Prepared by Yayoi
Koizumi, Japanese Searcher, Wason Collection
Oct. 28, 2004
1.
Three different styles of romanization
2.
Hepburn Romanization System
3.
A few additional pointers for comparison
There are a number of different romanization systems; however, Hepburn, Nippon-shiki and Kunrei-shiki systems are the ones that are most commonly in use.
Hepburn romanization system (ヘボン式, Hebon-shiki) was devised by an American missionary doctor
in the 1860s to transcribe the sounds of the Japanese language into the Roman
alphabet. It is widely used today both
in the English-speaking world and in Japan. It is also widely used in English
library catalogs. The Cornell online
catalog also uses the Hepburn system of Japanese romanization.
Nippon-shiki (日本式), or “Japan-style”, is a system for rendering the Japanese
language in the Latin alphabet (romaji).
It conforms strictly to the kana writing system, and is easier for Japanese
natives to interpret than the more anglicized Hepburn system.
Kunrei-shiki (訓令式; also known as ISO3602, or as "文部省, monbusho" system), is a compromise between Hepburn and Nippon-shiki romanizations – a compromise
between the Hepburn system, which stresses conformity with English phonology
and Nippon-shiki which stresses one-on-one correspondence with the kana system.
However, even as a hybrid, Kunrei-shiki is still closer to Nippon-shiki.
Kunrei-shiki is also sanctioned by the
Japanese Ministry of Education (monbusho 文部省) and
is mostly used within Japanese schools.
Kunrei-shiki is also known as ISO 3602, as it was approved by the International
Standard Organization as a common romanization method for the language.
Many Japanese word processing applications
conform either to Nippon-shiki or Kunrei-shiki system.
The main difference between
the three systems is:
|
Kana |
Hepburn |
Kunrei-shiki |
Nippon-shiki |
|
|
し |
shi |
si |
si |
|
|
じ |
ji |
zi |
zi |
|
|
ぢ |
ji |
zi |
di |
|
|
づ |
zu |
zu |
du |
|
|
ふ |
fu |
hu |
hu |
|
|
ち |
chi |
ti |
ti |
|
|
つ |
tsu |
tu |
tu |
|
|
しゃ |
sha |
sya |
sya |
|
|
しゅ |
shu |
syu |
syu |
|
|
しょ |
sho |
syo |
syo |
|
|
じゃ |
ja |
zya |
zya |
|
|
じゅ |
ju |
zyu |
zyu |
|
|
じょ |
jo |
zyo |
zyo |
|
|
ぢゃ |
ja |
zya |
dya |
|
|
ぢゅ |
ju |
zyu |
dyu |
|
|
ぢょ を |
jo o |
zyo wo |
dyo wo |
|
Since most English library catalogs use the Hepburn System of Japanese
romanization, including Cornell’s online catalog, I would like to present to
you the complete table of modified Hepburn romanization. The romanization that
differs from Kunrei system is highlighted in bold letters.
|
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Below are a few extra pointers in order to avoid common romanization
mistakes. If you are used to using
Japanese wordprocessing programs (i.e. more familiar with Kunrei and
Nihon-shiki than Hepburn), these may be especially useful:
·
For the syllabic
nasal, “n” is always used preceding b, m, and p.
o
e.g. 新聞 (しんぶん)-> “shinbun”, not “shimbun”
o
ランプ -> “ranpu”, not “rampu”
·
Germinate
consonants are represented by repeating the following consonant.
o
e.g. 国会 (こっかい)-> “kokkai”
o
発達 (はったつ) -> “hattatsu”
o
EXEPTION TO THIS
RULE: When c” is the following consonant, insert “t” instead of repeating “c”.
o
e.g. 坊ちゃん (ぼっちゃん) -> “botchan”, not “bocchan”
o
熱中(ねっちゅう) -> “netchu”, not “necchu”
·
Library
cataloguers must represent long vowels by adding circumflex (^) called macrons above
vowel letters, but OPAC searchers need not worry about it. One thing to keep in mind, however, if you
are used to Japanese wordprocessing, is that long vowels are represented only
by single vowel, such as “o”for “ou”, “i” for “ii”, “u” for “uu”, “a” for “aa”.
o
大きい（おおきい）-> “okii” (^okii), not “ookii”
o
チーム -> “chimu”(Ch^imu),
not “chiimu”.
o
研究 （けんきゅう）-> “kenyu”(kinky^u), not “kenkyuu”.
o
アート -> “ato”(^ato), not “aato”.
EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE: In case of the long
vowel“ei”, it is represented as it is.
o
英語（えいご）-> “eigo” not “ego”nor “^ego”
o
性格(せいかく)-> “seikaku” not “sekaku” nor “s^ekaku”
·
Letters are
represented truthfully to the pronunciation.
For example, a particle 「は」is represented as “wa”, not “ha”; 「を」as “o”, not “wo”; 「へ」as “e”, not “he”. Also,「こんにちは」is represented as “konnichiwa”, not “konnichiha”.
Lastly, but not least - if you’ve ever wondered whether you should type “nihon shi” or “nihonshi” (for a phrase日本史) - the Library of Congress Japanese Romanization guideline is for you! Complicated rules for Japanese word division in romanization is explained there. This webpage also lists the comprehensive modifined Hepburn romanization rules for cataloging of Japanese books to whicih most American libraries adhere. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/japanese.pdf
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