Hyphens\u00a0<\/p>\n
Continuing my English tips on romanization, my next topic is hyphenation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A hyphen is used to indicate a connection between two different units of meaning. At the same time, it also helps to indicate proper pronunciation and understanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the rules of hyphenation are not clear cut, especially when romanizing Japanese words. There is a gray area and some exceptions \u4f8b\u5916. We often debate over whether we should use a hyphen or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To make it easier to decide whether to use a hyphen or not, I present some examples here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A. Definitely use hyphens:\u00a0<\/p>\n
For personal honorifics: Tanaka-san \u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093\u00a0
\nFor municipalities: Shiga-ken, Otsu-shi \u5927\u6d25\u5e02, Gamo-gun \u84b2\u751f\u90e1, Taga-cho \u591a\u8cc0\u753a, Kutsuki-mura \u673d\u6728\u6751, Sakyo-ku \u5de6\u4eac\u533a\u00a0
\nFor direction + place name: Higashi-Omi \u6771\u8fd1\u6c5f, Nishi-Shinjuku\u00a0
\nFor provincial name + place name: Omi-Hachiman \u8fd1\u6c5f\u516b\u5e61, Omi-Imazu \u8fd1\u6c5f\u4eca\u6d25\u00a0
\nFor street names: Chuo-dori, Shijo-dori \u56db\u6761\u901a\u308a\u00a0
\nFor \u65b0 + place name: Shin-Osaka \u65b0\u5927\u962a\u00a0
\nFor mountain names: Fuji-san \u5bcc\u58eb\u5c71, Ibuki-yama \u4f0a\u5439\u5c71, Hakodate-yama\u00a0
\nFor kami names: Izumo-no-Kuni, Izanami-no-Mikoto\u00a0
\nFor train lines: Tokaido-sen \u6771\u6d77\u9053\u7dda (Tokaido Line), but shinkansen is OK.\u00a0
\nFor castle names: Hikone-jo (but we usually say Hikone Castle)\u00a0<\/p>\n
B. Hyphen unnecessary (maybe)\u00a0<\/p>\n
For most temple names: Enryakuji (not Enryaku-ji), Miidera, Kinkakuji, Horyuji, Ukimido, Sanjusangendo\u00a0
\nFor shrine names: Taga Taisha (not Taga-Taisha), Omi Jingu (not Omi-Jingu)\u00a0
\nFor festival names: Gion Matsuri (not Gion-matsuri), (but Hanamatsuri is OK, and )\u00a0
\nFor park names: Kibogaoka Koen (not Kibogaoka-Koen) \u5e0c\u671b\u30f6\u4e18\u516c\u5712\u00a0
\nFor most river names: Setagawa (not Seta-gawa) \u702c\u7530\u5ddd, Anegawa \u59c9\u5ddd\u00a0
\nFor most gate names: Sakuradamon, Sanmon\u00a0<\/p>\n
C. Hyphen case-by-case\u00a0
\nIshiyama-dera is better than Ishiyamadera\u00a0
\nKabuki-za, Minami-za, Gion Kobu Kaburenjo\u00a0
\nChion-in \u77e5\u6069\u9662\u00a0
\nGenkyuen or Genkyu-en \u7384\u5bae\u5712 (hard to say which is better)\u00a0<\/p>\n
So how do you romanize a name like \u7d14\u4e00\u90ce?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Is it Junichiro, Jun-ichiro, or Jun’ichiro?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The problem with “Junichiro” is that it might be pronounced as \u3058\u3085\u306b\u3061\u308d\u3046 instead of \u3058\u3085\u3093\u3044\u3061\u308d\u3046\u3002 So some people might use a hyphen such as “Jun-ichiro.” However, this is actually not proper usage of a hyphen because Jun and ichiro are not really separate units. So the correct answer is Jun’ichiro which uses an apostrophe to aid correct pronunciation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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