Rendaku 連濁

rendaku · from Japanese

What is rendaku in Japanese?

Rendaku is sequential voicing in Japanese: the first consonant of the second part of a compound often becomes voiced, as in te + kami = tegami.

When two words join, k may become g, t becomes d, s becomes z and h becomes b. The rule is famous for its exceptions: it usually does not apply to loanwords, or when the second element already contains a voiced consonant (Lyman's Law). Rendaku is why 人 hito doubles as 人々 hitobito.

Examples

手紙 tegami (te + kami, letter); 時々 tokidoki (sometimes); 人々 hitobito (people); 本棚 hondana (hon + tana, bookshelf)

Kungfucius says: Japanese compounds get a little buzz from each other. Unless they do not. Good luck.