mastered, as well. It goes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u751f\u9ea6\u751f\u7c73\u751f\u5375 (namamugi namagome namatamago)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means, \u201craw wheat, raw rice, raw eggs\u201d<\/strong>. This is one of the easier and shorter tongue twisters. They get tougher from here! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artsy Priest<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This next one is also pretty popular. It goes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u574a\u4e3b\u304c\u5c4f\u98a8\u306b\u4e0a\u624b\u306b\u574a\u4e3b\u306e\u7d75\u3092\u63cf\u3044\u305f (bouzu ga byoubu ni jouzu ni bouzu no e (w)o kaita)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means, \u201cA priest skillfully drew a picture of a priest on a folding screen\u201d<\/strong>. Keep on your toes if you don’t want to mess this one up, as it’s harder than it looks! Also, be careful! Bouzu (\u574a\u4e3b) as a way to refer to a priest is very familiar, but can be derogatory in the wrong context. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Three Scrolls<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This next one is short and sweet:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8d64\u5dfb\u7d19, \u9ec4\u5dfb\u7d19, \u9752\u5dfb\u7d19 (akamakigami, kimakigami, aomakigami)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means, \u201cred scroll, yellow scroll, blue scroll\u201d<\/strong>. There are other tongue twisters that use the same colour but change what’s being described, like swapping out \u5dfb\u7d19 (makigami, scroll) with \u30d1\u30b8\u30e3\u30de (pajama, pajamas) or the like. The order of the colours can get switched around, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stuck Nail<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This next one may require a bit of focus to get right. It goes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u3053\u306e\u91d8\u306f\u5f15\u304d\u629c\u304f\u3044\u91d8\u3060 (kono kugi wa hikinukui kugi da)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means, \u201cThis nail is one that is difficult to pull out.\u201d<\/strong> I wonder if it’s better to be a nail that’s difficult to pull out or one that’s difficult to hammer in…<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Persimmon Eater<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This one may also seem easy, but it can take a bit of focus to make sure you don’t mess it up. It goes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u96a3\u306e\u5ba2\u306f\u826f\u304f\u67ff\u98df\u3046\u5ba2\u3060 (tonari no kyaku wa yoku kaki kuu kyaku da)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means, \u201cthe customer next to me is one who eats a lot of persimmons.\u201d<\/strong> If you’re really good at tongue twisters and think these have all been a cinch so far, then stick around. Though it may differ from person to person, I think most people would agree that the following tongue twisters are a bit more difficult!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn from Japanese Tongue Twisters and More on LingQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The LingQ Japanese Library<\/a> is packed full of lessons on a variety of topics. Check out the shelves for podcasts, anime, J-pop, manga, movies and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also make Japanese lessons with content you find online. Simply download the LingQ Importer browser extension (available for Chrome<\/a>, Safari<\/a> and Firefox<\/a>) and create lessons with one click. You can check out LingQ’s guide to importing<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n