Introduction to Japanese Pitch Accent

What Is Pitch Accent?

Japanese is a pitch-accented language. Pitch accent is a phonological feature that plays an important role in pronunciation and meaning. It refers to patterns of pitch (high and low tones) used in spoken Japanese.

In Japanese, pitch accent can distinguish between words that share the same sequence of sounds but differ in meaning. In this way, it is somewhat similar to stress accent in English, where certain syllables are pronounced more prominently.

However, unlike English stress accent—which relies on loudness, length, and vowel quality—Japanese pitch accent is defined primarily by a rise or fall in pitch. The difference is subtle but essential for natural pronunciation.

There are two basic pitch movements involved:

• Upstep: the pitch rises from low to high
• Downstep: the pitch falls from high to low

Japanese pitch accent varies by region and dialect, but Standard Japanese (Tokyo dialect) is typically used as the reference. In Standard Japanese, there are four basic pitch-accent patterns:

• 平板（へいばん / Heiban） – Flat
• 頭高（あたまだか / Atamadaka） – Head-high
• 中高（なかだか / Nakadaka） – Middle-high
• 尾高（おだか / Odaka） – Tail-high

Understanding the Mora

Japanese uses slight differences in pitch (“high” and “low”) to distinguish words and convey sentence structure. This differs significantly from stress-accented languages such as English.

English is not a rhythmic or timed language, and its basic sound unit is the syllable. Syllables can vary in length, which is why English rhythm feels irregular.

Japanese, on the other hand, is a rhythmic language, often compared to clapping evenly to a beat. Each sound unit takes approximately the same amount of time. For this reason, the basic unit of sound in Japanese is the mora, not the syllable.

This rhythmic consistency sometimes leads learners to believe that Japanese is a “flat” language, but this is a misunderstanding. While Japanese may sound even in rhythm, pitch accent is constantly at work beneath the surface.

Pitch accent can also change depending on surrounding words or sentence context. If pitch accent is not pronounced accurately, speech may sound unnatural or, in some cases, be difficult to understand.

For example, the word はし (hashi) can have different meanings depending on its pitch pattern:

• Heiban: edge
• Odaka: bridge
• Atamadaka: chopsticks

Examples by Pitch Accent Pattern

平板 (Heiban)

春はるになって、日ひが長ながくなりました。Spring has arrived, and the days are getting longer.

この道みちをまっすぐ行いってください。Please go straight down this road.

今いま、時間じかんがありません。I don’t have time right now.

日本語にほんごが話はなせます。I can speak Japanese.

将来しょうらい、小説家しょうせつかになりたいです。I want to become a novelist in the future.

頭高 (Atamadaka)

庭にわにたくさん木きがあります。There are many trees in the garden.

本ほんを読よむのが好すきです。I like reading books.

電気でんきを消けしてください。Please turn off the light.

新あたらしいジーンズを買かいました。I bought a new pair of jeans.

金閣寺きんかくじに行いったことがありますか？ Have you ever been to Kinkaku-ji?

中高 (Nakadaka)

お菓子かしが食たべたいです。I want to eat snacks.

今日きょうはスカートを履はいています。I’m wearing a skirt today.

将来しょうらい、花火師はなびしになりたいです。I would like to become a pyrotechnist in the future.

昨日きのう、美容院びよういんに行いきました。I went to the hair salon yesterday.

月曜日げつようびにテストがあります。There will be a test on Monday.

小型こがたバスに乗のって観光かんこうしました。I went sightseeing on a small bus.

尾高 (Odaka)

綺麗きれいな花はなが咲さいています。Beautiful flowers are in bloom.

その映画えいがを観みて、心こころが動うごかされました。I was deeply moved by that film.

私わたしは六月ろくがつに生うまれました。I was born in June.

二月にがつになって、梅うめの花はなが咲さき始はじめました。When February began, the plum blossoms started to bloom.