What constitutes a syllable?


For the sake of Haiku or in general, how are syllables counted in Japanese?

Specifically, in the following cases, how are syllables counted?

  * かあ, long vowels - two syllables?
  * きゅ, addition of yō-on - still one syllable?
  * ポッキー, addition sokuon - small tsu counts as a syllable?
  * ん ?




The general method of counting in Japanese poetry is by a rhythmic unit known
as the mora (morae or moras in plural). A mora is (essentially) the length of
a single (full-sized) kana; so is a bit different from a syllable.

For instance:

> A long vowel is counted as one syllable, but two moras. e.g. えい is a single
> syllable, but is two moras.
>
> ん is counted as a single mora. 関係：かんけい is two syllables, but four moras.
>
> Yō-on take up one mora in all, because the sound is contracted into one
> rhythmic unit.
>
> Sokuon count as an extra mora. e.g. 一杯：いっぱい is two syllables, but four moras
> い っ ぱ い

Thus, applying those rules to your examples:

> かあ : two moras
>
> きゅ : one mora
>
> ポッキー : four moras
>
> ん : one mora

Hope that helps!




The general method of counting in Japanese poetry is by a rhythmic unit known
as the mora (morae or moras in plural). A mora is (essentially) the length of
a single (full-sized) kana; so is a bit different from a syllable.

For instance:

> A long vowel is counted as one syllable, but two moras. e.g. えい is a single
> syllable, but is two moras.
>
> ん is counted as a single mora. 関係：かんけい is two syllables, but four moras.
>
> Yō-on take up one mora in all, because the sound is contracted into one
> rhythmic unit.
>
> Sokuon count as an extra mora. e.g. 一杯：いっぱい is two syllables, but four moras
> い っ ぱ い

Thus, applying those rules to your examples:

> かあ : two moras
>
> きゅ : one mora
>
> ポッキー : four moras
>
> ん : one mora

Hope that helps!

