Knotted Nihongo

Knotted Nihongo

Wrap your laughing gear round these Japanese tongue twisters

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2013

Some classic Japanese hayakuchi kotoba (tongue twisters).

この子に常夏のココナツ九つ、あの子にも常夏のココナツ九つ
このこにとこなつのここなつここのつ、あのこにも常夏のここなつここのつ

Kono ko ni tokonatsu no kokonatsu kokonotsu.
Ano ko nimo tokonatsu no kokonatsu kokonotsu

(For this kid, nine everlasting summer coconuts, and nine for that kid, too)

この猫ここの猫の子猫この子猫ね

Kono neko koko no neko no koneko kono koneko ne

(This cat is the kitten of this here cat, this kitten)

右目右耳右耳右目

Migi me migi mimi, migi mimi migi me

(Right eye, right ear, right ear, right eye)

スモモも桃、桃も桃、スモモも桃も桃のうち

Sumomo mo momo, momo mo momo
Sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi

(A Japanese plum is a kind of peach, a peach is also a peach
Both the Japanese plum and peach are kinds of peaches)

Source: www.uebersetzung.at/twister/ja.htm