Tsuki Pronounciation

[Satori]

This has been bugging me for a while now and I can't seem to get any information on it.

Depending on the source, I've seen the Japanese word for punch or opening spelt differently. The two most common spellings I've seen are tsuki and zuki. When I tried to learn a little bit of Japanese, everytime I encountered "tsu" it was pronounced in much the same way as a bottle of coke sounds when the compressed gas is released by opening the cap. Unfortunately this sound doesn't seem to exist in English so I can't even compare, however it would sound something like ts-ki (without a gap between) or c-ki (in the way Eastern Europeans use the letter 'c').

Then one day I watched a video with Hajime Kazumi speaking to Japanese people in Japanese and I distinctly head him say "gyaku zuki", with zuki pronounced "zooki". This threw me off a bit.

So can anyone tell me how to pronounce this correctly? Even better, does anyone know where I could download a comprehensive audio collection of common dojo lingo? I have Matsui's 3 volume Kyokushin Karate Complete Video Series but someone is talking over Matsui in English, meaning I lose a lot of the Japanese.

[nzproud]

Tsuki and Zuki are the same but in some words we use "zuki" instead of "tsuki".

For example, Shita Zuki & Gyaku Zuki. I believe that they use Z as it is easier to pronounce with the other word in front(eg. Shita and Gyaku). And even if someone pronounces Shita Tsuki or Gyaku Tsuki I see nothing wrong with them and I can comprehend them .

Then one day I watched a video with Hajime Kazumi speaking to Japanese people in Japanese and I distinctly heard him say "gyaku zuki", with zuki pronounced "zooki". This threw me off a bit.

mm maybe an emotional side of him made him pronounce like that?

[seienchin]

I don't speak Japanese as some other members do, but my Sensei was fluent, and worked as a translator. He only ever used the "Ski" pronunciation...Gyaku-ski, Jodan-ski, jun-ski. Don't know if this helps...because clearly Kazumi can speak his mothertongue! Will watch subsequent posts with interest.

[ksan]

Originally Posted by seienchin

I don't speak Japanese as some other members do, but my Sensei was fluent, and worked as a translator. He only ever used the "Ski" pronunciation...Gyaku-ski, Jodan-ski, jun-ski. Don't know if this helps...because clearly Kazumi can speak his mothertongue! Will watch subsequent posts with interest.

Osu

I think you have a point here, i can remember these pronounciation from long ago.... are they correct in you eyes or are they mere abreviations? And if they are abreviations, are they commenly practised?


Osu

Ksan

[vapor]

well....if you are saying just "ski" it is a bit of a cheat...there has to be a bit of the "t"...albiet more of a "zu" sound to it attached to the front of the pronunciation to make it come out real...

But, then again, that is probably more of a text book pronunciation, because in actual conversation, things can be very fluid!

vapor

[Satori]

So it should be pronounced "tsuki" in all contexts?

[vapor]

I would say yes.

(I have lived in Japan 13 years, and have a pretty good command of the language....or so I am told--if that gives any reference to where my opinions come from---actually I am typing this from Tokyo right now!)

vapor

[eamoncramb]

hard 1

OSU

[seienchin]

I think the "ski" thing is just how it sounds to the uninitiated. I think if a fluent Japanese speaker had been listening to my Sensei, they probably would haev heard the nuances of the "tsu" before teh "ski".

It's a bit how "Police" comes out as "Plice" in some fast (or lazy) english dialects (eg Australian!!).