TonePerfect for Japanese
Check how you say any Japanese word or sentence
Type the Japanese you need — a phrase for your trip, a sentence from class, your self-introduction — and say it. The checker scores every word and every mora and names the weakest sound.
- Any Japanese text up to 120 characters
- A 0–100 score for every word and every mora
- Free, no account, works in your browser
Free Japanese pronunciation test →·Free Japanese accent test →
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How it works
- 1
Type your Japanese
A word, a set phrase or a full sentence, up to 120 characters.
- 2
Say it aloud
Tap the mic and read it at an even pace, one beat per kana.
- 3
See each mora
Every word and mora comes back scored, with the weakest sound named. Fix it and check again.
How the scores work: every mora in the word is scored out of 100, you see all of them, and they are ranked weakest-first so you know what to drill. What we don’t do is turn them into a JLPT level, or tell you which sound you produced instead of the target — the engine returns scores, not a transcript.
What the checker listens for in Japanese
The r-flap is the most common slip: ら・り・る・れ・ろ start with one quick tap of the tongue behind the upper teeth, close to the fast d in American 'water' — try ひとり. Then つ: a quick t that melts into 'su', as in つぎ, which learners often shorten to plain 'su'.
Timing is the other half. Long vowels need a full extra beat — 東京 is four beats, to-o-kyo-o — and the small っ in ちょっと is a held beat of silence. The checker scores sounds and rhythm only: pitch accent is not scored, and no score you see reflects it.
Checker or test: which to use
Use the checker for your own text, whatever you need to say next. Use the Japanese pronunciation test for an overview: five guided words in about a minute, with your sounds ranked weakest first.
Scores from 0 to 100 rank your own sounds against each other; they are not an exam grade. Start with the weakest one, practise it, and check the same text again to see whether it moved.
The sounds that decide your accent
The r-flap: ら・り・る・れ・ろ
Tap the tongue once, quickly, against the ridge behind the upper teeth — between an English l and r, close to the quick d in American "water". Never roll it, never curl the tongue back.
つ (tsu)
A quick t that melts straight into "su" — the "ts" of "cats" at the START of a beat. Don't drop the t and don't say "su".
ふ (fu)
Blow air softly between almost-closed lips, like gently blowing out a candle. NOT an English f — the teeth never touch the lip.
Long vowels: おう・おお・ええ・いい
A long vowel is the same vowel held for one extra full beat — がっこう is ga-k-ko-o, four beats. Keep the vowel pure while you hold it; don't let お drift toward "ou".
Small っ (the held beat)
A held, silent beat: get your mouth ready for the NEXT consonant and hold it closed for one full beat — がっこう has a real beat of silence in the middle. For す/し it is a held hiss instead.
ん (the standalone n)
A full beat of nasal hum on its own. Before b, p or m it sounds like "m"; before k or g like "ng"; elsewhere like "n". Whatever the color, give it its whole beat.
Scores rank your own sounds against each other so you know what to drill first. They are not an accuracy certificate and not an exam grade.
Questions
Is the Japanese pronunciation checker free?+
Yes. You get a few free checks a day with no account. The app adds daily practice with thousands of real Japanese words, ordered by your weakest sounds.
What can I check?+
Any Japanese text up to 120 characters — a word, a phrase or a full sentence.
Does it check pitch accent?+
No. It scores sounds and rhythm — vowel length, small っ, mora timing — but not pitch accent, and no score reflects it.
How is this different from the Japanese test?+
The test uses five set words and takes about a minute. The checker scores any text you type, so you can check the exact Japanese you need.
Practice Japanese every day
The app drills the sounds this test flags, with thousands of words and instant feedback on every take.