YÕON

YÕON
The thirty-six contracted syllables consists of twenty one basic yoon plus
twelve where a consonant becomes voiced and three where a consonant become
semivoiced.

All of the symbols that represents consonants combined with the vowel (i)
make yoon (contracted syllables) when followed by (ya), (yu) or (yo). Thus (ki) + (ya)
becomes (kya), (ki) + (yo) becomes (kyo). The Hiragana representation of each
these syllables is made with a full-size Hiragana and a half size (ya), (yu) or (yo). All
of the consonants form this combination in one of the three following.

1. C(onsonants) V(owels)
Y +
K, N, H, M, R + A, U, O

Ex. Ki (き) YO (ょ)

K(I) YO (きょ), as in the kyo of kyonen (last year)

As indicated, in writing the (ki) and (yo) together in romaji to form one syllable
(kyo), you always delete the letter i in the first syllable : K(i)YO KYO. Note that
this KYO contrasts with the word KIYO (contributions). There are many similar
cases.

2. C(onsonants) V(owels)
Y +
S,or C + A, U, O

Ex. CHI (ち) YA (ゃ)

CH(I)(Y)A (ちゃ), as in the cha of ocha (tea)

As indicated, pronouncing (chi) and (ya) together to form one syllable (cha) results
in the deletion of the vowel (i) in the first syllable and the (y) in the second
syllable. The same deletions are made when writing romaji.

2. C(onsonants) V(owels)
Y +
J + A, U, O

Ex. JI (じ) YU (ゅ)

JI(Y)U (じゅ), as in the ju of shinju (pearl)

As indicated, in combining (ji) and (yu) to produce the syllable (ju), the vowel (i)
and the (y) are deleted.
KYA
KYU
KYO
SHA
SHU
SHO
CHA
CHU
CHO
NYA
NYU
NYO
HYA
HYU
HYO
MYA
MYU
MYO
RYA
RYU
RYO
GYA
GYU
GYO
JA
JU
JO
BYA
BYU
BYO
PYA
PYU
PYO
Columns & Rows to Remember in
Yoon of Katakana