Diacritics

Diacritic marks (g/z/d/b sounds)

Two short strokes attached to the right shoulder of the symbols that start with the /k/, /s/, /t/, and /h/ sounds (voiceless) create new symbols representing the /g/, /z/, /d/, and /b/ sounds (voiced), respectively.

Diacritic marks (p sound)

A small circle attached to the right shoulder of the symbols that start with the /h/ sound creates new symbols representing the /p/ sound.

Your Tasks
 Click on each box and hear how the diacritical marks change the sound of each hiragana. Listen to each column (ka-ki-ku-ke-ko vs. ga-gi-gu-ge-go, etc.) as well.

じ and ぢ have the same sound /ji/. Also, ず and づ have the same sound /zu/. These are not interchangeable characters to write the same sound. There is only one correct spelling for each word. In general, じ is used more often than ぢ, and ず is used more often than づ.

Correct Incorrect If you are typing Japanese using a computer,
the following kanji conversions will take place.
し ず か し づ か sizuka　→　しずか　→　静か ("quiet")
siduka　→　しづか　→　no results
じ し ょ ぢ し ょ zisyo　→　じしょ　→　辞書 ("dictionary")
disyo　→　ぢしょ　 →　no results
つ づ く つ ず く tuduku　→　つづく　→　続く ("continue")
tuzuku　→　つずく　→　no results
は な ぢ は な じ hanadi　→　はなぢ　→　鼻血 ("nose bleeding")
hanazi →　はなじ　→　no results