@syllst/ja 0.1.1

package/src/syllabi/hiragana/lessons/lesson-09.mdx

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+---
+type: lesson
+id: japanese-hiragana-lesson-09
+title: "Lesson 9 — Ra-row (らりるれろ)"
+description: "Learn the ら-row: ra, ri, ru, re, ro — the unique Japanese R sound"
+order: 9
+parentId: japanese-hiragana
+difficulty: beginner
+cefrLevel: A1
+categories:
+  - consonants
+  - basic-characters
+metadata:
+  estimatedTime: 20
+  prerequisites: [japanese-hiragana-lesson-08]
+  learningObjectives:
+    - id: obj-recognize-ra-row
+      description: "Recognize the ra-row hiragana characters"
+      skill: character-recognition
+      references: [hiragana-ra, hiragana-ri, hiragana-ru, hiragana-re, hiragana-ro]
+    - id: obj-sounds-ra-row
+      description: "Map each ra-row character to its sound"
+      skill: character-sound-mapping
+      references: [hiragana-ra, hiragana-ri, hiragana-ru, hiragana-re, hiragana-ro]
+    - id: obj-japanese-r
+      description: "Understand the Japanese R sound as a lateral tap, distinct from English R and L"
+      skill: sound-change-recognition
+      references: [hiragana-ra, hiragana-ri, hiragana-ru, hiragana-re, hiragana-ro]
+---
+
+# Lesson 9 — Ra-row (らりるれろ)
+
+## Introduction
+
+In this lesson, you will learn the **ら-row** (ra-gyō), the ninth row of the hiragana chart. This row is notable because the Japanese "r" sound is unlike any consonant in English — it sits between English "r," "l," and even "d."
+
+The pattern: **r + vowel = ra, ri, ru, re, ro**
+
+## Characters
+
+:::character-set{id="hiragana-ra-row" title="Hiragana Ra-row (ら行)"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-ra" canonicalRef="hiragana-ra" char="ら" name="ら (ra)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="ra" data:row="ra"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-ri" canonicalRef="hiragana-ri" char="り" name="り (ri)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="ri" data:row="ra"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-ru" canonicalRef="hiragana-ru" char="る" name="る (ru)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="ru" data:row="ra"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-re" canonicalRef="hiragana-re" char="れ" name="れ (re)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="re" data:row="ra"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-ro" canonicalRef="hiragana-ro" char="ろ" name="ろ (ro)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="ro" data:row="ra"}
+
+:::
+
+## Pronunciation Guide
+
+| Character | Romaji | Sound | Notes |
+|-----------|--------|-------|-------|
+| ら | ra | /ɾa/ | Lateral tap — a quick tongue flap |
+| り | ri | /ɾi/ | Quick flap before "ee" |
+| る | ru | /ɾɯ/ | Quick flap before unrounded "oo" |
+| れ | re | /ɾe/ | Quick flap before "eh" |
+| ろ | ro | /ɾo/ | Quick flap before "oh" |
+
+## The Japanese R Sound
+
+The Japanese "r" is a **lateral tap** or **flap** /ɾ/. To produce it:
+
+1. Touch the tip of your tongue very briefly to the ridge just behind your upper front teeth (the alveolar ridge).
+2. Release quickly — do not hold the tongue there.
+3. The result sounds somewhat like a quick "d" or "l" or Spanish "r" (as in "pero").
+
+This is why Japanese speakers often have difficulty distinguishing English "r" from "l" — both sounds fall in the same phonological space as their single /ɾ/ sound.
+
+Tip for learners: Try saying "butter" quickly as an American English speaker would. The middle "tt" in casual American English is often a tap /ɾ/ — that is very close to the Japanese r.
+
+## Writing Tips
+
+- **ら**: Has two strokes. Similar in structure to ら — a vertical stroke with a curved hook at the bottom.
+- **り**: Has two strokes. Two parallel strokes, the second one curved — very simple to write.
+- **る**: Has one or two strokes depending on style. Loops back on itself — resembles a cursive "2" or "6".
+- **れ**: Has two strokes. Similar to ら but with a longer extending curve at the bottom right.
+- **ろ**: Has one stroke. Like る but without the extending tail — a simple loop.
+
+## Confusable Pairs
+
+**る vs ろ**: Both involve a loop. る has a small extending curl at the bottom; ろ does not extend as far.
+
+**ら vs れ**: Both have a vertical element followed by a curve. れ has a longer horizontal arm extending to the right.
+
+## Practice Words
+
+| Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
+|----------|--------|---------|
+| らく | raku | easy / comfortable |
+| りんご | ringo | apple |
+| るす | rusu | absence from home |
+| れきし | rekishi | history |
+| ろく | roku | six |
+
+## Key Points
+
+1. **Japanese r = lateral tap /ɾ/**: Neither English "r" nor "l," but similar to both.
+2. **Produced at the alveolar ridge**: Tongue taps briefly — do not hold or roll.
+3. **る vs ろ**: Note the presence or absence of a tail curl.
+4. **Fully regular row**: No irregularities — just the /ɾ/ tap + each vowel.
+
+## Practice Recognition
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-hiragana-09-recognition" type="matching" title="Match Ra-row Characters" skill="character-recognition" tests="hiragana-ra,hiragana-ri,hiragana-ru,hiragana-re,hiragana-ro" objectiveId="obj-recognize-ra-row"}
+
+**Question:** Match each ra-row character to its romaji
+
+- ら
+- り
+- る
+- れ
+- ろ
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- ら = ra
+- り = ri
+- る = ru
+- れ = re
+- ろ = ro
+
+**Explanation:** The ra-row is regular in structure, with the lateral tap /ɾ/ combining with each Japanese vowel.
+
+:::
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-hiragana-09-sounds" type="fill-in-blank" title="Sound Mapping" skill="character-sound-mapping" tests="hiragana-ra,hiragana-ri,hiragana-ru,hiragana-re,hiragana-ro" objectiveId="obj-sounds-ra-row"}
+
+**Question:** What sound does each character make?
+
+- ら = ___
+- り = ___
+- る = ___
+- れ = ___
+- ろ = ___
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- ら = /ɾa/
+- り = /ɾi/
+- る = /ɾɯ/
+- れ = /ɾe/
+- ろ = /ɾo/
+
+**Explanation:** All ra-row sounds use the lateral tap /ɾ/. This single consonant covers the phonological space occupied by both "r" and "l" in English.
+
+:::
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-hiragana-09-japanese-r" type="multiple-choice" title="The Japanese R Sound" skill="sound-change-recognition" tests="hiragana-ra,hiragana-ri,hiragana-ru,hiragana-re,hiragana-ro" objectiveId="obj-japanese-r"}
+
+**Question:** The Japanese "r" sound /ɾ/ is best described as which of the following?
+
+**Options:**
+- The same as English "r" in "red"
+- The same as English "l" in "let"
+- A lateral tap similar to the quick "tt" in American English "butter"
+- A rolled "r" as in Italian
+
+**Answer:** 3
+
+**Explanation:** The Japanese /ɾ/ is a lateral alveolar tap — the tongue tip briefly touches the alveolar ridge. In American English casual speech, the "t" in words like "butter" or "water" becomes a similar tap. This is why Japanese speakers may use "r" and "l" interchangeably when speaking English — their language only has one sound covering both.
+
+:::
+
+## What's Next
+
+In Lesson 10, you will learn the final characters of the basic hiragana chart: the **わ-row** (wa, wo) and the standalone nasal **ん (n)**. After that, you will have mastered all 46 basic hiragana!

package/src/syllabi/hiragana/lessons/lesson-10.mdx

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+---
+type: lesson
+id: japanese-hiragana-lesson-10
+title: "Lesson 10 — Wa-row and N (わをん)"
+description: "Learn the final hiragana: wa (わ), wo (を), and the standalone nasal n (ん)"
+order: 10
+parentId: japanese-hiragana
+difficulty: beginner
+cefrLevel: A1
+categories:
+  - consonants
+  - particles
+  - basic-characters
+metadata:
+  estimatedTime: 20
+  prerequisites: [japanese-hiragana-lesson-09]
+  learningObjectives:
+    - id: obj-recognize-wa-n
+      description: "Recognize the wa-row characters and standalone n"
+      skill: character-recognition
+      references: [hiragana-wa, hiragana-wo, hiragana-n]
+    - id: obj-sounds-wa-n
+      description: "Map wa, wo, and n to their sounds"
+      skill: character-sound-mapping
+      references: [hiragana-wa, hiragana-wo, hiragana-n]
+    - id: obj-wo-particle
+      description: "Understand that を is almost exclusively used as the direct object particle"
+      skill: character-sound-mapping
+      references: [hiragana-wo]
+    - id: obj-n-syllabic
+      description: "Understand that ん is a syllabic nasal that changes based on context"
+      skill: syllable-analysis
+      references: [hiragana-n]
+---
+
+# Lesson 10 — Wa-row and N (わをん)
+
+## Introduction
+
+Congratulations — this is the final lesson of the basic hiragana chart! In this lesson, you will learn the **わ-row** (wa-gyō) and the standalone character **ん (n)**. Together with the characters from the previous nine lessons, these complete all 46 basic hiragana.
+
+## Characters
+
+:::character-set{id="hiragana-wa-n" title="Hiragana Wa-row and N (わ行・ん)"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-wa" canonicalRef="hiragana-wa" char="わ" name="わ (wa)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="wa" data:row="wa"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-wo" canonicalRef="hiragana-wo" char="を" name="を (wo)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="wo" data:row="wa"}
+
+::character{id="hiragana-n" canonicalRef="hiragana-n" char="ん" name="ん (n)" charType="hiragana" data:romaji="n" data:row="n"}
+
+:::
+
+## Pronunciation Guide
+
+| Character | Romaji | Sound | Notes |
+|-----------|--------|-------|-------|
+| わ | wa | /wa/ | Like "wa" in "water" |
+| を | wo | /o/ | Pronounced as "o" in modern Japanese |
+| ん | n | /n/, /m/, /ŋ/, /N/ | A syllabic nasal — changes with context |
+
+## わ (wa)
+
+**わ** is straightforward: the consonant "w" + the vowel "a." It is one of the most frequently used hiragana because は (lesson 6) is pronounced "wa" when used as a particle, but わ is also common in regular vocabulary.
+
+- わたし (watashi) — I / me
+- わかる (wakaru) — to understand
+
+## を (wo) — The Object Marker
+
+**を** is the most specialized hiragana. In modern standard Japanese, it is pronounced simply as "o" (identical to お). However, it is almost **never used in regular words** — its sole practical purpose is as the **direct object particle** in grammar.
+
+Example: りんごをたべる (ringo wo taberu) — "I eat an apple"
+
+The を marks りんご (apple) as the thing being eaten. You will rarely see を in a dictionary word — when you see it, it is almost always this grammatical particle.
+
+## ん (n) — The Syllabic Nasal
+
+**ん** is unique among all 46 hiragana: it is the only character that does not begin a syllable with a vowel or consonant+vowel combination. It is a **standalone nasal consonant** that forms its own mora (unit of timing).
+
+### Context-Dependent Pronunciation
+
+ん changes its exact sound depending on the following sound:
+
+| Before | Sound | Example |
+|--------|-------|---------|
+| b, p, m | /m/ (labial nasal) | さんぽ (sanpo) → "sampo" |
+| k, g | /ŋ/ (velar nasal) | さんかく (sankaku) → "sankaku" with velar n |
+| t, d, n | /n/ (alveolar nasal) | さんど (sando) |
+| s, z, h, r | /N/ (uvular nasal) | あんさん (ansan) |
+| vowel, y, w | /N/ with nasal glide | かんい (kan-i) |
+| End of word | /N/ (nasalized) | にほん (nihon) |
+
+Despite these variants, native speakers perceive it as the same sound /N/.
+
+### Important: ん Cannot Begin a Word
+
+ん always appears in the **middle or end** of words — never at the beginning. This is how you can distinguish it from similar-looking characters.
+
+## Writing Tips
+
+- **わ**: Has two strokes. The left stroke is a simple vertical line; the right stroke is a curved line forming the body of the character.
+- **を**: Has three strokes. More complex than most — a horizontal stroke, a vertical stroke crossing it, and then a curved stroke below.
+- **ん**: Has one stroke (or two depending on style). Looks somewhat like the hiragana り but with a different curve direction.
+
+## Confusable Characters
+
+**ん vs り**: These are easily confused for beginners. り has two strokes that run parallel; ん has a distinctive curve that loops up and back.
+
+**わ vs れ**: Both have a vertical element with a rightward curve. わ is more symmetric; れ has a longer rightward extension.
+
+## Complete Hiragana Chart
+
+You have now learned all 46 basic hiragana characters:
+
+| Row | Characters | Count |
+|-----|------------|-------|
+| Vowels (あ行) | あいうえお | 5 |
+| Ka-row (か行) | かきくけこ | 5 |
+| Sa-row (さ行) | さしすせそ | 5 |
+| Ta-row (た行) | たちつてと | 5 |
+| Na-row (な行) | なにぬねの | 5 |
+| Ha-row (は行) | はひふへほ | 5 |
+| Ma-row (ま行) | まみむめも | 5 |
+| Ya-row (や行) | やゆよ | 3 |
+| Ra-row (ら行) | らりるれろ | 5 |
+| Wa-row + N | わをん | 3 |
+| **Total** | | **46** |
+
+## What Comes Next
+
+Now that you know all 46 basic hiragana, the next steps are:
+
+1. **Katakana** — the second phonetic script, with the same 46 sounds in different shapes, used for foreign loanwords and emphasis
+2. **Dakuten and handakuten** — the diacritic marks (゛ ゜) that create voiced and semi-voiced variants (ga, za, da, ba, pa rows)
+3. **Compound sounds (拗音)** — combinations using small ゃ ゅ ょ
+4. **Kanji** — the logographic characters that represent meaning
+
+## Practice Recognition
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-hiragana-10-recognition" type="matching" title="Match Final Characters" skill="character-recognition" tests="hiragana-wa,hiragana-wo,hiragana-n" objectiveId="obj-recognize-wa-n"}
+
+**Question:** Match each character to its romaji
+
+- わ
+- を
+- ん
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- わ = wa
+- を = wo (pronounced "o")
+- ん = n (syllabic nasal)
+
+**Explanation:** These three characters complete the basic hiragana chart. を is almost always the direct object particle; ん is a standalone syllabic nasal that never begins a word.
+
+:::
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-hiragana-10-wo-particle" type="multiple-choice" title="The Role of を" skill="character-sound-mapping" tests="hiragana-wo" objectiveId="obj-wo-particle"}
+
+**Question:** What is the primary role of を in modern Japanese?
+
+**Options:**
+- It is used in many common vocabulary words
+- It is used only as the direct object grammatical particle
+- It is an archaic character no longer in use
+- It is pronounced "wo" in all contexts
+
+**Answer:** 2
+
+**Explanation:** を is almost exclusively the direct object particle in modern Japanese. It marks the noun that receives the action of the verb. It is pronounced "o" (identical to お), not "wo." You will almost never find を inside a regular vocabulary word.
+
+:::
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-hiragana-10-n-nasal" type="fill-in-blank" title="The Syllabic N" skill="syllable-analysis" tests="hiragana-n" objectiveId="obj-n-syllabic"}
+
+**Question:** Complete these facts about ん
+
+- ん can appear at the ___ or ___ of a word, but never at the ___
+- Before a "p" or "b" sound, ん is pronounced ___
+- ん forms its own ___ (unit of timing in Japanese)
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- ん can appear in the middle or end of a word, but never at the beginning
+- Before a "p" or "b" sound, ん is pronounced /m/ (labial nasal)
+- ん forms its own mora (unit of timing in Japanese)
+
+**Explanation:** Because ん never begins a word, it always follows another mora. Its nasal sound assimilates to the place of articulation of the following consonant — this is a natural phonological process called nasal assimilation.
+
+:::
+
+## Congratulations!
+
+You have completed the basic hiragana curriculum. You can now read and write all 46 fundamental hiragana characters. Continue to the Katakana lessons to learn the second Japanese phonetic script.

package/src/syllabi/katakana/lessons/lesson-01.mdx

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+---
+type: lesson
+id: japanese-katakana-lesson-01
+title: "Lesson 1 — Katakana Vowels (アイウエオ)"
+description: "Learn the 5 Japanese vowels in Katakana script"
+order: 1
+parentId: japanese-katakana
+difficulty: beginner
+cefrLevel: A1
+categories:
+  - vowels
+  - basic-characters
+metadata:
+  estimatedTime: 20
+  prerequisites: [japanese-hiragana-lesson-01]
+  learningObjectives:
+    - id: obj-recognize-katakana-vowels
+      description: "Recognize the five katakana vowels"
+      skill: character-recognition
+      references: [katakana-a, katakana-i, katakana-u, katakana-e, katakana-o]
+    - id: obj-katakana-vs-hiragana
+      description: "Understand the difference in use between katakana and hiragana"
+      skill: character-recognition
+      references: [katakana-a, katakana-i, katakana-u, katakana-e, katakana-o]
+    - id: obj-sounds-katakana-vowels
+      description: "Map each katakana vowel to its sound"
+      skill: character-sound-mapping
+      references: [katakana-a, katakana-i, katakana-u, katakana-e, katakana-o]
+---
+
+# Lesson 1 — Katakana Vowels (アイウエオ)
+
+## Introduction
+
+Welcome to Katakana — the second of Japan's two phonetic syllabaries. Like hiragana, katakana represents syllable sounds, and the two scripts share **identical sounds**. What differs is their shape and their use.
+
+The five katakana vowels represent the same sounds as あいうえお in hiragana:
+
+- **ア** = あ = /a/
+- **イ** = い = /i/
+- **ウ** = う = /ɯ/
+- **エ** = え = /e/
+- **オ** = お = /o/
+
+## When to Use Katakana
+
+Katakana is used for:
+
+1. **Foreign loanwords** (外来語, gairaigo): テレビ (terebi, "TV"), コーヒー (kōhī, "coffee")
+2. **Foreign names**: アメリカ (Amerika, "America"), フランス (Furansu, "France")
+3. **Scientific names**: biological taxonomy, technical terms
+4. **Onomatopoeia and sound effects**: in manga and informal writing
+5. **Emphasis**: similar to italics in English
+
+Knowing katakana unlocks an enormous amount of Japanese vocabulary because so many modern words are borrowed from English and other languages.
+
+## Characters
+
+:::character-set{id="katakana-vowels" title="Katakana Vowels (ア行)"}
+
+::character{id="katakana-a" canonicalRef="katakana-a" char="ア" name="ア (a)" charType="katakana" data:romaji="a" data:row="a" data:hiragana="あ"}
+
+::character{id="katakana-i" canonicalRef="katakana-i" char="イ" name="イ (i)" charType="katakana" data:romaji="i" data:row="a" data:hiragana="い"}
+
+::character{id="katakana-u" canonicalRef="katakana-u" char="ウ" name="ウ (u)" charType="katakana" data:romaji="u" data:row="a" data:hiragana="う"}
+
+::character{id="katakana-e" canonicalRef="katakana-e" char="エ" name="エ (e)" charType="katakana" data:romaji="e" data:row="a" data:hiragana="え"}
+
+::character{id="katakana-o" canonicalRef="katakana-o" char="オ" name="オ (o)" charType="katakana" data:romaji="o" data:row="a" data:hiragana="お"}
+
+:::
+
+## Katakana vs Hiragana Shapes
+
+Katakana characters are generally **more angular and simpler** than hiragana. Hiragana evolved from cursive forms of Chinese characters, while katakana evolved from parts of Chinese characters. This gives katakana a sharper, more mechanical appearance.
+
+| Hiragana | Katakana | Sound |
+|----------|----------|-------|
+| あ | ア | a |
+| い | イ | i |
+| う | ウ | u |
+| え | エ | e |
+| お | オ | o |
+
+## Pronunciation Guide
+
+The vowel sounds are **identical** to hiragana:
+
+| Character | Romaji | Sound | English Approximation |
+|-----------|--------|-------|----------------------|
+| ア | a | /a/ | "a" in "father" |
+| イ | i | /i/ | "ee" in "see" |
+| ウ | u | /ɯ/ | "oo" in "zoo" (unrounded) |
+| エ | e | /e/ | "e" in "bed" |
+| オ | o | /o/ | "o" in "go" |
+
+## Writing Tips
+
+Katakana strokes are generally straighter and more angular than hiragana:
+
+- **ア**: Two strokes — a diagonal stroke and an angled crossbar. More angular than あ.
+- **イ**: Two strokes — a short diagonal and a longer vertical. Simpler than い.
+- **ウ**: Two strokes — a top dash and a curved body below.
+- **エ**: Three horizontal strokes connected by a vertical — resembles the letter "I" with serifs.
+- **オ**: Three strokes — two horizontals and a vertical drop with a hook. Angular compared to お.
+
+## Loanword Examples Using Vowels
+
+| Katakana | Romaji | Source Word | Meaning |
+|----------|--------|-------------|---------|
+| アイスクリーム | aisu kurīmu | ice cream | ice cream |
+| エアコン | eakon | air conditioner | air conditioner |
+| オレンジ | orenji | orange | orange (fruit/color) |
+
+## Key Points
+
+1. **Same sounds as hiragana**: Every katakana vowel has an identical hiragana counterpart.
+2. **Used for foreign words**: Katakana signals that a word is borrowed or foreign.
+3. **More angular shapes**: Katakana is generally sharper and more geometric than hiragana.
+4. **Same order**: The traditional a-i-u-e-o order (ア行) is identical to hiragana.
+
+## Practice Recognition
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-katakana-01-recognition" type="matching" title="Match Katakana Vowels to Sounds" skill="character-recognition" tests="katakana-a,katakana-i,katakana-u,katakana-e,katakana-o" objectiveId="obj-recognize-katakana-vowels"}
+
+**Question:** Match each katakana vowel to its romaji sound
+
+- ア
+- イ
+- ウ
+- エ
+- オ
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- ア = a
+- イ = i
+- ウ = u
+- エ = e
+- オ = o
+
+**Explanation:** The five katakana vowels represent the same sounds as the hiragana vowels あいうえお. The sounds are identical — only the shapes differ.
+
+:::
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-katakana-01-vs-hiragana" type="matching" title="Katakana vs Hiragana Pairs" skill="character-recognition" tests="katakana-a,katakana-i,katakana-u,katakana-e,katakana-o" objectiveId="obj-katakana-vs-hiragana"}
+
+**Question:** Match each katakana character to its hiragana equivalent
+
+- ア
+- イ
+- ウ
+- エ
+- オ
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- ア = あ
+- イ = い
+- ウ = う
+- エ = え
+- オ = お
+
+**Explanation:** Katakana and hiragana are parallel syllabaries — each katakana has a corresponding hiragana with the same sound. Recognizing these pairs is essential for reading fluency.
+
+:::
+
+:::exercise{id="ja-katakana-01-sounds" type="fill-in-blank" title="Sound Mapping" skill="character-sound-mapping" tests="katakana-a,katakana-i,katakana-u,katakana-e,katakana-o" objectiveId="obj-sounds-katakana-vowels"}
+
+**Question:** What sound does each katakana vowel make?
+
+- ア sounds like ___
+- イ sounds like ___
+- ウ sounds like ___
+- エ sounds like ___
+- オ sounds like ___
+
+**Answer:**
+
+- ア = /a/ as in "father"
+- イ = /i/ as in "see"
+- ウ = /ɯ/ as in "zoo" (unrounded)
+- エ = /e/ as in "bed"
+- オ = /o/ as in "go"
+
+**Explanation:** The sounds are identical to hiragana vowels. If you already know hiragana, you already know the sounds — now you just need to learn the new shapes.
+
+:::
+
+## What's Next
+
+In Lesson 2, you will learn the カ-row (ka, ki, ku, ke, ko) and the サ-row (sa, shi, su, se, so). Because katakana represents the same sounds as hiragana, we can move more quickly through the chart.