If you're Japanese, you already know how to make both R and L. You just don’t know you know.
That’s because the Japanese ラ行 (ra, ri, ru, re, ro) is very similar to “L.” The only difference is, the English “L” is even softer, faster, and more neutral.
If only the missionaries who started teaching English in Japan 150 years ago had explained that the Japanese ラ行 sounds closer to a "soft D" in English… who knows? Maybe Japanese learners today would be speaking English with much greater confidence—just like many of their neighbors in Asia!
Let’s start by flipping the classroom. Pretend you’re teaching English speakers how to pronounce Japanese. Tell them to softly say: “Da, Di, Du, De, Do.”
Perfect! You’ve now become a qualified Japanese pronunciation coach!
Now ask them to say:
Does it sound like a Japanese “R”? Exactly. That’s the technique we’ll use in this book: use sounds from your native language to approximate sounds in the target language.
You may say, “Wait a minute! ラ行 is not the same as タ行!” Good catch—you’re absolutely right. But we’re not aiming for exactness. We’re aiming for comfortably close.
In fact, in American English, the Japanese “R” is surprisingly close to the sound in “water.” Most Americans don’t pronounce the “T” in “water” as a crisp T, but as a soft, fast D—something very close to ラ.
So when teaching English speakers to say ラ, we use that soft D. It’s technically “wrong,” but it’s a thousand times better than using a hard American “R.”
You’ll learn how to pronounce the English “R” using sounds you already know. No stress!
Start by pronouncing “U.” Notice what your tongue does: nothing. Perfect. That’s what we want.
This is the rehabilitation phase of pronunciation. Learn to pronounce “R” without using your tongue.
You might say:
“But that’s not what my teacher taught! That’s not what NHK says!”
And you're right. You’ve probably been taught a very complicated, hyper-correct way to pronounce “R.” But let’s be honest: that version sounds like a professor demonstrating difficulty—or a flight attendant trying to sound textbook-perfect.
If that’s your goal, you may want to consider learning Chinese instead. That kind of "R" is very useful there.
But in English? We use a much softer, tongue-relaxed version.
The English “R” can be approximated with a U sound! With lips slightly puckered like a kiss, and the tongue floating—not touching anything.
Now you’ve got the “R.” Congu-atulations!
R and L are totally different in English:
The L sound is soft and lyrical, kind of like the Japanese ラ, but imagine it even gentler.
Think: Sister Act choir practice.
If you’re really singing gently, and not tapping your tongue like a soft D, then you’re doing it right.
Try saying both out loud. Can you feel the difference?
That’s your R and L warmup. You’re no longer a beginner—you’re a recovering textbook speaker, entering the world of real sounds.
—Symeon