Japanese pitch accent rules

This article is an non-exhaustive list of rules that govern Tokyo pitch accent.

Particles and auxiliaries

When a noun, verb or adjective precedes a particle (助詞, joshi) or an auxiliary (助動詞, jodōshi), they may form together a minor phrase. Each particle/auxiliary or group of particles/auxiliaries has its own accentual behavior that can be classified as follows:

• Behavior type:
  • Recessive: The particle or auxiliary does not alter the accent of the preceding word. The word determines the accent of the entire phrase, and if it is accented, the particle either has a low contour or forms its own minor phrase.
  • Dominant: The particle or auxiliary determines the accent of the phrase, overriding whatever accent the preceding word has.
  • Type-preserving (式保存型, shikihozongata): The auxiliary combines with a conjugational verbal form, typically the irrealis (未然形, mizenkei). This form is a bound morpheme, incapable of existing on its own, much less having accent. An auxiliary combining with it preserves the underlying accent type of the original verb.
• Accent type:
  • Unaccented: The particle or auxiliary has no accent of its own.
  • Accented: The paricle or auxiliary has accent which surfaces only if it is dominant, or if it is recessive and the preceding word is unaccented.

An accented recessive particle or particle sequence can form its own downstepped minor phrase after an accented word, although this is less likely if the word is final-accented and the particle is initial-accented:

	made (まで; /máde/)	ni mo (にも; /ní mo/)	kara mo (からも; /kaɾá mo/)	dake kara (だけから; /daké kaɾa/)
oyako (親子; 'parents and children')	/ójako | máde/	/ójako | ní mo/	/ójako | kaɾá mo/	/ójako | daké kaɾa/
itoko (いとこ; 'a cousin')	/itóko | máde/	/itóko | ní mo/	/itóko | kaɾá mo/	/itóko | daké kaɾa/
otoko (男; 'a male person')	/otokó made/	/otokó ni mo/	/otokó | kaɾá mo/	/otokó | daké kaɾa/

More details on the interactions between particles or auxiliaries and nouns, verbs and adjectives are listed below.

Particle + particle

In general, when a particle follows another particle, they form together a single accented minor phrase, as exemplifed in the table above. The first particle's last mora becomes the nucleus. Some of these have become idiomatic conjunctions: /té mo, dé mo, dé wa, tó ka, tó mo, ní mo, nó de/ etc. Some more examples:

• kore (此れ; 'this thing'): /koɾe → koɾe ni → koɾe ní wa, koɾe kaɾa → koɾe kaɾá de mo/
• nani (何; 'what'): /náni → náni o → náni o ka ~ náni | ó ka/
• mizu (水; 'water'): /mizɯ → mizɯ de → mizɯ dé sae/
• hana (花; 'a flower'): /haná → haná de → haná de sae/
• haru (春; 'spring'): /háɾɯ → háɾɯ de → háɾɯ de sae ~ háɾɯ | dé sae/
• amai (甘い; 'is sweet'): /amai → amai dake → amai daké no/
• umai (旨い; 'is tasty'): /umái → umái dake → umái dake no ~ umái | daké no/
• yari (遣り; 'giving to someone else'): /jaɾi → jaQte → jaQté sae/
• yomi (読み; 'reading'): /jómi → jóNde → jóNde kaɾa/

The particles to, kiri, shika and dake alternatively does not add accent to their preceding particle:

• tori (鳥; 'a bird'): /toɾi → toɾi ka → toɾi ká to ~ toɾi ka to/
• mizu (水; 'water'): /mizɯ → mizɯ de → mizɯ dé dake ~ mizɯ de dake/
• naki (泣き; 'crying'): /naki → naite → naité dake ~ naite dake/
• warau (笑う; 'laughs'): /waɾaɯ → waɾaɯ to → waɾaɯ tó ɕi̥ka ~ waɾaɯ to ɕi̥ka/

The accent of the particles kurai / gurai, dokoro and bakari can alternatively surface:

• hito (人; 'a person'): /hi̥toɾi → hi̥to to → hi̥to tó bakaɾi ~ hi̥to to bákaɾi/
• uchi (内; 'the inside'): /ɯcɕi → ɯcɕi ni → ɯcɕi ní bakaɾi ~ ɯcɕi ni bákaɾi/
• naki (泣き; 'crying'): /naki → naite → naité bakaɾi ~ naite bákaɾi/

Auxiliary + particle

Verb-like and adjective-like auxiliaries simply follow the rules of verb and adjective accent before particles:

• naku (泣く; 'cries'): /nakɯ → nakaɾeɾɯ → nakaɾeɾɯ to, nakaɾe → nakaɾete/
• yomu (読む; 'reads'): /jómɯ → jomaɾéɾɯ → jomaɾéɾɯ to, jomáɾe → jomáɾete/
• arau (洗う; 'washes'): /aɾaɯ → aɾawaseɾɯ → aɾawaseɾɯ to, aɾawase → aɾawase náɡaɾa ~ aɾawase naɡaɾa/
• narau (習う; 'learns'): /naɾáɯ → naɾawaséɾɯ → naɾawaséɾɯ to, naɾawáse → naɾawase náɡaɾa/

The particle to can remove accent from hortatives:

• kiru (着る; 'wears clothes'): /kiɾɯ → kijóR → kijóR to sɯɾɯ ~ kijoR to sɯɾɯ/
• naku (泣く; 'cries'): /nakɯ → nakóR → nakóR to sɯɾɯ ~ nakoR to sɯɾɯ, nakɯ mái → nakɯ mai to sɯɾɯ/

Particle + auxiliary

In general, when an auxiliary follows another particle, they form together a single accented minor phrase. The particle's last mora becomes the nucleus. Some of these have become idiomatic conjunctions: /dá ɡa, dá kaɾa/ etc. Some more examples:

• soko (其処; 'that place'): /soko → soko de → soɾe dé da/
• sore (其れ; 'that thing'): /soɾe → soɾe ni → soɾe ní desɯ/
• otoko (男; 'a male person'): /otokó → otokó ni → otokó ni desɯ/
• haru (春; 'spring'): /háɾɯ → háɾɯ ni → háɾɯ ni desɯ ~ háɾɯ | ní desɯ/
• kore (此れ; 'this thing'): /koɾe → koɾe kaɾa → soɾe kaɾá daɾoR ~ soɾe kaɾá | daɾóR/
• nani (何; 'what'): /náni → náni joɾi → náni joɾi da ~ náni | jóɾi da/
• sake (酒; 'liquor'): /sake → sake dake → sake daké da/
• amai (甘い; 'is sweet'): /amai → amai dake → amai daké da/
• umai (旨い; 'is tasty'): /umái → umái dake → umái dake da ~ umái | daké da/
• naku (鳴く; 'cries'): /nakɯ → nakɯ̥ to → nakɯ̥ tó da, nakɯ́ no → nakɯ́ no daɾoR ~ nakɯ́ no | daɾóR, nakɯ máde → nakɯ máde | désɯ, nakɯ dake → nakɯ daké daɾoR ~ nakɯ daké | daɾóR/
• taberu (食べる; 'eats'): /tabéɾɯ → tabéɾɯ to → tabéɾɯ to desɯ ~ tabéɾɯ | tó desɯ, tabéɾɯ no → tabéɾɯ no daɾoR ~ tabéɾɯ no | daɾóR, tabéɾɯ made ~ tabéɾɯ máde → tabéɾɯ made desɯ ~ tabéɾɯ | máde | désɯ, tabéɾɯ dake → tabéɾɯ dake desɯ ~ tabéɾɯ | daké desɯ/

The accent of the auxiliaries yō (da), rashī and gotoshi can alternatively surface:

• tori (鳥; 'a bird'): /toɾi → toɾi to → toɾi tó ɾaɕiR ~ toɾi tó | ɾaɕíR ~ toɾi to ɾaɕíR/
• hana (花; 'a flower'): /haná → haná to → haná to ɾaɕiR ~ haná to | ɾaɕíR ~ hana to ɾaɕíR/

Auxiliary + auxiliary

Verb-like and adjective-like auxiliaries simply follow the rules of verb and adjective accent before auxiliaries:

• arau (洗う; 'washes'): /aɾaɯ → aɾawaseɾɯ → aɾawaseɾaɾeɾɯ, aɾawase → aɾawaseta → aɾawaseta daɾóR ~ aɾawasetá daɾoR ~ aɾawasetá | daɾóR/
• narau (習う; 'learns'): /naɾáɯ → naɾawaséɾɯ → naɾawaseɾaɾéɾɯ, naɾawáse → naɾawáseta → naɾawáseta daɾoR ~ naɾawáseta | daɾóR/
• naki (泣き; 'crying'): /naki → naki̥tai ~ naki̥tái → naki̥tai daɾóR ~ naki̥taí daɾoR → naki̥tái daɾoR ~ naki̥taí | daɾóR → naki̥tái | daɾóR/
• yomi (読み; 'reading'): /jómi → jomitái → jomitái daɾoR ~ jomitái | daɾóR/

Nouns

One of the principal rules that govern nouns is known as the "antepenultimate rule," which dictates a "default" location for the accent nucleus, which is either the actual antepenultimate mora, or the preantepenultimate mora due to a leftward shift away from the deficient antepenultimate mora (see Japanese pitch accent § Accent shifts). Even native speakers rely on this rule, among others, to guess how to pronounce unfamiliar words, even completely made-up ones such as /a.i.ɯ́.e.o, ka.ki.kɯ̥́.ke.ko, a.ka.sá.ta.na, ha.ma.já.ɾa.wa/.

Quadrimoraic nouns are predominantly unaccented. Unaccentedness is also typical in high-frequency words, and even a normally accented word can be deaccentuated by an individual if they use it frequently enough; for example, the word gitā (ギター) can be pronounced unaccented as /ɡi.taR/ by a guitar lover, instead of accented as /ɡí.taR/.

Here are some rough percentage ratios in correspondence with the mora counts of nouns (0 means unaccented, +1 initial-accented, -1 final-accented, -2 penultimate-accented, -3 antepenultimate-accented and -4 preantepenultimate-accented):

1. Unimorae: +1:0 → 70:30
2. Bimorae: +1:-1:0 → 60:20:20
3. Trimorae: +1:-2:-1:0 → 40:10:10:50 (10% is either 0 or +1)
4. Quadrimorae: +1:-3:-2:0 → 10:10:10:70
5. Quinquemorae: -4:-3:-2:0 → 10:50:10:30
6. Sexamorae: -4:-3:-2:0 → 35:35:10:20

Older speakers are more likely to have final-accented quinquemorae, and penultimate-accented sexamorae ending in special morae, both of which younger speakers are making (pre)antepenultimate-accented (the dagger ^† marks obsolete or obsolescent accent):

• ishidatami (石畳; 'stone paving'): /^†iɕidatamí ~ iɕidátami/
• mizuguruma (水車; 'a waterwheel'): /^†mizɯɡɯɾɯmá ~ mizɯɡɯ́ɾɯma/
• yakidōfu (焼き豆腐; 'broiled tofu'): /^†jakidoRɸɯ́ ~ jakidóRɸɯ/
• sumōtori (相撲取り; 'a sumo wrestler'): /^†sɯmoRtoɾí ~ sɯmóRtoɾi/
• ishidōrō (石灯籠; 'a stone lantern'): /^†iɕidoɾóR ~ iɕidóRɾoR/
• aodaishō (青大将; 'a Japanese rat snake'): /^†aodaiɕóR ~ aodáiɕoR ~ aodaiɕoR/
• aotenjō (青天井; 'the blue vault of heaven'): /^†aoteNʑóR ~ aotéNʑoR/

Simplex Sino-Japanese nouns

Over half of simplex Sino-Japanese nouns (spelt with a single kanji), especially infrequent ones, are initial-accented. The following are rough percentages in correspondence with mora counts; also note certain words with the same segments, but different accents for different meanings:

• Unimorae:
  • Accented (68%): i (医・意・易; /í/ 'medicine; one's mind; easy things'), e (絵; /é/ 'an illustration'), gi (技; /ɡí/ 'one's skill'), ku (句・苦; /kɯ́/ 'a phrase; suffering'), gu (具; /ɡɯ́/ 'a tool'), sa (左; /sá/ 'the left of this vertical passage'), shi (市・死; /ɕí/ 'a city; death'), ji (字; /ʑí/ 'a written character'), ja (蛇・邪; /ʑá/ 'a serpent; injustice'), sho (書; /ɕó/ 'penmanship ~ a document'), so (祖; /só/ 'a progenitor'), chi (地・知; /cɕí/ 'the ground; wisdom'), hi (妃・非; /hí/ 'a female consort; an error'), bi (美; /bí/ 'beauty'), fu (府・負; /ɸɯ́/ 'a fu; negative'), bu (武; /bɯ́/ 'military affairs'), wa (和; /wá/ 'harmony'), etc.
  • Unaccented (32%): i (胃; /i/ 'a stomach'), ga (我・蛾; /ɡa/ 'an ego; a moth'), ki (気; /ki/ 'spirits'), gu (具; /ɡɯ/ 'a solid ingredient'), shi (詩; /ɕi/ 'poetry'), ji (痔; /ʑi/ 'haemorrhoids'), zu (図・頭; /zɯ/ 'a diagram; a head'), cha (茶; /cɕa/ 'tea'), hi (碑・緋; /hi/ 'a gravestone; scarlet'), fu (譜・麩; /ɸɯ/ 'a musical note; wheat bread'), bu (分; /bɯ/ 'percent'), ro (炉・絽・櫓; /ɾo/ 'a furnace; silk gauze; an oar'), etc.
  • Either unaccented or accented: gu (愚; /ɡɯ ~ ɡɯ́/ 'folly'), go (碁; /ɡo ~ ɡó/), ji (地; /ʑi ~ ʑí/ 'the ground'), shu (朱; /ɕɯ ~ ɕɯ́/ 'cinnabar'), sho (書; /ɕo ~ ɕó/ 'a manuscript'), jo (序; /ʑo ~ ʑó/ 'a preface'), su (州; /sɯ ~ sɯ́/ 'a sandbank'), ma (魔; /ma ~ má/ 'a demon'), etc.
  • Formerly unaccented, now accented: gi (義; /^†ɡi ~ ɡí/ 'justice'), ku (九; /^†kɯ ~ kɯ́/ 'nine'), go (五; /^†ɡo ~ ɡó/ 'five'), etc.
• Bimorae:
  • Initial-accented (77%): ai (愛; /ái/ 'love'), eki (役; /éki/ 'a war campaign'), kei (経; /kéi/ 'longitude'), kō (甲; /kóR/ 'a shell'), kon (根; /kóN/ 'a radical'), zatsu ~ zō (雑; /zátsɯ ~ zóR/ 'miscellaneous'), san (産; /sáN/ 'agricultural produce'), shū (週; /ɕɯ́R/ 'a week'), jō (錠; /ʑóR/ 'a pill'), shoku (食; /ɕókɯ/ 'an eclipse'), choku (直; /cɕókɯ/ 'direct'), tai (対; /tái/ 'against'), ten (天; /téN/ 'the sky'), batsu (罰; /bátsɯ/ 'punishment'), hen (辺; /héN/ 'a geometric side'), moku (木; /mókɯ/ 'wood in wuxing'), hon (品; /hóN/ 'a courtier rank'), men (面; /méN/ 'a surface'), raku (楽; /ɾákɯ/ 'a finale'), ryū (六; /ɾjɯ́R/ 'six'), rei (礼; /ɾéi/ 'a ceremony'), etc.
  • Final-accented (more likely if the final mora is ki, ku, chi or tsu): ichi (一; /icɕí/ 'one'), kotsu (骨; /kotsɯ́/ 'ashes'), jiku (軸; /ʑikɯ́/ 'an axis'), shichi (七・質; /ɕi̥cɕí/ 'seven; a pawned item'), shitsu (失・室; /ɕi̥tsɯ́/ 'a fault; a room'), jitsu (実; /ʑitsɯ́/ 'truth'), shaku (尺; /ɕakɯ́/), doku (毒; /dokɯ́/ 'poison'), niku (肉; /nikɯ́/ 'flesh'), hachi (八・鉢; /hacɕí/ 'eight; a pot'), bachi (撥; /bacɕí/ 'a plectrum'), bachi (罰; /bacɕí/ 'divine punishment'), hiki (匹; /hi̥kí/ 'a small animal'), hyaku (百; /hjakɯ́/ 'hundred'), fuku (服・福・副; /ɸɯ̥kɯ́/ 'clothes; good luck; a duplicate'), maku (幕・膜; /makɯ́/ 'a curtain; a membrane'), myaku (脈; /mjakɯ́/ 'a pulse'), yaku (役・厄; /jakɯ́/ 'a task; a calamity'), yoku (欲; /jokɯ́/ 'a desire'), raku (楽; /ɾakɯ́/ 'comfort'), roku (六・陸; /ɾokɯ́/ 'six'), etc.
  • Unaccented: in (韻; /iN/ 'a rhyme'), eki (易; /eki/ 'divination'), on (音; /oN/ 'a sound'), kan (勘・癇・甲; /kaN/ 'intuition; irritability; a high musical tone'), kon (根; /koN/ 'endurance'), kyaku (客; /kjakɯ/ 'a visitor'), gyaku (逆; /ɡjakɯ/ 'the opposite'), kyū (灸・急; /kjɯR/ 'moxibustion; an emergency'), kyō (経・興; /kjoR/ 'a sutra; fun'), kotsu (骨; /kotsɯ/ 'the essentials'), sai (菜; /sai/ 'a side dish'), satsu (札; /satsɯ/ 'a banknote'), zatsu (雑; /zatsɯ/ 'crude'), san (三・産; /saN/ 'three; a birth'), jiki (直; /ʑiki/ 'immediate'), shaku (酌・癪; /ɕakɯ/ 'sake serving; annoyance'), jun (順; /ʑɯN/ 'order'), jō (情・錠; /ʑoR/ 'feelings; a lock'), shoku (食; /ɕokɯ/ 'eating'), zen (膳; /zeN/ 'a small dining table'), zoku (賊・俗; /zokɯ/ 'a rebel; vulgar'), taku (宅; /takɯ/ 'a residence'), chū (注; /cɕɯR/ 'an annotation'), tsui (対; /tsɯi/ 'a pair'), teki (敵; /teki/ 'a foe'), tetsu (鉄; /tetsɯ/ 'iron'), ten (点; /teN/ 'a dot'), toku (得・徳; /tokɯ/ 'profit; virtue'), hai (肺; /hai/ 'a lung'), ban (晩; /baN/ 'an evening'), hei (塀; /hei/ 'a wall'), betsu (別; /betsɯ/ 'distinction'), hyō (表; /hjoR/ 'a tabular list'), hin (品; /hiN/ 'dignity'), hen (辺; /heN/ 'a locality'), bō (棒; /boR/ 'a rod'), boku (木; /bokɯ/ 'wood'), bon (盆; /boN/ 'a tray'), men (面; /meN/ 'a mask'), rei (礼; /ɾei/ 'a reward'), roku (陸; /ɾokɯ/ 'neat'), wan (碗; /waN/ 'a bowl'), etc.
  • Either initial-accented or final-accented: itsu (一; /ítsɯ ~ itsɯ́/ 'one'), shiki (式; /ɕí̥ki → ɕi̥kí/ 'a ritual'), kichi (吉; /kí̥cɕi → ki̥cɕí/ 'auspiciousness'), jutsu (術; /ʑɯtsɯ́ ~ ʑɯ́tsɯ/ 'an art'), riku (六; /ɾikɯ́ ~ ɾíkɯ/ 'six'), etc.
  • Either initial-accented or unaccented: gaku (楽; /ɡákɯ ~ ɡakɯ/ 'music'), tan (痰; /taN ~ táN/ 'phlegm'), Bon (盆; /bóN ~ boN/), etc.
  • Either final-accented or unaccented: gaku (額; /ɡakɯ ~ ɡakɯ́/ 'a picture frame'), kiku (菊; /ki̥kɯ́ ~ ki̥kɯ/ 'a chrysanthemum'), shitsu (質; /ɕi̥tsɯ ~ ɕi̥tsɯ́/ 'quality'), riku (陸; /ɾikɯ ~ ɾikɯ́/ 'land'), etc.

Modifier–head compound nouns

This subsection deals with modifier–head compound nouns, with the modifier being the first component and the head being the second. Henceforth:

• A "short" component:
  • If native, is bimoraic or shorter: ya (屋), yama (山), etc.
  • If Sino-Japanese, has one kanji (monomorphematic): ‑ka (化), etc.
• A "long" component:
  • If native, is trimoraic or longer: yanagi (柳), kumiai (組合), monogatari (物語), etc.
  • If Sino-Japanese, has two or more kanji (dimorphematic or longer): shugi (主義), kaisha (会社), kairyū (海流), jimusho (事務所), jidōsha (自動車), iinkai (委員会), etc.
• A short compound consists of only short components, and a long compound contains at least one long component.

Short compounds

Short compound nouns are accentually difficult to predict, as their accent correlates with either the modifiers and/or the heads, in terms of mora counts and/or original accent.

Native heads

Unimoraic modifier + native head

The compound tends to have the same accent type as the modifier and retain its nucleus:

• Originally unaccented modifiers:
  • ke + ha → keba (毛+羽→毛羽; 'feathers + a feather → fuzz'): /ke + ha → ke-ba/
  • ka + ya → kaya (蚊+屋→蚊帳; 'a mosquito + a house → a mosquito net'): /ka + já → ka-ja/
  • ha + ne → hane (羽+根→羽根; 'a feather + a root → a feather'): /ha + né → ha-ne/
  • to + kuchi → toguchi (戸+口→戸口; 'a door + a door → the doorway'): /to + kɯ̥cɕi → to-ɡɯcɕi/
  • cha + hako → chabako (茶+箱→茶箱; 'tea + box → a tea box'): /cɕa + hako → cɕa-bako/
  • ke + mono → kemono (毛+物→獣; 'hair + a thing → a beast'): /ke + monó → ke-mono/
  • ne + iro → neiro (音+色→音色; 'sound + a color → timbre'): /ne + iɾó → ne-iɾo/
  • na + mae → namae (名+前→名前; 'a name + before → a name'): /na + máe → na-mae/
  • hi + kage → hikage (日+陰→日陰; 'the sun + shade → shade'): /hi + káɡe → hi̥-kaɡe/
  • ho + fune → hobune (帆+船→帆船; 'a sail + a watercraft → a sailboat'): /ho ~ hó + ɸɯ́ne → ho-bɯne/
  • ko + inu → koinu (子+犬→子犬; 'a child + a dog → a puppy'): /ko + inɯ́ → ko-inɯ/
• Originally accented modifiers:
  • i + to → ido (井+戸→井戸; 'a well + a door → a well'): /í + to → í-do/
  • yu + ha → yuba (湯+葉→湯葉; 'hot water + a leaf → tofu skin'): /jɯ́ + ha → jɯ́-ba/
  • no + hi → nobi (野+火→野火; 'a field + a fire → a field fire'): /nó + hí → nó-bi/
  • yo + me → yome (夜+目→夜目; 'night + an eye → night vision'): /jó + mé → jó-me/
  • hi + hana → hibana (火+花→火花; 'a fire + a flower → a spark'): /hí + haná → hí-bana/
  • no + hara → nohara (野+原→野原; 'a field + a plain → a plain'): /nó + háɾa → nó-haɾa/
  • yo + tsuyu → yotsuyu (夜+露→夜露; 'night + dew → night dew'): /jó + tsɯ́jɯ → jó-tsɯjɯ/
  • te + kubi → tekubi (手+首→手首; 'an arm + a neck → a wrist'): /té + kɯbi → té-kɯbi/
  • me + kane → megane (眼+金→眼鏡; 'an eye + metal → eyeglasses'): /mé + kane → mé-ɡane/

Some compounds retain the bimoraic head's accent instead or in addition:

• me + tama → medama (目+玉→目玉; 'an eye + a ball → an eyeball'): /mé + tamá → me-damá/
• ne + moto → nemoto (根+元→根元; 'a root + a base → the base'): /né + motó ~ moto → ne-motó/
• ko + yagi → koyagi (子+山羊→子山羊; 'a child + a goat → a kid'): /ko + jáɡi → ko-jaɡi ~ ko-jáɡi/
• ko + neko → koneko (子+猫→子猫; 'a child + a cat → a kitten'): /ko + néko → ko-néko/
• hi + kasa → higasa (日+傘→日傘; 'the sun + an umbrella → a parasol'): /hi + kása → hi-ɡása/
• na + tane → natane (菜+種→菜種; 'rape + seed → rapeseed'): /ná + táne → na-táne/
• hi + tane → hidane (火+種→火種; 'a fire + seed → an incendiary spark'): /hí + táne → hi-dáne/
• yu + oke → yuoke (湯+桶→湯桶; 'a bath + a tub → a bathtub'): /jɯ́ + óke → jɯ-óke ~ jɯoke/

Bimoraic modifier + native head

The compound tends to have the same accent type as the modifier, but the compound's nucleus tends to be the modifier's last mora regardless of the modifier's original nucleus:

• Originally unaccented modifiers:
  • hana + chi → hanaji (鼻+血→鼻血; 'a nose + blood → a nosebleed'): /hana + cɕi → hana-ʑi/
  • kuchi + hi → kuchibi (口+火→口火; 'a mouth + a fire → a fuse'): /kɯ̥cɕi + hí → kɯ̥cɕi-bi/
  • kubi + wa → kubiwa (首+輪→首輪; 'a neck + a hoop → a necklace'): /kɯbi + wá → kɯbi-wa/
  • koshi + yu → koshiyu (腰+湯→腰湯; 'hips + a bath → a hip bath'): /koɕi + jɯ́ → koɕi-jɯ/
  • tori + me → torime (鳥+目→鳥目; 'a bird + an eye → night-blindness'): /toɾi + mé → toɾi-me/
  • migi + te → migite (右+手→右手; 'right + a hand → the right hand'): /miɡi + té → miɡi-te/
  • kizu + kuchi → kizuguchi (傷+口→傷口; 'a wound + a mouth → the mouth of a wound'): /kizɯ + kɯ̥cɕi → kizɯ-ɡɯcɕi/
  • kiri + hako → kiribako (霧+箱→霧箱; 'fog + a box → a cloud chamber'): /kiɾi + hako → kiɾi-bako/
  • take + kago → takekago (竹+籠→竹籠; 'bamboo + a basket → a bamboo basket'): /take + kaɡo → take-kaɡo/
  • niwa + tori → niwatori (庭+鳥→鶏; 'a garden + a bird → a chicken'): /niwa + toɾi → niwa-toɾi/
  • hana + mizu → hanamizu (鼻+水→鼻水; 'a nose + water → mucus'): /hana + mizɯ → hana-mizɯ ~ hanamízɯ/
  • ame + tama → amedama (飴+玉→飴玉; 'candy + a ball → a sugarplum'): /ame + tamá → ame-dama/
  • shiro + yama → Shiroyama (城+山→城山; 'a castle + a mountain → Shiroyama'): /ɕiɾo + jamá → ɕiɾo-jama/
  • mizu + oto → mizuoto (水+音→水音; 'sound + mizuoto → the sound of water'): /mizɯ + otó → mizɯ-oto/
  • hito + naka → hitonaka (人+中→人中; 'people + the middle → the public'): /hi̥to + náka → hi̥to-naka/
• Originally accented modifiers:
  • tama + ko → tamago (玉+子→卵; 'a ball + a child → an egg'): /tamá + ko → tamá-ɡo ~ tamaɡo/
  • natsu + hi → natsubi (夏+日→夏日; 'summer + a day → a summer day'): /natsɯ́ + hi → natsɯ́-bi/
  • iro + me → irome (色+目→色目; 'a color + an eye → a shade'): /iɾó + mé → iɾó-me ~ iɾomé/
  • sumi + hi → sumibi (炭+火→炭火; 'charcoal + a fire → a charcoal fire'): /sɯmí + hí → sɯmí-bi/
  • tsuki + yo → tsukiyo (月+夜→月夜; 'the moon + a night → a moonlit night'): /tsɯ̥kí + jó → tsɯ̥kí-jo/
  • hana + me → haname (花+芽→花芽; 'a flower + a bud → a flower bud'): /haná + mé → haná-me/
  • ame + to → amado (雨+戸→雨戸; 'rain + a door → a storm door'): /áme + to → amá-do/
  • soba + yu → sobayu (蕎麦+湯→蕎麦湯; 'soba + hot water → soba water'): /sóba + jɯ́ → sobá-jɯ/
  • eri + kubi → erikubi (襟+首→襟首; 'the nape + a neck → the nape'): /eɾí + kɯbi → eɾí-kɯbi/
  • hana + yome → hanayome (花+嫁→花嫁; 'a flower + a bride → a bride'): /haná + jome → haná-jome/
  • yama + tori → yamadori (山+鳥→山鳥; 'a mountain + a bird → a mountain bird'): /jamá + toɾi → jamá-doɾi/
  • iro + kami → irogami (色+紙→色紙; 'a color + paper → colored paper'): /iɾó + kamí → iɾó-ɡami/
  • kona + yuki → konayuki (粉+雪→粉雪; 'powder + snow → powdery snow'): /koná + jɯkí → koná-jɯki/
  • mono + koto → monogoto (物+事→物事; 'a thing + a thing → things'): /monó + kotó → monó-ɡoto/
  • asa + kao → asagao (朝+顔→朝顔; 'the morning + a face → morning glory'): /ása + kao → asá-ɡao/
  • ito + kuchi → itoguchi (糸+口→糸口; 'thread + a mouth → the end of a thread'): /íto + kɯ̥cɕi → itó-ɡɯcɕi/
  • haru + kaze → harukaze (春+風→春風; 'spring + wind → spring wind'): /háɾɯ + kaze → haɾɯ́-kaze/
  • matsu + mushi → matsumushi (松+虫→松虫; 'pine + an insect → a pine cricket'): /mátsɯ + mɯɕi → matsɯ́-mɯɕi/
  • sora + mame → soramame (空+豆→空豆; 'a void + beans → a broad bean'): /sóɾa + mamé → soɾá-mame/
  • hato + mune → hatomune (鳩+胸→鳩胸; 'a pigeon + a breast → a pigeon breast'): /háto + mɯné → ható-mɯne/

If the modifier's last mora is special, it's penultimate mora is accented instead:

• hō + ha → hōba (朴+歯→朴歯; 'a magnolia + a tooth → magnolia clog supports'): /hóR + há → hóR-ba ~ hoR-ba/
• kami + nushi → kannushi (神+主→神主; 'a god + a household head → a Shinto priest'): /kámi + nɯ́ɕi → káN-nɯɕi/
• mai‑ + asa → maiasa (毎+朝→毎朝; 'each + morning → each morning'): /mái ~ mai + ása → mái-asa ~ mai-asa/
• shin‑ + mi → shinmi (親+身→親身; 'close + one's body → a relative'): /ɕíN + mi → ɕíN-mi/
• ō + te → ōte (王+手→王手; 'a king + a move → a check'): /óR + té → óR-te/
• gin + kami → gingami (銀+紙→銀紙; 'silver + paper → silver paper'): /ɡíN + kamí → ɡíN-ɡami/
• Tō + nasu → Tōnasu (唐+茄子→唐茄子; 'Tang + an aubergine → a pumpkin'): /tóR + násɯ → tóR-nasɯ/

If the head is bimoraic, the compound may also be unaccented:

• ami + tana → amidana (網+棚→網棚; 'a grate + a shelf → a luggage rack'): /amí + tana → ami-dana/
• imo + kayu → imogayu (芋+粥→芋粥; 'a potato + congee → potato congee'): /imó + kajɯ → imo-ɡajɯ/
• kawa + oto → kawaoto (川+音→川音; 'a river + sound → the sound of a river'): /kawá + otó → kawa-oto/
• yama + inu → yamainu (山+犬→山犬; 'a mountain + a dog → a wild dog'): /jamá + inɯ́ → jama-inɯ/
• oya + fune → oyabune (親+船→親船; 'a parent + a watercraft → a mother ship'): /ojá + ɸɯ́ne → oja-bɯne/
• asa + ito → asaito (麻+糸→麻糸; 'hemp + thread → hemp thread'): /asá + íto → asa-ito/
• ki + tama → kodama (木+霊→木霊; 'a tree + a spirit → a dryad'): /kí + táma → ko-dama/
• kinu + ito → kinuito (絹+糸→絹糸; 'silk + thread → silk thread'): /kínɯ + íto → kinɯ-ito/
• sora + mimi → soramimi (空+耳→空耳; 'a void + an ear → mishearing'): /sóɾa + mimi → soɾa-mimi/
• soto + mago → sotomago (外+孫→外孫; 'the outside + a grandchild → one's maternal grandchild'): /sóto + maɡó → soto-maɡo/
• ten + mado → tenmado (天+窓→天窓; 'the sky + a window → a skylight'): /téN + mádo → teN-mado/
• haru + ame → harusame (春+雨→春雨; 'spring + rain → spring rain'): /háɾɯ + áme → haɾɯ-same/

Some compounds retain the modifier's initial accent, or delete its final accent:

• Originally initial-accented modifiers:
  • asa + hi → asahi (朝+日→朝日; 'the morning + the sun → the morning sun'): /ása + hi → ása-hi/
  • hana + hi → hanabi (花+火→花火; 'a flower + a fire → fireworks'): /haná + hí → hána-bi/
  • matsu + ha → matsuba (松+葉→松葉; 'pine + a leaf → a pine needle'): /mátsɯ + ha → mátsɯ-ba/
  • mayu + ke → mayuge (眉+毛→眉毛; 'an eyebrow + hair → an eyebrow'): /májɯ + ke → májɯ-ɡe/
• Originally final-accented modifiers:
  • mune + ke → munage (胸+毛→胸毛; 'a chest + hair → chest hair'): /mɯné + ke → mɯna-ɡe/
  • yubi + wa → yubiwa (指+輪→指輪; 'a finger + a hoop → a finger ring'): /jɯbí + wá → jɯbi-wa/

Some compounds retain the bimoraic head's initial accent instead or in addition:

• mizu + umi → mizuumi (水+海→湖; 'water + a sea → a lake'): /mizɯ + ɯ́mi → mizɯ-ɯ́mi/
• tama + negi → tamanegi (玉+葱→玉葱; 'a ball + Welsh onion → common onion'): /tamá + néɡi → tama-néɡi/
• hana + muko → hanamuko (花+婿→花婿; 'a flower + a bridegroom → a bridegroom'): /haná + mɯ́ko → hana-mɯ́ko ~ haná-mɯko/
• mame + tsubu → mametsubu (豆+粒→豆粒; 'beans + a grain → a bean'): /mamé + tsɯ́bɯ → mame-tsɯ́bɯ/
• ame + kasa → amagasa (雨+傘→雨傘; 'rain + an umbrella → an umbrella'): /áme + kása → ama-ɡása/

Sino-Japanese heads

Unimoraic modifier + unimoraic Sino-Japanese head

Almost 80% of these compounds are initial-accented: iki (意気; /íki/ 'mettle'), kachi (価値; /kácɕi/ 'value'), kiju (喜寿; /kíʑɯ/ 'one's 77th birthday'), shumi (趣味; /ɕɯ́mi/ 'a hobby'), chiri (地理; /cɕíɾi/ 'geography'), tosho (図書; /tóɕo/ 'books'), basha (馬車; /báɕa/ 'a horse-drawn carriage'), muchi (無知; /mɯ́cɕi/ 'ignorance'), rika (理科; /ɾíka/ 'science'), richi (理知; /ɾícɕi/ 'intellect'), etc.

A devoiced nucleus may cause a rightward shift: kika (気化; /kí̥ka → ki̥ká/ 'evaporation'), (基地; /kí̥cɕi → ki̥cɕí/ 'an operational base'), kiso (基礎; /kí̥so → ki̥só/ 'a fundamental foundation'), chika (地下; /cɕí̥ka → cɕi̥ká/ 'the underground'), chiku (地区; /cɕí̥kɯ → cɕi̥kɯ́/ 'a region'), hisho (避暑; /hí̥ɕo → hi̥ɕó/ 'escape from summer heat'), fuka (不可; /ɸɯ̥́ka → ɸɯ̥ká/ 'untenable'), etc.

Some older compounds are unaccented or final-accented:

• Unaccented: isu (椅子; /isɯ/ 'a furniture seat'), kuge (公家; /kɯɡe/ 'a Japanese courtier'), goma (胡麻; /ɡoma/ 'sesame'), (棕梠; /ɕɯɾo ~ ɕɯ́ɾo/ 'windmill palm'), buji (無事; /bɯʑi/ 'security'), ruri (瑠璃; /ɾɯɾi ~ ɾɯ́ɾi/ 'lapis lazuli'), guchi (愚痴; /ɡɯcɕi/ 'a silly grumble'), geka (外科; /ɡeka/ 'surgery'), jama (邪魔; /ʑama/ 'a hindrance'), isha (医者; /iɕa/ 'a physician'), geri (下痢; /ɡeɾi/ 'diarrhoea'), shiso (紫蘇; /ɕi̥so/), land (土地; /tocɕi/ 'tochi'), (被布; /hiɸɯ ~ hi̥ɸɯ/ 'a hifu'), basho (場所; /baɕo/ 'a place'), etc.
• Final-accented: iji (意地; /iʑí/ 'one's nature'), giri (義理; /ɡiɾí/ 'moral obligation'), chie (知恵; /cɕié/ 'wisdom'), gaki (餓鬼; /ɡakí ~ ɡáki/ 'a hungry ghost'), kega (怪我; /keɡá/ 'an injury'), koke (虚仮; /koké/ 'an idiot'), etc.

Bimoraic modifier + unimoraic Sino-Japanese head

Most of these compounds are initial-accented or unaccented. Semantically nominal compounds are mostly initial-accented, while semantically verbal compounds are mostly unaccented:

• Semantically nominal: aiji (愛児; /áiʑi/ 'one's beloved child'), unga (運河; /ɯ́Nɡa/ 'a canal'), enryo (遠慮; /éNɾjo/ 'foresight'), gansho (願書; /ɡáNɕo/ 'a written request'), kyūka (旧家; /kjɯ́Rka ~ kjɯRka/ 'a long-standing family'), kinjo (近所; /kíNʑo/ 'the neighborhood'), gunbu (軍部; /ɡɯ́Nbɯ/ 'the military brass'), kokka (国家; /kóQka/ 'a nation'), kokudo (国土; /kókɯdo/ 'a territory'), sūchi (数値; /sɯ́Rcɕi/ 'a numerical value'), seishi (世子・誓詞・誓紙・正史・正使; /séiɕi/ 'the heir to lordship; a pledge; a written pledge; an official account of history; a chief envoy'), hakushi (博士; /hákɯ̥ɕi/ 'an academic doctor'), etc.
• Semantically verbal: akka (悪化; /aQka/ 'deterioration'), anki (暗記; /aNki/ 'rote learning'), itchi (一致; /iQcɕi/ 'agreement'), inshu (飲酒; /iNɕɯ/ 'boozing'), enki (延期; /eNki/ 'postponement'), enryo (遠慮; /eNɾjo/ 'discretion'), kaishi (開始; /kaiɕi/ 'a commencement'), shusse (出世; /ɕɯ̥Qse ~ ɕɯ̥Qse/ 'getting ahead in life'), shokuji (食事; /ɕokɯʑi/ 'a meal'), seishi (製糸・製紙・制止・静止; /seiɕi/ 'filature; papermaking; control; repose'), seishi (正視; /seiɕi ~ séiɕi/ 'confrontation'), nyūkyo (入居; /njɯRkjo/ 'moving in'), etc.

Note that some of the unaccented semantically verbal compounds above are not really modifier–head compounds, but rather verb–object compounds as per Chinese syntax (see Chinese grammar §§ Noun phrases​ and Sentence structure). For example, inshu (飲酒) comes from in ("drinks") and shu ("booze"), hence "drinking booze."

A devoiced nucleus may cause a rightward shift: shikiso (色素; /ɕíki̥so → ɕi̥kíso/ 'a pigment'), shukujo (淑女; /ɕɯ̥́kɯʑo → ɕɯ̥kɯ́ʑo/ 'a lady'), shitsui (失意; /ɕí̥tsɯi → ɕi̥tsɯ́i/ 'disappointment'), chitsujo (秩序; /cɕí̥tsɯʑo → cɕi̥tsɯ́ʑo/ 'public order'), Shikibu (式部; /ɕi̥kíbɯ/ 'the Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs'), shukusha (宿舎; /ɕɯ̥kɯ́ɕa/ 'lodging'), etc.

Some old trimoraic compounds may be final- or penultimate-accented:

• Final-accented: kakke (脚気; /kaQké/ 'beriberi'), gyōja (行者; /ɡjoRʑá ~ ɡjóRʑa/ 'an ascetic'), sekku (節句; /seQkɯ́ ~ seQkɯ/ 'a seasonal festival'), dōgu (道具; /doRɡɯ́/ 'a tool'), dōri (道理; /doRɾí/ 'common sense'), fukusa (袱紗; /ɸɯ̥kɯsá ~ ɸɯ̥kɯsa/ 'a fukusa'), henji (返事; /heNʑí/ 'a reply'), sekisho (関所; /seki̥ɕó/ 'a checkpoint'), etc.
• Penultimate-accented: kakugo (覚悟; /kakɯ́ɡo ~ kákɯɡo/ 'readiness'), gokui (極意; /ɡokɯ́i ~ ɡókɯi/ 'arcane knowledge'), etc.

Some originally accented native modifiers may make its own last mora the nucleus, as they would if the head were also native:

• ame + gu → amagu (雨+具→雨具; 'rain + a tool → rain gear'): /áme + ɡɯ́ → amá-ɡɯ/
• kage + e → kagee (影+絵→影絵; 'a shadow + an illustration → a shadowgraph'): /káɡe + é → kaɡé-e/
• mugi + cha → mugicha (麦+茶→麦茶; 'barley + tea → barley tea'): /mɯ́ɡi + cɕa → mɯɡí-cɕa/
• yama + shi → yamashi (山+師→山師; 'a mountain + a master → a speculator'): /jamá + ɕí → jamá-ɕi/
• machi + ‑i → machii (町+医→町医; 'a town + a physician → a general practitioner'): /macɕí + í → macɕí-i/

The suffixal head ‑sho/‑jo (所; 'a place') often results in final-accented compounds: yakusho (役所; /jakɯ̥ɕó/ 'a government office'), benjo (便所; /beNʑó/ 'a rest room'), etc.

Unimoraic modifier + bimoraic Sino-Japanese head

Some 74% of these compounds are unaccented. Semantically nominal ones are mostly initial-accented, and while semantically verbal ones mostly unaccented: chiryō (治療; /cɕiɾjoR ~ ʑiɾjoR/ 'therapy'), kibō (希望; /kiboR/ 'hope'), shuzan (珠算; /ɕɯzaN/ 'abacus calculation'), etc.

A devoiced nucleus may cause a rightward shift: Kishū (紀州; /kí̥ɕɯR → ki̥ɕɯ́R/ 'Kii Province'), kushin (苦心; /kɯ̥́ɕiN → kɯ̥ɕíN/ 'hard work'), chihō (地方; /cɕíhoR ~ cɕí̥hoR → cɕihóR ~ cɕi̥hóR/ 'a locality'), kikai (機械; /ki̥kái/ 'a machine'), fukin (布巾; /ɸɯ̥kíN/ 'a dish towel'), etc.

Some older compounds are final- or penultimate-accented:

• Final-accented: kojiki (乞食; /koʑikí/ 'a beggar'), jigoku (地獄; /ʑiɡokɯ́ ~ ʑiɡokɯ/ 'hell'), etc.
• Penultimate-accented:
  • keshō (化粧; /keɕóR/ 'makeup'), gehin (下品; /ɡehíN/ 'low-class'), koshō (胡椒; /koɕóR/ 'black pepper'), zazen (座禅; /zazéN ~ zazeN/ 'seated meditation'), satō (砂糖; /satóR/ 'sugar'), jiyū (自由; /ʑijɯ́R/ 'freedom'), shotai (所帯; /ɕotái ~ ɕótai/ 'a household'), sekai (世界; /sekái ~ sékai/ 'a world'), zukin (頭巾; /zɯkíN/ 'a hood'), doyō (土用; /dojóR ~ dojoR/ 'midsummer'), bushō (不精; /bɯɕóR/ 'indolence'), etc.
  • ehon (絵本; /ehóN/ 'a picture book'), tehon (手本; /tehóN/ 'an exemplar'), tesū (手数; /tesɯ́R/ 'trouble'), etc.

Bimoraic modifier + bimoraic Sino-Japanese head

Some 85% of these compounds, which are quadrimoraic, are unaccented. Some used to be initial-accented, but have become unaccented (the ^† marks obsolete or obsolescent accent)ː

• aiken (愛犬; /aikeN/ 'one's pet dog'), aibyō (愛猫; /aibjoR/ 'one's pet cat'), gakushū (学習; /ɡakɯ̥ɕɯR/ 'learning'), suiei (水泳; /sɯiei/ 'swimming'), etc.
• kanren (関連; /^†káNɾeN ~ kaNɾeN/ 'relation'), kyūmei (糾明; /^†kjɯ́Rmei ~ kjɯRmei/ 'examination and illumination'), shinrui (親類; /^†ɕíNɾɯi ~ ɕiNɾɯi/ 'a relative'), (襲名; /^†ɕɯ́Rmei ~ ɕɯRmei/ 'succession to a name'), etc.
• kinkaku (金閣; /kíNkakɯ ~ kiNkakɯ/ 'a gold pavilion'), ginkaku (銀閣; /ɡíNkakɯ ~ ɡiNkakɯ/ 'a silver pavilion'), kōzui (洪水; /kóRzɯi ~ koRzɯi/ 'a flood'), sōzoku (相続; /sóRzokɯ ~ soRzokɯ/ 'succession to a position'), taiketsu (対決; /táiketsɯ ~ taiketsɯ/ 'confrontation'), tanmei (短命; /táNmei ~ taNmei/ 'a short life'), rōjō (籠城; /ɾóRʑoR ~ ɾoRʑoR/ 'holing up in a castle'), etc.
• Gokuraku (極楽; /ɡokɯɾakɯ́ ~ ɡokɯɾakɯ/ 'Sukhavati'), dōraku (道楽; /doRɾakɯ́ ~ doRɾákɯ ~ doRɾakɯ/ 'a hobby'),

Some older compounds remains initial-accented: aisatsu (挨拶; /áisatsɯ/ 'greeting'), unmei (運命; /ɯ́Nmei/ 'one's destiny'), ōjō (往生; /óRʑoR/ 'rebirth in Sukhavati'), kaishaku (介錯・解釈; /káiɕakɯ/ 'assistance in committing seppuku; an interpretation'), kaihō (介抱; /káihoR/ 'care'), kannin (堪忍; /káNniN/ 'patience'), kanben (勘弁; /káNbeN/ 'forgiveness'), kōkō (孝行; /kóRkoR/ 'filial piety'), (人類; /ʑíNɾɯi/ 'humankind'), Shinshū (信州; /ɕíNɕɯR/ 'Shinano Province'), Chōshū (長州; /cɕóRɕɯR/ 'Nagato Province'), etc.

Some Sino-Japanese and most native modifiers make their own last mora the nucleus:

• kokunai (国内; /kokɯ́-nai/ 'inside one's country'), sakujitsu (昨日; /sakɯ́-ʑitsɯ/ 'yesterday'), nikurui (肉類; /nikɯ́-ɾɯi/ 'meat'), etc.
• anibun (兄分; /aní-bɯN/ 'one's sworn elder brother'), toribun (取り分; /toɾí-bɯN/, Edojō (江戸城; /edó-ʑoR/ 'Edo Castle'), (組員; /kɯmí-iN/ 'a yakuza member'), suzuran (鈴蘭; /sɯzɯ́-ɾaN/ 'a lily-of-the-valley'), tamazan (珠算; /tamá-zaN/ 'abacus calculation'), tashizan (足し算; /taɕí-zaN/ 'addition'), hikizan (引き算; /hi̥kí-zaN/ 'subtraction'), kakezan (掛け算; /kaké-zaN/ 'multiplication'), warizan (割り算; /waɾí-zaN/ 'division') 'one's share'), yadochin (宿賃; /jadó-cɕiN/ 'hotel charges'), etc.

Long compounds

Long compounds are more predictable, in that their accent largely correlates with their heads.

Short heads

The head can be preaccenting, deaccenting or retain its original accent.

• Preaccenting short heads:
  • midori + ko → midorigo (緑+子→緑児; 'green + a child → an infant'): /mídoɾi + ko → midoɾí-ɡo/
  • nawashiro + ta → nawashiroda (苗代+田→苗代田; 'a rice bed + a paddy → a rice bed'): /nawaɕiɾo + tá → nawaɕiɾó-da/
  • nokori + hi → nokoribi (残り+火→残り火; 'remaining + fire → embers'): /nokóɾi + hi → nokoɾí-bi/
  • yokka + ichi → Yokkaichi (四日+市→四日市; 'four days; fourth day + a market → Yokkaichi'): /joQka + ícɕi → joQká-icɕi/
  • Akita + inu → Akitainu (秋田+犬→秋田犬; 'Akita + a dog → an Akita Inu'): /áki̥ta + inɯ́ → aki̥tá-inɯ ~ aki̥ta-inɯ/
  • taue + uta → taueuta (田植え+歌→田植え歌; 'rice planting + a song → a rice-planting song'): /taɯé + ɯtá → taɯé-ɯta/
  • Shinano + kawa → Shinanogawa (信濃+川→信濃川; 'Shinano + a river → the Shinano River'): /ɕínano ~ ɕinanó + kawá → ɕinanó-ɡawa/
  • Rain + kawa → Raingawa (ライン+川→ライン川; 'Rhine + a river → the Rhine'): /ɾáiN + kawá → ɾaíN-ɡawa/
  • Supein + kaze → Supeinkaze (スペイン+風邪→スペイン風邪; 'Spain + flu → Spanish flu'): /sɯ̥péiN + kaze → sɯ̥peíN-kaze/
  • geka + ‑i → gekai (外科+医→外科医; 'surgery + a physician → a surgeon'): /ɡeka + í → ɡeká-i/
  • denwa + ‑ki → denwaki (電話+機→電話機; '"electric speech" + a machine → a telephone'): /deNwa + kí → deNwá-ki/
  • Ōsaka + ‑shi → Ōsakashi (大阪+市→大阪市; 'Osaka + a city → Osaka City'): /oRsaka + ɕí → oRsaká-ɕi/
  • Saitama + ‑ken → Saitamaken (埼玉+県→埼玉県; 'Saitama + a prefecture → Saitama Prefecture'): /sáitama + kéN → saitamá-keN/
  • Ueno + ‑eki → Uenoeki (上野+駅→上野駅; 'Ueno + a train station → Ueno Station'): /ɯeno + éki → ɯenó-eki/
  • dōbutsu + ‑gaku → dōbutsugaku (動物+学→動物学; 'an animal + an academic discipline → zoology'): /doRbutsɯ + ɡakɯ ~ ɡákɯ → doRbɯtsɯ́-ɡakɯ/
  • terebi + ‑kyoku → terebikyoku (テレビ+局→テレビ局; 'TV + a broadcasting station → a TV station'): /téɾebi + kjókɯ → teɾebí-kjokɯ/
• Deaccenting short heads:
  • undō + ba ~ ‑jō → undōba ~ undōjō (運動+場→運動場; 'exercise + a ground → a playground'): /ɯNdoR + ba ~ ʑóR → ɯNdoR-ba ~ ɯNdoR-ʑoR/
  • tamago + kata → tamagogata (卵+形→卵形; 'an egg + a shape → an egg shape'): /tamáɡo ~ tamaɡo + katá → tamaɡo-ɡata/
  • Satsuma + imo → Satsumaimo (薩摩+芋→薩摩芋; 'Satsuma + a potato → a sweet potato'): /sátsɯma ~ satsɯmá + imó → satsɯma-imo/
  • Nihon + kami → Nihongami (日本+髪→日本髪; 'Japan + hair → a Japanese hairstyle'): /nihóN + kamí → nihoN-ɡami/
  • shabon + tama → shabondama (シャボン+玉→シャボン玉; 'soap + a ball → a bar of soap'): /ɕaboN + tamá → ɕaboN-dama/
  • shōni + ‑ka → shōnika (小児+科→小児科; 'an infant + a medical department → paediatrics'): /ɕóRni + ká → ɕoRni-ka/
  • ratai + ‑ga → rataiga (裸体+画→裸体画; 'a nude body + an artwork → a nude artwork'): /ɾatai + ɡá → ɾatai-ɡa/
  • Nihon + ‑go → Nihongo (日本+語→日本語; 'Japan + a language → Japanese'): /nihóN + ɡó → nihoN-ɡo/
  • Tōkyō + ‑ben → Tōkyōben (東京+弁→東京弁; 'Tokyo + a dialect → the Tokyo dialect'): /toRkjoR + béN → toRkjoR-beN/
  • Kannon + ‑kyō → Kannonkyō (観音+経→観音経; 'Avalokiteshvara + a sutra → the Avalokiteshvara Sutra'): /kaNnoN + kjoR → kaNnoN-ɡjoR/
  • raihai + ‑dō → raihaidō (礼拝+堂→礼拝堂; 'Buddhist service + a hall → a Buddhist chapel'): /ɾaihai + dóR → ɾaihai-doR/
  • reihai + ‑dō → reihaidō (礼拝+堂→礼拝堂; 'Christian service + a hall → a Christian chapel'): /ɾeihai + dóR → ɾeihai-doR/
  • Furansu + ‑sei → Furansusei (フランス+製→フランス製; 'France + making → made in France'): /ɸɯɾaNsɯ + séi → ɸɯɾaNsɯ-sei/
  • erupī + ‑ban → erupīban (LP+盤→LP盤; 'LP + a record → an LP record'): /eɾɯpíR + báN → eɾɯpiR-baN/
• Other short heads can be either preaccenting or deaccenting:
  • takara + shima → takarajima (宝+島→宝島; 'a treasure + an island → a treasure island'): /takaɾá + ɕimá → takaɾa-ʑima/
  • hachijō + shima → Hachijōjima (八丈+島→八丈島; 'eight zhàng + an island → Hachijō Island'): /hacɕíʑoR ~ hácɕiʑoR + ɕimá → hacɕiʑóR-ʑima/
  • ukiyo + ‑e → ukiyoe (浮世+絵→浮世絵; 'floating world + a painting → a floating-world painting'): /ɯkíjo ~ ɯ́kijo ~ ɯkijo + é → ɯkijo-e ~ ɯkijó-e/
  • kan'i + ‑ka → kan'ika (簡易+化→簡易化; 'simplicity + ‑ification → simplification'): /kaNi ~ káNi + ká → kaNi-ka ~ kaNí-ka/
  • kango + ‑nin → kangonin (看護+人→看護人; 'nursing + a worker → a nurse'): /káNɡo + níN → kaNɡo-niN ~ kaNɡó-niN/
  • anzen + ‑ben → anzenben (安全+弁→安全弁; 'safety + a valve → a safety valve'): /aNzeN + béN → aNzéN-beN ~ aNzeN-beN/
• Some short initial-accented native words retain their accent as heads:
  • aiai + kasa → aiaigasa (相合い+傘→相合い傘; 'together + an umbrella → a shipping umbrella'): /aiai + kása → aiai-ɡása/
  • shuppatsu + mae → shuppatsumae (出発+前→出発前; 'departure + before → before departure'): /ɕɯ̥Qpatsɯ + máe → ɕɯ̥Qpatsɯ-máe/
  • musume + muko → musumemuko (娘+婿→娘婿; 'a daughter + a groom → a son-in-law'): /mɯsɯmé + mɯ́ko → mɯsɯme-mɯ́ko/

Some exceptional short heads

Mono (物・者; /monó/ 'a thing; a person') tends to be deaccenting or final-accented, but sometimes also initial-accented:

• takara + mono → takaramono (宝+物→宝物; 'treasure + a thing → treasure'): /takaɾá + monó → takaɾa-mono ~ takaɾa-monó ~ takaɾa-móno/
• yakkai + mono → yakkaimono (厄介+者→厄介者; 'a nuisance + a person → a nuisance person'): /jáQkai + monó → jaQkai-mono ~ jaQkai-monó ~ jaQkai-móno/

The suffixal head ‑kko (っ子; 'a person; a child') can be deaccenting, preaccenting or sometimes final-accented. When it is preaccenting, the accent does not usually shift even if it is on a special mora (see Japanese pitch accent § Accent shifts for more details):

• Deaccenting: Edokko (江戸っ子; /edo-Qko/ 'an Edoite'), kagikko (鍵っ子; /kaɡi-Qko/ 'a latchkey kid'), suekko (末っ子; /sɯe-Qko/ 'the youngest child'), tochikko (土地っ子; /tocɕi̥-Qko/ 'a native'), urekko (売れっ子; /ɯɾe-Qko/ 'a person in high demand'), (苛めっ子; /iʑime-Qko/ 'a bully'), etc.
• Preaccenting and accenting autonomous morae: dadakko (駄々っ子; /dadá-Qko/ 'a spoilt child'), musumekko (娘っ子; /mɯsɯmé-Qko/ 'a slip of a girl'), hitorikko (一人っ子; /hi̥toɾí-Qko/ 'an only child'), hayarikko (流行りっ子; /hajaɾí-Qko/ 'a much sought-after person'), nikumarekko (憎まれっ子; /nikɯmaɾé-Qko/ 'a naughty boy'), etc.
• Preaccenting and accenting special morae: gendaikko (現代っ子; /ɡeNdai-Qko ~ ɡeNdaí-Qko/ 'one of the kids these days'), Sendaikko (仙台っ子; /seNdaíQko/ 'a Sendaian'), Tōkyōkko (東京っ子; /toRkjoŔQko/ 'a Tokyoite'), Rondonkko (ロンドンっ子; /ɾoNdoŃQko/ 'a Londoner'), etc.
• Deaccenting or preaccenting:
  • amakko (尼っ子; /amá-Qko ~ ama-Qko/ 'a wench'), onikko (鬼っ子; /oní-Qko ~ oni-Qko/ 'a child who doesn't resemble their parents'), hizokko (秘蔵っ子; /hizo-Qko ~ hizó-Qko ~ hizoR-Qko/ 'one's pride and joy'), itazurakko (悪戯っ子・悪戯っ児; /itazɯɾá-Qko ~ itazɯɾa-Qko/ 'a little rascal'), (甘えっ子; /amae-Qko ~ amaé-Qko/ 'a clinging child'), moyashikko (萌やしっ子; /mojaɕí̥-Qko ~ mojaɕi̥-Qko/ 'an overprotected child'), etc.
• Final-accented: nekko (根っ子; /ne-Qkó/ 'a root'), (小僧っ子; /kozo-Qkó/ 'a youngster'), etc.
• Deaccenting, preaccenting or final-accented: kubinekko (首根っ子; /kɯbiné-Qko ~ kɯbine-Qkó ~ kɯbine-Qko/ 'the scruff of the neck'), etc.

The suffixal heads ‑sho/‑jo (所; 'a place') and ‑sho (書; /ɕó/ 'a document') tend to be deaccenting or final-accented:

• insatsusho (印刷所; /iNsatsɯ̥-ɕo ~ iNsatsɯ̥-ɕó/ 'a printing office'), kaigisho (会議所; /kaiɡi-ɕo ~ kaiɡi-ɕó/ 'a meeting place'), kumonjo (公文所; /kɯmoN-ʑo ~ kɯmoN-ʑó/ 'a feudal Japanese office for handling official documents'), kōmusho (公務所; /koRmɯ-ɕo ~ koRmɯ-ɕó/ 'a government office'), saibansho (裁判所; /saibaN-ɕo ~ saibaN-ɕó/ 'a courthouse'), shikenjo (試験所; /ɕi̥keN-ʑo ~ ɕi̥keN-ʑó/ 'a laboratory'), hoikusho ~ hoikujo (保育所; /hoikɯ̥-ɕo ~ hoikɯ̥-ɕó ~ hoikɯ-ʑo ~ hoikɯ-ʑó/ 'a daycare center'), torihikijo (取引所; /toɾihi̥ki-ʑo ~ toɾihi̥ki-ʑó/ 'a stock market'), etc.
• katei saibansho (家庭裁判所; /katei saibaNɕo ~ katei saibaNɕó/ 'a family court'), eisei shikenjo (衛生試験所; /eisei ɕi̥keN-ʑo ~ eisei ɕi̥keN-ɟʑó/ 'a hygienic laboratory'), etc.
• josansho ~ josanjo (助産所; /ʑosaN-ɕo ~ ʑosan-ʑo/ 'a maternity home'), takurōsho (宅老所; /takɯɾoR-ɕo/ 'an nursing home'), taihijo (待避所; /taihi-ʑo/ 'a layby'), datsuijo (脱衣所; /datsɯi-ʑo/ 'a dressing room'), reiansho (冷暗所; /ɾeiaN-ɕo/ 'a cool and dark place'), etc.
• ryōshūsho (領収書; /ɾjoRɕɯR-ɕo ~ ɾjoRɕɯR-ɕó/ 'a receipt'), mōshikomisho (申込書; /moRɕi̥komi-ɕo ~ moRɕi̥komi-ɕó/ 'a written application'), mitsumorisho (見積もり書; /mitsɯmoɾi-ɕo ~ mitsɯmoɾi-ɕó/ 'a written estimate'), etc.
• kōteisho (公定書; /koRtei-ɕo/ 'a codex'), senseisho (宣誓書; /seNsei-ɕo/ 'a written oath'), hanketsusho (判決書; /haNketsɯ̥-ɕo/ 'a judgement document'), wakansho (和漢書; /wakaN-ɕo/ 'Japanese and Chinese books'), hijunsho (批准書; /hiʑɯN-ɕo/ 'a ratification instrument'), etc.
• But:
  • jimusho (事務所・寺務所; /ʑimɯ́-ɕo/ 'an office; a Buddhist temple's office'), shamusho (社務所; /ɕamɯ́-ɕo ~ ɕamɯ-ɕo/ 'a Shinto shrine's office'), keimusho (刑務所; /keimɯ́-ɕo ~ keimɯ-ɕo ~ keimɯ-ɕó/ 'a prison')
  • daibenjo (大便所; /daibéN-ʑo ~ daibeN-ʑo/ 'a defecation rest room')
  • genjūsho (現住所; /ɡeNʑɯ́R-ɕo/ 'one's present address')
  • shuisho (趣意書; /ɕɯí-ɕo ~ ɕɯi-ɕó ~ ɕɯi-ɕo/ 'a prospectus'), todokesho (届け書; /todoke-ɕo ~ todoke-ɕó ~ todoké-ɕo/ 'a notice')
  • Kadensho (花伝書; /kadeN-ɕo ~ kadéN-ɕo/)
  • kyōkasho (教科書; /kjoRká-ɕo/ 'a textbook')

The suffixal head ‑ji (寺; 'a Buddhist temple') may be deaccenting or final-accented, but the modifier, which would be a temple's actual name, may also bear accent:

• kokubunji ~ Kokubunji (国分寺; /kokɯbɯN-ʑi ~ kokɯbɯN-ʑí/ 'a provincial temple ~ Kokubunji'), Gokokuji (護国寺; /ɡokokɯ-ʑi ~ ɡokokɯ-ʑí/ 'the Gokoku Temple'), etc.
• Engakuji (円覚寺; /éNɡakɯ-ʑi/ 'the Engaku Temple'), Kinkakuji (金閣寺; /kíNkakɯ-ʑi/ 'the Kinkaku Temple'), Ginkakuji (銀閣寺; /ɡíNkakɯ-ʑi/ 'the Ginkaku Temple'), Kōfukuji (興福寺; /kóRɸɯ̥kɯ-ʑi/ 'the Kōfuku Temple'), Zenkōji (善光寺; /zéNkoR-ʑi/ 'the Zenkō Temple'), Zentsūji (善通寺; /zéNtsɯR-ʑi/ 'the Zentsū Temple; Zentsūji'), Zōjōji (増上寺; /zóʑoR-ʑi/ 'the Zōjō Temple'), Chūsonji (中尊寺; /cɕɯ́RsoN-ʑi/ 'the Chūson Temple'), Nanzenji (南禅寺; /náNzeN-ʑi/ 'the Nanzen Temple'), Rokuonji (鹿苑寺; /ɾókɯoN-ʑi/ 'the Rokuon Temple'), etc.
• Tsukiji Honganji (築地本願寺; /tsɯ̥kiʑi hóNɡaN-ʑi/ 'the Tsukiji Hongan Temple'), Higashi Honganji (東本願寺; /hiɡaɕi hóNɡaN-ʑi/ 'the Eastern Hongan Temple'), Nishi Honganji (西本願寺; /niɕi hóNɡaN-ʑi/ 'the Western Hongan Temple'), etc.
• Ninnaji (仁和寺; /niNna-ʑi ~ niNná-ʑi/ 'the Ninna Temple'), etc.
• Shuzenji (修禅寺・修善寺; /ɕɯzeN-ʑi/ 'the Shuzen Temple; Shuzenji'), etc.
• Tennōji (天王寺; /teNnóR-ʑi/), Tōshōdaiji (唐招提寺; /toRɕoRdái-ʑi/ 'the Tōshōdai Temple'), etc.

The suffixal head ‑san/‑zan (山; 'a mountain') is usually preaccenting, but the modifier, which would be a mountain's actual name, may also bear accent:

• Akagisan (赤城山; /akaɡí-saN/ 'Mount Akagi'), Kōyasan (高野山; /koRjá-saN/ 'Mount Kōya'), Hieizan (比叡山; /hiéi-zaN/ 'Mount Hiei'), Tennōzan (天王山; /teNnóR-zaN/ 'Mount Tennō'), etc.
• Fujisan (富士山; /ɸɯ́ʑi-saN/ 'Mount Fuji'), Naritasan (成田山; /náɾita-saN/), etc.

The suffixal head ‑jin (人; /ʑíN/ 'a person') is usually preaccenting, but sometimes also initial-accented after /N/:

• gaikokujin (外国人; /ɡaikokɯ́-ʑiN/ 'a foreigner'), Kankokujin (韓国人; /kaNkokɯ́-ʑiN/ 'a Korean'), Chūgokujin (中国人; /cɕɯRɡokɯ́-ʑiN/ 'a Chinese person'), Doitsu (ドイツ人; /doitsɯ́-ʑiN/ 'a German'), Amerikajin (アメリカ人; /ameɾiká-ʑiN/ 'an American'), Furansujin (フランス人; /ɸɯɾaNsɯ́-ʑiN/ 'a French person'), etc.
• shizenjin (自然人; /ɕizéN-ʑiN/ 'a natural person'), daionjin (大恩人; /daióN-ʑiN/ 'a magnanimous benefactor'), minkanjin (民間人; /miNkáN-ʑiN/ 'a civilian'), Shokusanjin (蜀山人; /ɕokɯ̥sáN-ʑiN/), Supeinjin (スペイン人; /sɯ̥peíN-ʑiN/ 'a Spaniard'), Norumanjin (ノルマン人; /noɾɯmáN-ʑiN/ 'a Norman'), Pashutunjin (パシュトゥン人; /paɕɯ̥tɯ́N-ʑiN/ 'a Pashtun'), Kuromanyonjin (クロマニョン人; /kɯɾomanjóN-ʑiN/ 'a Cro-Magnon'), etc.
• But:
  • Dēnjin (デーン人; /déRN-ʑiN/ 'a Dane')
  • yabanjin (野蛮人; /jabaN-ʑíN/ 'a barbarian'), nanbanjin (南蛮人; /naNbaN-ʑíN ~ naNbáN-ʑiN/ 'one of the Nanman ~ an Iberian during the Nanban trade'), Nihonjin ~ Nipponjin (日本人; /nihoN-ʑíN ~ niQpoN-ʑíN/ 'a Japanese person'), ippanjin (一般人; /iQpáN-ʑiN ~ iQpaN-ʑíN/ 'an everyman'), dōkenji (同県人; /doRkéN-ʑiN ~ doRkeN-ʑíN/ 'a person from the same prefecture')

Long heads

• If the head is originally unaccented, or final- or initial-accented, or penultimate-accented with a final special mora, its first syllable tend to be accented in the compound:
  • Originally unaccented long heads:
    • tsubaki + abura → tsubakiabura (椿+油→椿油; 'camellia + oil → camellia oil'): /tsɯ́baki + abɯɾa → tsɯbaki-ábɯɾa/
    • shiro + usagi → shirousagi (白+兎→白兎; 'white + a hare → a white hare'): /ɕíɾo + ɯsaɡi → ɕiɾo-ɯ́saɡi/
    • rōdō + kumiai → rōdō kumiai (労働+組合→労働組合; 'labor + a union → a labor union'): /ɾoRdoR + kɯmiai → ɾoRdoR kɯ́miai/
    • otoko + tomodachi → otokotomodachi (男+友達→男友達; 'a male person + a friend → a male friend; a boyfriend'): /otokó + tomodacɕi → otoko-tómodacɕi/
    • senkyo + undō → senkyo undō (選挙+運動→選挙運動; 'an election + a campaign → an election campaign'): /séNkjo + ɯNdoR → seNkjo ɯ́NdoR/
    • akusento + jiten → akusento jiten (アクセント+辞典→アクセント辞典; 'accent + a dictionary → a pitch-accent dictionary'): /ákɯ̥seNto + ʑiteN → akɯ̥seNto ʑíteN/
  • Originally final-accented long heads:
    • ishi + atama → ishiatama (石+頭→石頭; 'rock + a head → pig-headedness'): /iɕí + atamá ~ atáma → iɕi-átama/
    • natsu + yasumi → natsuyasumi (夏+休み→夏休み; 'summer + a break → summer break'): /natsɯ́ + jasɯmí → natsɯ-jásɯmi/
    • kami + saiku → kamizaiku (紙+細工→紙細工; 'paper + a handicraft → a paper handicraft'): /kamí + saikɯ́ ~ saikɯ → kami-záikɯ/
    • kyū + shōgatsu → kyūshōgatsu (旧+正月→旧正月; 'old + the first month of the year → the first lunar month of the year'): /kjɯ́R + ɕoRɡatsɯ́ → kjɯR-ɕóRɡatsɯ/
  • Originally penultimate-accented long heads with a final special mora:
    • kuni + sakai → kunizakai (国+境→国境; 'a country + a border → a frontier'): /kɯni + sakái → kɯni-zákai/
    • eigyō + annai → eigyō annai (営業+案内→営業案内; 'a business + a guide → a business guide'): /eiɡjoR + aNnái → eiɡjoR áNnai/
    • jisei + zairyō → jisei zairyō (磁性+材料→磁性材料; 'magnetism + material → magnetic material'): /ʑisei + zaiɾjóR → ʑisei záiɾjoR/
    • Ise + jingū → Ise jingū (伊勢+神宮→伊勢神宮; 'Ise + a shrine → the Ise Shrine'): /íse + ʑiNɡɯ́R → ise ʑíNɡɯR ~ ise ʑiNɡɯ́R/
    • kachi + handan → kachi handan (価値+判断→価値判断; 'a value + a judgement → a value judgement'): /kácɕi + háNdaN ~ haNdáN → kacɕi̥ háNdaN/
    • nyūsha + shiken → nyūsha shiken (入社+試験→入社試験; 'company entrance + an exam → an employment exam'): /njɯRɕa + ɕi̥kéN → njɯRɕa ɕí̥keN → njɯRɕa ɕi̥kéN/
  • Originally initial-accented long heads:
    • tetsu + kabuto → tetsukabuto (鉄+兜→鉄兜; 'iron + a helmet → a steel helmet'): /tetsɯ + kábɯto → tetsɯ̥-kábɯto/
    • ie + kōmori → iekōmori (家+蝙蝠→家蝙蝠; 'a house + a bat → a house bat'): /ié + kóRmoɾi → ie-kóRmoɾi/
    • Yamato + tamashī → Yamatodamashī (大和+魂→大和魂; 'Yamato + a spirit → the Yamato spirit'): /jámato + támaɕiR → jamato-dámaɕiR/
    • nama + kashi → namagashi (生+菓子→生菓子; 'fresh + a sweet → a fresh sweet'): /náma + káɕi → nama-ɡáɕi/
    • jinbun + kagaku → jinbun kagaku (人文+科学→人文科学; 'humanism + science → the humanities'): /ʑiNbɯN + káɡakɯ → ʑiNbɯN káɡakɯ/
    • shakai + shugi → shakai shugi (社会+主義→社会主義; 'society + a doctrine → socialism'): /ɕákai + ɕɯ́ɡi → ɕakai ɕɯ́ɡi/
    • Kantō + chihō → Kantō chihō (関東+地方→関東地方; 'Kantō + a region → the Kantō region'): /káNtoR + cɕíhoR ~ cɕihóR → kaNtoR cɕíhoR → kaNtoR cɕi̥hóR/
    • hotto + kēki → hottokēki (ホット+ケーキ→ホットケーキ; 'hot + cake → hotcake'): /hóQto + kéRki → hoQto-kéRki/
    • taimu + suitchi → taimu suitchi (タイム+スイッチ→タイムスイッチ; 'time + a switch → a time switch'): /táimɯ + sɯíQcɕi ~ sɯ́iQcɕi → taimɯ sɯíQcɕi ~ taimɯ sɯ́iQcɕi/
    • basu + tāminaru → basu tāminaru (バス+ターミナル→バスターミナル; 'a bus + a terminal → a bus terminal'): /básɯ + táRminaɾɯ → basɯ̥ táRminaɾɯ/
• Other originally medial-accented long heads tend to retain their accent:
  • gyōsei + tetsuzuki → gyōsei tetsuzuki (行政+手続→行政手続; 'administration + a procedure → an administrative procedure'): /ɡjoRsei + tetsɯ́zɯki → ɡjoRsei tetsɯ́zɯki/
  • hoshi + tsukiyo → hoshizukiyo (星+月夜→星月夜; 'a star + a moonlit night → a starry moonlit night'): /hoɕi + tsɯkíjo → hoɕi-zɯkíjo ~ hoɕi-zɯ́kijo/
  • Genji + monogatari → Genji Monogatari (源氏+物語→源氏物語; 'Genji + a tale → the Tale of Genji'): /ɡeNʑi + monoɡátaɾi → ɡeNʑi monoɡátaɾi/
  • mame + jidōsha → mamejidōsha (豆+自動車→豆自動車; 'a bean + a car → a minicar'): /mamé + ʑidóRɕa ~ ʑidoRɕa → mame-ʑidóRɕa/
  • kyōiku + iinkai → kyōiku iinkai (教育+委員会→教育委員会; 'education + a committee → a board of education'): /kjoRikɯ + iíNkai → kjoRikɯ iíNkai/
  • aisu + kurīmu → aisu kurīmu (アイス+クリーム→アイスクリーム; 'ice + cream → ice cream'): /áisɯ + kɯɾíRmɯ → aisɯ̥ kɯɾíRmɯ/

Some exceptional long heads

Some heads become, or used to used to become, final-accented in long compounds. They have been regularized by later generations of speakers (the dagger ^† marks obsolete or obsolescent accent):

• kizu + kusuri → kizugusuri (傷+薬→傷薬; 'a wound + a drug → a vulnerary'): /kizɯ + kɯ̥sɯɾi → ^†kizɯ-ɡɯsɯɾí ~ kizɯ-ɡɯ́sɯɾi/
• mizu + kusuri → mizugusuri (水+薬→水薬; 'water + a drug → a liquid drug'): /mizɯ + kɯ̥sɯɾi → ^†mizɯ-ɡɯsɯɾí ~ mizɯ-ɡɯ́sɯɾi/
• mizu + kuruma → mizuguruma (水+車→水車; 'water + a wheel → a waterwheel'): /mizɯ + kɯɾɯma → ^†mizɯ-ɡɯɾɯmá ~ mizɯ-ɡɯ́ɾɯma/
• ishi + tatami → ishidatami (石+畳→石畳; 'stone + a tatami → stone paving'): /iɕí + tatami → ^†iɕi-datamí ~ iɕi-dátami/
• yaki + tōfu → yakidōfu (焼き+豆腐→焼き豆腐; 'broiling + tofu → broiled tofu'): /jaki + toRɸɯ ~ toRɸɯ́ → ^†jaki-doRɸɯ́ ~ jaki-dóRɸɯ/
• yaki + sakana → yakizakana (焼き+魚→焼き魚; 'broiling + fish → broiled fish'): /jaki + sakana → ^†jaki-zakana ~ jaki-zakana ~ jaki-zákana/
• ni + sakana → nizakana (煮+魚→煮魚; 'boiling + fish → fish boiled with soy'): /ni + sakana → ^†ni-zakana ~ ni-zakana ~ ni-zákana/

Some bimoraic Sino-Japanese heads are deaccenting when combining with short modifiers. When they combine with long modifiers, however, they tend to be preaccenting or regularly initial-accented instead:

Head	Deaccenting with a short modifier	Preaccenting or regularly initial-accented with a long modifier	Exceptions
isu (椅子; /isɯ/ 'a furniture seat')	neisu (寝椅子; /ne-isɯ/ 'a napping chair'), nagaisu (長椅子; /naɡa-isɯ/ 'a long chair'), yuriisu (揺り椅子; /jɯɾi-isɯ/ 'a rocking chair'), etc. zaisu (座椅子; /za-isɯ/ 'a zaisu'), tōisu (籐椅子; /toR-isɯ/ 'a cane chair')	kurumaisu (車椅子; /kɯɾɯmá-isɯ/ 'a wheelchair'), tatamiisu (畳み椅子; /tatamí-isɯ/ 'a folding chair'), hijikakeisu (肘掛け椅子; /hiʑikaké-isɯ/ 'an armchair'), etc. hojo isu (補助椅子; /hoʑó isɯ/ 'a spare chair'), denki isu (電気椅子; /deNkí isɯ/ 'an electric chair'), anraku isu (安楽椅子; /aNɾakɯ́ isɯ/ 'an easy chair'), sankyaku isu (三脚椅子; /saNkjakɯ́ isɯ/ 'a three-legged stool'), etc. kaiten isu (回転椅子; /kaitéN isɯ/ 'a swivel chair'), etc.	tōisu (籐椅子; /tóR-isɯ/ 'a cane chair')
deshi (弟子; /deɕí/ 'a disciple')	aideshi (相弟子; /ai-deɕi/ 'a fellow disciple'), anideshi (兄弟子; /ani-deɕi/ 'a senior disciple'), uchideshi (内弟子; /ɯcɕi-deɕi/ 'an apprentice who lives with their master'), magodeshi; matadeshi (孫弟子・又弟子; /maɡo-deɕi; mata-deɕi/ 'a disciple's disciple'), manadeshi (愛弟子; /mana-deɕi/ 'one's favorite disciple') Butsudeshi (仏弟子; /bɯtsɯ-deɕi/ 'a disciple of the Buddha'), jikideshi (直弟子; /ʑiki-deɕi/ 'an immediate disciple'), shindeshi (新弟子; /ɕiN-deɕi/ 'a new disciple')	otōtodeshi (弟弟子; /otoRtó-deɕi/ 'a junior disciple') shidaideshi (四大弟子; /ɕidái-deɕi/ 'the Buddha's four major disciples'), jūdaideshi (十大弟子; /ʑɯRdái-deɕi/ 'the Buddha's ten major disciples'), kyōdai deshi (兄弟弟子; /kjoRdái deɕi/ 'fellow disciples'), ichiban deshi (一番弟子; /icɕibáN-deɕi/ 'the best disciple')	anideshi (兄弟子; /aní-deɕi/ 'a senior disciple')
miso (味噌; /míso/)	akamiso (赤味噌; /aka-miso/ 'red miso'), shiromiso (白味噌; /ɕiɾo-miso/ 'white miso'), amamiso (甘味噌; /ama-miso/ 'sweet miso'), karamiso (辛味噌; /kaɾa-miso/ 'salty miso'), uomiso (魚味噌; /ɯo-miso/ 'fish miso'), taimiso (鯛味噌; /tai-miso/ 'bream miso'), kakimiso (牡蠣味噌; /kaki-miso/ 'oyster miso'), kanimiso (蟹味噌; /kani-miso/ 'crab miso'), komemiso (米味噌; /kome-miso/ 'rice-kōji miso'), mugimiso (麦味噌; /mɯɡi-miso/ 'barley-kōji miso'), mamemiso (豆味噌; /mame-miso/ 'soybean-kōji miso'), oni miso (鬼味噌; /oni-miso/ 'chili miso'), Edo miso (江戸味噌; /edo-miso/ 'Edo-style miso'), yuzu miso (柚味噌; /jɯzɯ-miso/), yakimiso (焼き味噌; /jaki-miso/ 'grilled miso'), kirimiso (切り味噌; /kiɾi-miso/ 'sliced miso'), taremiso (垂れ味噌; /taɾe-miso/ 'strained miso'), yowamiso (弱味噌; /jowa-miso/ 'a weakling'), kusomiso (糞味噌; /kɯ̥so-miso/ 'lumping miso in with crap ~ lumping the good in with the bad'), etc.	inaka miso (田舎味噌; /inaka míso/ 'barley-kōji miso'), temae miso (手前味噌; /temae míso/ 'self-praise'), awasemiso (合わせ味噌; /awase-míso/ 'mixed-type miso'), otoshimiso (落とし味噌; /otoɕi-míso/ 'whole-chunked miso'), Okazaki miso (岡崎味噌; /okazaki míso/ 'Okazaki-style miso'), etc. horo miso (法論味噌; /hoɾo míso/), shōga miso (生姜味噌; /ɕoRɡa míso/ 'ginger miso'), sanshō miso (山椒味噌; /saNɕoR míso/ 'Japanese-pepper miso'), fukusa miso (袱紗味噌; /ɸɯ̥kɯsa míso/ 'mixed-type miso'), sannen miso (三年味噌; /saNneN míso/ 'third-year miso'), Saikyō miso (西京味噌; /saikjoR míso/ 'Kyoto-style miso'), Sendai miso (仙台味噌; /seNdai míso/ 'Sendai-style miso'), Shinshū miso (信州味噌; /ɕíNɕɯR míso/ 'Shinshū-style miso'), hatchō miso (八丁味噌; /haQcɕoR míso/ 'Okazaki-style miso'), Kinzanji miso (径山寺味噌; /kiNzaNʑi míso/ 'Jingshan-Temple miso'), etc.	yumiso (柚味噌; /jɯ-míso/ 'yuzu miso'), namamiso (生味噌; /nama-míso/ 'fresh miso'), uomiso (魚味噌; /ɯo-míso/ 'fish miso'), yuzu miso (柚味噌; /jɯzɯ-míso/), sumiso (酢味噌; /sɯ-míso/ 'vinegared miso'), namemiso (嘗め味噌; /name-míso/ 'main-dish miso') nōmiso (脳味噌; /noR-míso/ 'brains') goto miso (五斗味噌; /ɡoto miso/ 'five-ingredient miso'), goma miso (胡麻味噌; /ɡoma miso/ 'sesame miso'), horo miso (法論味噌; /hoɾo miso/)
moji (文字; /móʑi/ 'a written character')	kamoji (髪文字・髢; /ka-moʑi/ 'the character kami (髪; lit. 'hair') ~ a hairpiece'), yumoji (湯文字; /jɯ-moʑi/ 'the character yu (湯; lit. 'a bath') ~ a waist-wrapping bath cloth'), shinamoji (品文字; /ɕina-moʑi/ 'placement in the shape of the character shina (品; lit. 'an item')'), komoji (小文字; /ko-moʑi/ 'a small character'), ōmoji (大文字; /oR-moʑi/ 'a capital letter'), semoji (背文字; /se-moʑi/ 'text on a book spine'), oyamoji (親文字; /oja-moʑi/ 'a headword sinograph'), kana moji (仮名文字; /kana moʑi/ 'a kana character'), yokomoji; kanimoji (横文字・蟹文字; /joko-moʑi; kani-moʑi/ 'horizontal text'), karamoji (唐文字; /kaɾa-moʑi/ 'a sinograph'), hanamoji (花文字; /hana-moʑi/ 'an ornamental character ~ a character drawn with flowers'), hitomoji (人文字; /hi̥to-moʑi/ 'a character drawn with a human body'), marumoji (丸文字; /maɾɯ-moʑi/ 'a round-cornered character'), yubimoji (指文字; /jɯbi-moʑi/ 'fingerspelling'), yose moji (寄席文字; /jose moʑi/ 'the yose typeface'), iremoji (入れ文字; /iɾe-moʑi/ 'a character stylistically inserted into a waka'), aomoji (青文字; /ao-moʑi/ 'aromatic litsea'), kuromoji (黒文字; /kɯɾo-moʑi/ 'Lindera umbellata'), shiromoji (白文字; /ɕiɾo-moʑi/ 'Lindera triloba') emoji (絵文字; /e-moʑi/ 'a pictogram'), kinmoji (金文字; /kiN-moʑi/ 'a gold character'), ginmoji (銀文字; /ɡiN-moʑi/ 'a silver character'), sōmoji (草文字; /soR-moʑi/ 'an East Asian cursive character')	ashide moji (葦手文字; /aɕide móʑi/ 'a Japanese character stylized as a picture'), otokomoji (男文字; /otoko-móʑi/ 'masculine handwriting ~ a sinograph'), onnamoji (女文字; /oNna-móʑi/ 'feminine handwriting; a hiragana'), kashiramoji (頭文字; /kaɕiɾa-móʑi/ 'a capital letter ~ an initial'), Yamato moji (大和文字; /jamato móʑi/ 'a kana'), yugamimoji (歪み文字; /jɯɡami-móʑi/ 'the hiragana with a bend, ku (く)'), etc. kato moji (蝌蚪文字; /kato móʑi/ 'a tadpole character'), Joshin moji (女真文字; /ʑoɕiN móʑi/ 'a Jurchen character'), Mōko moji (蒙古文字; /moRko móʑi/ 'a Mongolian letter'), ketsujō moji (結縄文字; /ketsɯʑoR móʑi/ 'shorthand with rope knots'), ketsujō moji; kusabigata moji ~ kekkei moji ~ sekkei moji (楔状文字・楔形文字; /ketsɯʑoR móʑi; kɯ̥sabiɡata móʑi ~ keQkei móʑi ~ seQkei móʑi/ 'cuneiform'), Chōsen moji (朝鮮文字; /cɕoRseN móʑi/ 'hangul'), etc. Girisha moji (ギリシャ文字; /ɡiɾiɕa móʑi/ 'a Greek letter'), Raten moji (ラテン文字; /ɾateN móʑi/ 'a Latin letter'), Kiriru moji (キリル文字; /kiɾiɾɯ móʑi/ 'a Cyrillic letter'), Ejiputo moji (エジプト文字; /eʑipɯ̥to móʑi/ 'an Egyptian hieroglyph'), Arabia moji (アラビア文字; /aɾabia móʑi/ 'an Arabic letter'), Fenekia moji (フェニキア文字; /ɸenikia móʑi/ 'a Phoenician letter'), Mongoru moji (モンゴル文字; /moNɡoɾɯ móʑi/ 'a Mongolian letter'), Burāfumī (ブラーフミー文字; /bɯɾaRɸɯmiR móʑi/ 'a Brahmi character'), Dēbanāgarī moji (デーバナーガリー文字; /deRbanaRɡaɾiR móʑi/ 'a Devanagari character'), etc.	komoji (こ文字; /ko-móʑi/ 'the character ko (こ) ~ a common carp (鯉, koi) ~ wheat (小麦, komugi)'), oyamoji (親文字; /oja-móʑi/ 'a headword sinograph'), kanimoji (蟹文字; /kani-móʑi/ 'horizontal text'), nawamoji (縄文字; /nawa-móʑi/ 'shorthand with rope knots'), hanamoji (花文字; /hana-móʑi/ 'an ornamental character ~ a character drawn with flowers'), yose moji (寄席文字; /jose móʑi/ 'the yose typeface') emoji (絵文字; /e-móʑi/ 'a pictogram'), gomoji (五文字; /ɡo-móʑi/ 'five characters'), kanmoji (閑文字; /kaN-móʑi/ 'empty words'), kinmoji (金文字; /kiN-móʑi/ 'a gold character'), ginmoji (銀文字; /ɡiN-móʑi/ 'a silver character') sumoji (す文字; /sɯ́-moʑi/ 'the character su (す) ~ sushi ~ surmise (推量, suiryō)'), memoji (目文字; /mé-moʑi/ 'the character me (目; lit. 'an eye') ~ an interview (目見え, memie)'), yumoji (湯文字; /jɯ́-moʑi/ 'the character yu (湯; lit. 'a bath') ~ a waist-wrapping bath cloth'), karamoji (唐文字; /kaɾá-moʑi/ 'a sinograph'), hitomoji (一文字; /hi̥tó-moʑi/ 'one character'), misohitomoji (三十一文字; /misohi̥tó-moʑi/ 'thirty-one characters'), futamoji (二文字; /ɸɯ̥tá-moʑi/ 'two characters'), kakimoji (書き文字; /kakí-moʑi/ 'handwriting'), Yamato moji (大和文字; /jamató moʑi/ 'a kana'), kuromoji (黒文字; /kɯɾó-moʑi/ 'Lindera umbellata') shamoji (杓文字; /ɕá-moʑi/ 'the character shaku (杓; lit. 'a hishaku') ~ a rice paddle (杓子, shakushi)')

Isha (医者; /iɕa/ 'a physician') is preaccenting in several compounds:

• haisha (歯医者; /há-iɕa/ 'a dentist'), meisha (目医者; /mé-iɕa/ 'an oculist'), hariisha (鍼医者; /haɾí-iɕa/ 'an acupuncturist'), umaisha (馬医者; /ɯmá-iɕa/ 'an equine veterinarian'), teisha (手医者; /té-iɕa/ 'a retained physician'), taiko isha (太鼓医者; /taikó iɕa/ 'a sycophantic quack'), takenoko isha (筍医者; /takenokó iɕa/ 'a quack')
• But: machiisha (町医者; /macɕi-iɕa ~ macɕí-iɕa/ 'a general practitioner'), yabuisha (藪医者; /jabɯ-iɕa/ 'a quack')

Non-compoundified compound nouns

The above compounds can be termed "compoundified compound nouns" (複合化複合名詞, fukugōka fukugō meishi), the "strongly compound group" (複合の強いグループ, fukugō no tsuyoi gurūpu), or "united words" (結合語, ketsugōgo). Accentually, they are single words and exist in single minor phrases; the original accent of the components does not surface. These are not the only type of compound; there exist compounds whose components are loosely connected as separable minor phrases; these can be termed "non-compoundified compound nouns" (非複合化複合名詞, hifukugōka fukugō meishi), the "weakly compound group" (複合の弱いグループ, fukugō no yowai gurūpu), or "linked words" (接合語, setsugōgo). The following are examples where the same heads result in different types of compound nouns:

Head	Compoundified	Non-compoundified
kōtai (交代; /koRtai/ 'change')	sedai-kōtai (世代交代; /sedai-kóRtai/ 'a change of generation')	shinkyū kōtai (新旧交代; /ɕíNkjɯR | koRtai/ 'a transition between old and new')
fumei (不明; /ɸɯmeR/ 'unknown')	yukue-fumei (行方不明; /jɯkɯe-ɸɯ́meR/ 'whereabouts unknown')	shōsoku fumei (消息不明; /ɕoRsokɯ̥ | ɸɯmeR/ 'whereabouts unknown')

Verb-derived nouns

Nouns derived from the infinitives (連用形, ren'yōkei) of simplex verbs tend to be either accented or unaccented accordingly to the original verbs' accent; however, while verbal infinitives are minimally penultimate-accented, their derived nouns tend to be final-accented.

• maki (巻き; 'rolling → a roll'): /maki/
• kure (暮れ; 'getting dark → nightfall'): /kɯɾe/
• kachi (勝ち; 'winning → a win'): /kácɕi → kacɕí/
• oroshi (下ろし・卸し; 'lowering'): /oɾóɕi → oɾoɕí/
• ochi (落ち; 'falling → a fall'): /ócɕi → ocɕí/

In some cases, the final mora may be considered deficient, so the penultimate mora is accented instead, making the nouns sound identical to the infinitives.

• narai (習い; 'winning → a win'): /naɾái → *naɾaí → naɾái/
• kangae (考え; 'thinking → a thought'): /kaNɡáe → *kaNɡaé → kaNɡáe/

Some quadrimoraic nouns can alternatively be penultimate-accented or, among younger speakers, unaccented, despite the original infinitives.

• atsumari (集まり; 'gathering → a gathering'): /atsɯmáɾi → atsɯmaɾí ~ atsɯmáɾi ~ atsɯmaɾi/
• araware (現われ; 'expressing → an expression'): /aɾawáɾe → aɾawaɾé ~ aɾawáɾe ~ aɾawaɾe/

Some nouns have strayed semantically from their original verbs and become irregular.

• maki (巻き; 'rolling → a scroll; a volume'): /maki → máki/
• muki (向き; 'facing → a direction'): /mɯki → mɯ́ki/
• seki (塞き→関; 'blocking → a checkpoint'): /séki/
• suri (掏り→掏摸; 'pickpocketing → a pickpocket'): /sɯ́ɾi/
• sawagi (騒ぎ; 'being noisy → a noise'): /sawáɡi → sáwaɡi/
• kakari (係り→係; 'handling → a clerk'): /kakáɾi → kákaɾi/
• oroshi (下ろし・卸し→颪・卸し; 'lowering; selling wholesale → a wind blowing down from a high place; wholesale'): /oɾóɕi → óɾoɕi/

Nouns derived from verb–verb compound verbs tend to be unaccented, regardless of the original verbs' accent.

• mikomi (見込み; 'expecting → expectation'): /mikomi ~ mikómi → mikomi/
• uketori (受け取り; 'receiving → a receipt'): /ɯketoɾi ~ ɯketóɾi → ɯketoɾi/

Short noun–verb compounds

These compound nouns are formed with a short noun and a short verbal infinitive.

If the compound is trimoraic:

• If the noun is originally unaccented, the compound tends to be unaccented as well:
  • ka + yari → kayari (蚊+遣り→蚊遣り; 'a mosquito + killing → a mosquito-repelling fire'): /kɐ + jɐɾi → kɐ-jɐɾi/
  • ki + mochi → kimochi (気+持ち→気持ち; 'one's feelings + holding → a feeling'): /ki + mócɕi → ki-mocɕi/
  • chi + tome → chidome (血+止め→血止め; 'blood + stopping → an antihaemorrhagic'): /cɕi + tome → cɕi-dome/
  • ne + sage → nesage (値+下げ→値下げ; 'a price + lowering → a price reduction'): /ne + sɐ́ɡe → ne-sɐɡe/
  • ame + ni → ameni (飴+煮→飴煮; 'candy + boiling → boiled candy'): /ɐme + ni → ɐme-ni/
  • aji + mi → ajimi (味+見→味見; 'taste + seeing → tasting'): /ɐɟʑi + mí → ɐɟʑi-mi ~ ɐɟʑi-mí/
  • hito + de → hitode (人+出→人出; 'people + coming out → a turnout'): /hi̥to + dé → hi̥to-de/
• If the noun is originally accented, the compound tends to be final-accented:

Adjective-derived nouns

Nouns derived from unaccented adjectival infinitives tend to be final-accented, while those from accented ones keep the original accent.

• tōku (遠く; 'being far → a distant place'): /toRkɯ → toRkɯ́/
• chikaku (近く; 'being near → a nearby place'): /cɕí̥kakɯ → cɕi̥kákɯ/
• furuku (古く; 'being old → days gone by'): /ɸɯ́ɾɯkɯ/

The accent of nouns derived from classical Japanese imperfect conclusives (終止形, shūshikei) correlates to their own mora counts: final-accented if bimoraic, unaccented if trimoraic.

• sushi (酸し→鮨; 'is sour → sushi'): /sɯ́ɕi → sɯɕí ~ sɯ́ɕi/
• omoshi (重し→重石; 'is heavy → a weight'): /omóɕi → omoɕi/
• karashi (辛し→芥子; 'is spicy → mustard'): /káɾaɕi → kaɾaɕi/

Bimoraic nouns that are also adjectival roots are initial-accented: aka/áka/ 'red' (赤), ao/áo/ 'blue' (青), kuro/kɯ́ɾo/ 'black' (黒), shiro/ɕíɾo/ 'white' (白), furu/ɸɯ́ɾɯ/ 'a secondhand garment' (古), waka/wáka/ 'a young master' (若), waru/wáɾɯ/ 'a bad person' (悪).

Proper nouns

Given names

All bimoraic given names are initial accented, and some have different accent from the common nouns they derive from:

• momo → Momo (桃; 'a peach → Momo'): /momo → mómo/
• hana → Hana (花; 'a flower → Hana'): /haná → hána/
• natsu → Natsu (夏; 'summer → Natsu'): /natsɯ́ → nátsɯ/
• haru → Hatsu (春; 'spring → Haru'): /háɾɯ/
• ryū → Ryū (竜; 'a dragon → Ryū'): /ɾjɯ́R/
• chiyo → Chiyo (千代; 'a thousand years → Chiyo'): /cɕíjo/
• Miyo (美代): /míjo/
• Emi (恵美): /émi/
• Tetsu (哲): /tétsɯ/
• Ibu (イブ; 'Eve'): /íbɯ/
• Jon (ジョン; 'John'): /ʑóN/

Most trimoraic names derived from common nouns or other types of names retain the original accent:

• iwao → Iwao (巌; 'a big rock → Iwao'): /iwao/
• makoto → Makoto (誠; 'sincerity → Makoto'): /makoto/
• kasumi → Kasumi (霞; 'mist → Kasumi'): /kasɯmi/
• sanae → Sanae (早苗; 'a rice seedling → Sanae'): /sanae/
• Yayoi (弥生; 'the third lunar month of the year → Yayoi'): /jajoi/
• tamaki → Tamaki (環; 'a beaded bracelet → Tamaki'): /támaki/
• midori → Midori (緑; 'green → Midori'): /mídoɾi/
• But: sakura → Sakura (桜; 'a cherry blossom → Sakura'): /sakɯɾa → sákɯɾa/

All trimoraic names derived from verbs are unaccented:

• kaoru → Kaoru (薫る→薫; 'is fragrant → Kaoru'): /kaoɾɯ/
• susumu → Susumu (進む→進; 'advances → Susumu'): /sɯsɯmɯ/
• isamu → Isamu (勇む→勇; 'is spirited → Isamu'): /isámɯ → isamɯ/
• osamu → Osamu (治む→治; 'governs → Osamu'): /osámɯ → osamɯ/
• tōru → Tōru (透る→透; 'penetrates → Tōru'): /tóRɾɯ → toRɾɯ/
• tamotsu → Tamotsu (保つ→保; 'preserves → Tamotsu'): /tamótsɯ → tamotsɯ/
• hajime → Hajime (初め→一; 'beginning → Hajime'): /haʑime/

All trimoraic names derived from adjectives and adjectival nouns are initial-accentedL

• takeshi → Takeshi (猛し→猛; 'is brave → Takeshi'): /tákeɕi/
• tadashi → Tadashi (正し→正; 'is righteous → Tadashi'): /tadáɕi → tádaɕi/
• shizuka → Shizuka (静か→静; 'quiet → Shizuka'): /ɕízɯka/
• akiraka → Akira (明らか→明; 'bright → Akira'): /akíɾaka → ákiɾa/

Foreign trimoraic names tend to be initial-accented: Jōji (ジョージ; /ʑóRʑi/ 'George'), Adamu (アダム; /ádamɯ/ 'Adam'), Marī (マリー; /máɾiR/ 'Marie'), Maria (マリア; /máɾia/ 'Mary ~ Maria'), Dante (ダンテ; /dáNte/ 'Dante'), Anne (アンネ; /áNne/ 'Anne', German: /ˈʔanə/), etc.

Given names with specific suffixes

Certain suffixes make names with predictable accent. An accent shift away from a voiceless mora is also possible.

• Unaccented:
  • ‑e (江・枝・恵): /kazɯe, ki̥kɯe, sɯmie, haɾɯe, ɸɯmie, masae, jɯkie/
  • ‑yo (代・世): /kazɯjo, haɾɯjo, masajo/
  • ‑o (夫・男・雄): /akio, kazɯo, kɯnio, takeo, teɾɯo, nobɯo, haɾɯo, hideo, ɸɯmio, masao, micɕio, jasɯo, jɯkio, joɕio/
• Unaccented or final-accented:
  • ‑zō (三・蔵・造): /jazoR ~ jazóR, tatsɯzoR ~ tatsɯzóR, wakazoR ~ wakazóR, koRzoR ~ koRzóR, ɕoRzoR ~ ɕoRzóR, maNzoR ~ maNzóR/
• Unaccented or initial-accented:
  • ‑ya (也・弥・哉): /kɯRja, cɕɯRja, bɯNja, ɾikija, kazɯja ~ kázɯja, masaja ~ másaja, naoja ~ náoja, tákɯja, tátsɯja/
• Initial-accented:
  • ‑ka (香): /ɸɯ́mika/
  • ‑ki (木・樹): /hídeki, másaki, jóɕi̥ki/
  • ‑to (人): /másato, jóɕi̥to/
  • ‑go (吾): /kéNɡo, ɡéNɡo, ɕóRɡo/
  • ‑ta (太): /kéNta, sáNta, ɕóRta, zéNta/
• Antepenultimate-accented:
  • ‑bē (兵衛): /ɡeNɡóbeR, sabɯɾóbeR, ɡóNbeR, cɕɯ́RbeR/

Accent may also correlate with the names' mora counts.

• ‑kichi (吉), ‑shichi (七), ‑hachi/‑pachi (八), ‑saku (作):
  • Trimoraic: Unaccented: /saki̥cɕi, moki̥cɕi, ɾiki̥cɕi, saɕi̥cɕi, jahacɕi, josakɯ/
  • Quadrimoraic: Unaccented, final- or penultimate-accented: /saNki̥cɕi ~ saNki̥cɕí ~ saNkí̥cɕi, ɕoRki̥cɕi ~ ɕoRki̥cɕí ~ ɕoRkí̥cɕi, jasɯki̥cɕi ~ jasɯki̥cɕí ~ jasɯkí̥cɕi, ɕiNɕi̥cɕi ~ ɕiNɕi̥cɕí ~ ɕiNɕí̥cɕi, haNɕi̥cɕi ~ haNɕi̥cɕí ~ haNɕí̥cɕi, matahacɕi ~ matahacɕí ~ matahácɕi, daihacɕi ~ daihacɕí ~ daihácɕi, ɡoNpacɕi ~ ɡoNpacɕí ~ ɡoNpácɕi, ɕiNsakɯ ~ ɕiNsakɯ́ ~ ɕiNsákɯ/
• ‑ichi (一・市):
  • Trimoraic: Initial-accented: /táicɕi, jáicɕi, jóicɕi, ɾíicɕi/
  • Quadrimoraic: Unaccented, final- or penultimate-accented: /kaNicɕi ~ kaNicɕí ~ kaNícɕi, ɕoRicɕi ~ ɕoRicɕí ~ ɕoRícɕi, ɕiNicɕi ~ ɕiNicɕí ~ ɕiNícɕi/
• ‑rō (郎):
  • Trimoraic: Initial-accented: /táɾoR, ʑíɾoR, ɕíɾoR, ɡóɾoR, kɯ́ɾoR/
  • Quadrimoraic: Unaccented or final-accented: /icɕiɾoR ~ icɕiɾóR, sabɯɾoR ~ sabɯɾóR, ɾokɯɾoR ~ ɾokɯɾóR, ɕi̥cɕiɾoR ~ ɕi̥cɕiɾóR, hacɕiɾoR ~ hacɕiɾóR, ʑɯRɾoR ~ ʑɯRɾóR/
• ‑ko (子), ‑ji (二・治・次):
  • Trimoraic: Initial-accented: /áki̥ko, íkɯ̥ko, éiko, étsɯ̥ko, kázɯko, kíjoko, kɯ́niko, kéiko, sácɕi̥ko, ʑɯ́Nko, sɯ́miko, tákeko, cɕíeko, téɾɯko, tómiko, nátsɯ̥ko, nóbɯko, hánako, háɾɯko, hídeko, híɾoko, ɸɯ́miko, míeko, mícɕi̥ko, jásɯ̥ko, jɯ́ki̥ko, jɯ́ɾiko, jóRko, jóɕi̥ko, ɾáNko, kí̥kɯko → ki̥kɯ́ko, hí̥sako → hi̥sáko, ɸɯ̥́sako → ɸɯ̥sáko, kéNʑi, ɕóRʑi, jɯ́meʑi/
  • Quadrimoraic: Penultimate-accented: /kaedéko, sakɯɾáko, midoɾíko, sadáNʑi/
• ‑suke (助・介・輔):
  • Trimoraic: Unaccented: /ɡosɯ̥ke, sasɯ̥ke, tasɯ̥ke, jasɯ̥ke/
  • Quadrimoraic or longer: Antepenultimate-accented: /imásɯ̥ke, takásɯ̥ke, nebósɯ̥ke, wabísɯ̥ke, ɸɯkɯ́sɯ̥ke, kóRsɯ̥ke, kjóRsɯ̥ke, ɕóRsɯ̥ke, sabɯɾóRsɯ̥ke, káNsɯ̥ke, sáNsɯ̥ke, déNsɯ̥ke, dáisɯ̥ke/
• ‑hei/‑hē/‑pei (平・兵衛):
  • Trimoraic: Initial-accented: /ɡóheR, táheR, jóheR, ɾíheR/
  • Quadrimoraic: Unaccented: /joɕiheR, ɾjoRheR, kaNpeR, saNpeR/

Extended ‑rō given names

A name with the suffix ‑rō (郎), as the second component of a compound, can be further expanded regularly. If the second component is trimoraic, the name's accent correlates with both components. If the second component is quadrimoraic, it alone determines the accent.

Second component First component	Tarō (太郎; /táɾoR/) Shirō (四郎; /ɕíɾoR/) Kurō (九郎; /kɯ́ɾoR/)	Jirō (二郎・次郎; /ʑíɾoR/)	Gorō (五郎; /ɡóɾoR/)		Jūrō (十郎; /ʑɯRɾoR ~ ʑɯRɾóR/)	Kichirō (吉郎; /ki̥cɕiɾoR ~ ki̥cɕiɾóR/) Ichirō (一郎; /icɕiɾoR ~ icɕiɾóR/) Shichirō (七郎; /ɕi̥cɕiɾoR ~ ɕi̥cɕiɾóR/) Hachirō (八郎; /hacɕiɾoR ~ hacɕiɾóR/) Rokurō (六郎; /ɾokɯɾoR ~ ɾokɯɾóR/)	Saburō (三郎; /sabɯɾoR ~ sabɯɾóR/)	‑zaburō (三郎)
Unimoraic	/jotaɾoR, joɕiɾoR/	/jaʑiɾoR, joʑiɾoR/	/koɡoɾoR, joɡoɾoR/		/daNʑɯRɾoR, seiʑɯRɾoR ~ seRʑɯRɾoR, tomiʑɯRɾoR/	/toRki̥cɕíɾoR ~ toRkí̥cɕiɾoR, ʑɯNicɕíɾoR ~ ʑɯNícɕiɾoR, heihacɕíɾoR ~ heRhacɕíɾoR ~ heihácɕiɾoR ~ heRhácɕiɾoR/	/kosábɯɾoR, josábɯɾoR, maɡosábɯɾoR, ɕibasábɯɾoR/	/kaNzabɯɾoR, ɡeNzabɯɾoR, ɾjɯRzabɯɾoR, daizabɯɾoR/
Bimoraic, 2nd mora being /N/	/kiNtaɾoR, saNɕiɾoR, ɡeNkɯɾoR/	/ɡáNʑiɾoR, kíNʑiɾoR/	/ɡeNɡoɾoR, saNɡoɾoR/
Bimoraic, 2nd mora being /R/	/koRtaɾoR, koRɕiɾoR, toRkɯɾoR/	/jɯ́RʑiɾoR, jóRʑiɾoR/	/sóRɡoɾoR, ɕóRɡoɾoR/
Bimoraic, 2nd mora being /i/	/keitaɾoR ~ keRtaɾoR, heikɯɾoR ~ heRkɯɾoR/		/éiɡoɾoR ~ éRɡoɾoR, dáiɡoɾoR/
Bimoraic, 2nd mora being anything else	/momótaɾoR, sadákɯɾoR/	/otóʑiɾoR, masáʑiɾoR/	/hacɕíɡoɾoR, mɯtsɯ́ɡoɾoR/

Family names

Most trimoraic or shorter family names are initial-accented, and some may have different accent from the common nouns they derive from:

• oka → Oka (岡; 'a hill → Oka'): /oka → óka/
• taki → Taki (滝; 'a waterfall → Taki'): /taki → táki/
• nishi → Nishi (西; 'west → Nishi'): /niɕi → níɕi/
• minami → Minami (南; 'south → Minami'): /minami → mínami/
• shima → Shima (島; 'an island → Shima'): /ɕimá → ɕíma/
• higashi → Higashi (東; 'east → Higashi'): /hiɡaɕi ~ hiɡaɕí → híɡaɕi/
• Azuma (東; 'Kantō → Azuma'): /ázɯma/
• hara → Hara (原; 'a plain → Hara'): /háɾa/
• Ri (李; 'Lee'): /ɾí/
• Ī (イー; 'Lee', Korean: /i/): /íR/
• Ō (王; 'Wang'): /óR/
• Kin (金; 'Jin'): /kíN/
• Kimu (キム; 'Kim', Korean: /kim/): /kímɯ/
• Chin (陳; 'Chen'): /cɕíN/

But:

• shiba → Shiba (芝; 'a lawn → Shiba'): /ɕiba → ɕiba ~ ɕíba/
• hayashi → Hayashi (林; 'a grove → Hayashi'): /hajaɕi ~ hajaɕí → hajaɕi/
• mori → Mori (森; 'a forest → Mori'): /moɾi → moɾi ~ móɾi/
• hori → Hori (堀; 'a moat → Hori'): /hoɾí → hoɾi ~ hóɾi/

Western names generally follow the antepenultimate rule: Shō (ショー; /ɕóR/ 'Shaw'), Sumisu (スミス; /sɯ́misɯ/ 'Smith'), Dāwin (ダーウィン; /dáRwiN/ 'Darwin'), Nyūton (ニュートン; /njɯ́RtoN/ 'Newton'), Chāchiru (チャーチル; /cɕáRcɕiɾɯ/ 'Churchill'), Gēte (ゲーテ; /ɡéRte/ 'Goethe'), Bahha (バッハ; /báQha/ 'Bach'), Menderu (メンデル; /méNdeɾɯ/ 'Mendel'), Gohho (ゴッホ; /ɡóQho/ 'Goch'), Shopan (ショパン; /ɕópaN/ 'Chopin'), Rusō (ルソー; /ɾɯ́soR/ 'Rousseau'), Kyūrī (キューリー; /kjɯ́RɾiR/ 'Curie'), Dekaruto (デカルト; /dekáɾɯto/ 'Descartes'), do Gōru (ドゴール; /do ɡóRɾɯ/ 'de Gaulle'), Ganjī (ガンジー; /ɡáNʑiR/ 'Gandhi'), etc.

Although a few retain the accent in the source languages:

• English: Edison /ˈɛdɪsən/ → Ejison (エジソン) /éʑisoN/
• German:
  • Marx /maʁks/ → Marukusu (マルクス) /máɾɯkɯ̥sɯ/
  • Schubert /ˈʃuːbəʁt/ → Shūberuto (シューベルト) /ɕɯ́Rbeɾɯto ~ ɕɯRbéɾɯto/
• French: Sartre /saʁtʁ(ə)/ → Sarutoru (サルトル) /sáɾɯtoɾɯ/

Family names with specific suffixes

Family names with specific suffixes are generally predictable.

• Unaccented:
  • ‑ga (賀・我): /koɡa, ɕiɡa, haɡa, soɡa/
  • ‑da (田): /oda, sada, sɯda, tsɯda, toda, wada, iRda, ikeda, iɕida, ɯeda, ɯcɕida, okada, okɯda, kaNda, koRda, sanada, ɕimoda, takeda, tsɯ̥cɕida, nakada, ɸɯ̥kɯda, hoNda, maeda, masɯda, matsɯda, jasɯda, jamada, joɕida/
    • But: /háɾada, kɯ́ɾoda/
  • ‑zawa (沢): /ozawa, tazawa, jɯzawa, takizawa, nakazawa, ɸɯ̥kɯzawa/
  • ‑shima/‑jima (島): /ki̥ɕima, miɕima, koʑima, oRɕima, kawaɕima, kɯɾaɕima, tsɯ̥kiɕima, nakaʑima/
  • ‑moto (本): /iwamoto, okamoto, kawamoto, sakamoto, haɕimoto, matsɯmoto, mijamoto, jamamoto/
    • But: /sɯɡímoto, joɕímoto/
• Antepenultimate-accented, with a possible accent shift:
  • ‑uchi (内): /takéɯcɕi, matsɯ́ɯcɕi, mijáɯcɕi/
  • ‑kawa (川): /jɯ́kawa, kɯɾókawa, tsɯɾɯ́kawa, hanákawa, ɸɯɾɯ́kawa, hosókawa, jamákawa, icɕí̥kawa → icɕi̥káwa, tacɕí̥kawa → tacɕi̥káwa, joɕí̥kawa → joɕi̥káwa, niɕi̥káwa, jasɯ̥káwa, natsɯ̥káwa, kiQkáwa/
    • But: /asakawa, aɾakawa, iɕi̥kawa/
  • ‑guchi (口): /táɡɯcɕi, nóɡɯcɕi, híɡɯcɕi, kawáɡɯcɕi, sekíɡɯcɕi, jamáɡɯcɕi/
  • ‑saki/‑zaki (崎): /ésaki, ózaki, tázaki, jázaki, iwásaki, okázaki, tanízaki, jamázaki/
  • ‑shita (下): /sɯɡíɕi̥ta, matsɯ́ɕi̥ta, jamáɕi̥ta/
  • ‑naga (永): /tomínaɡa, matsɯ́naɡa, moɾínaɡa/
  • ‑hashi (橋): /kɯɾáhaɕi, takáhaɕi, matsɯ́haɕi/
  • ‑hara/‑bara (原): /ɯéhaɾa, nakáhaɾa, matsɯ́baɾa/
  • ‑mori (森): /sɯɡímoɾi, takémoɾi, ɸɯʑímoɾi/

The accent also correlates with the mora count.

• ‑ta (田), ‑no (野):
  • Bimoraic: Unaccented: /mita, ɯno, ono, sano, seno, hino, mano, jano/
  • Trimoraic: Initial-accented: /áki̥ta, íkɯ̥ta, kɯ́bota, sákata, ɕíbata, táki̥ta, tómita, ɸɯ́ʑita, mízɯta, móɾita, ɯ́eno, óRno, náɡano, híɾano, mákino, móɾino, jóɕino/
    • But: /oRta, naɡata, mɯɾata, asano/
• ‑i (井), ‑ki/‑gi (木):
  • Bimoraic: Initial-accented: /íi, tái, jɯ́i, séki, máki, míki, nóɡi/
  • Trimoraic: Unaccented: /asai, aɾai, iɕii, imai, kawai, takei, ɸɯʑii, matsɯi, jasɯi, aoki, sasaki, sɯzɯki, namiki, matsɯ̥ki, takaɡi/
    • But: /sákai, náɡai, mítsɯi, áɾaki, ɯ́eki/
• ‑kami/‑gami (上), ‑gawa (川), ‑yama (山):
  • Trimoraic: Initial-accented: /míkami, néɡami, nóɡami, áɡawa, tóɡawa, nóɡawa, kíjama, kójama, sájama/
    • But: /oɡawa/
  • Quadrimoraic: Unaccented: /kawakami, mɯɾakami, jamaɡami, akaɡawa, ki̥taɡawa, sasaɡawa, ɕinaɡawa, takiɡawa, haseɡawa, mijaɡawa, janaɡawa, iɕijama, ɯcɕijama, oRjama, katajama, sɯɡijama, takajama, toRjama, nakajama, haɾɯjama, maɾɯjama/
    • But: /tokɯ́ɡawa, nakáɡawa, akíjama, jokójama/

Long compound family names

Long compound family names tend to follow the rules of long modifier–head compound nouns.

• akuta + kawa → Akutagawa (芥+川→芥川; 'rubbish + a river → Akutagawa'): /akɯ̥ta ~ ákɯ̥ta + kawá → akɯtá-ɡawa/
• sakaki + hara → Sakakibara (榊+原→榊原; 'sakaki + a plain → Sakakibara'): /sakaki + háɾa → sakakí-baɾa/
• waka + hayashi → Wakabayashi (若+林→若林; 'young + a grove → Wakabayashi'): /wáka + hajaɕi ~ hajaɕí → waka-bájaɕi/
• matsu + taira → Matsudaira (松+平→松平; 'pine + flat → Matsudaira'): /mátsɯ + táiɾa → matsɯ-dáiɾa ~ mátsɯdaiɾa/

Placenames

Many placenames in Tokyo and nearby areas are unaccented, which conforms to the aforementioned principle of deaccentuating high-frequency or familiar words: Edo (江戸; /edo/), Mita (三田; /mita/), Ueno (上野; /ɯeno/), Kanda (神田; /kaNda/), Ginza (銀座; /ɡiNza/), Shibuya (渋谷; /ɕibɯja/), Nakano (中野; /nakano/), Edogawa (江戸川; /edoɡawa/), Shinjuku (新宿; /ɕiNʑɯkɯ/), etc.

A select few western placenames, some borrowed earlier on, are also unaccented: Porutogaru (ポルトガル; /poɾɯtoɡaɾɯ/; 'Portugal'), Igirisu (イギリス; /iɡiɾisɯ/; 'England ~ the UK'), Furansu (フランス; /ɸɯɾaNsɯ/; 'France'), Ejiputo (エジプト; /eʑipɯ̥to/; 'Egypt'), Amerika (アメリカ; /ameɾika/; 'America'), Afurika (アフリカ; /aɸɯɾika/; 'Africa'), Shiberia (シベリア; /ɕibeɾia/; 'Siberia'), Itaria (イタリア; /itaɾia/; 'Italy'), Betonamu (ベトナム; /betonamɯ/; 'Vietnam'), etc.

Most other placenames conform to the antepenultimate rule; if they are trimoraic or shorter, they tend to be initial-accented:

• Tsu (津; /tsɯ́/), Ise (伊勢; /íse/), Kure (呉; /kɯ́ɾe/), Nara (奈良; /náɾa/), Chiba (千葉; /cɕíba/), Mie (三重; /míe/), Akita (秋田; /áki̥ta/), Izumo (出雲; /ízɯmo/), Iwate (岩手; /íwate/), Kyōto (京都; /kjóRto/), Kōbe (神戸; /kóRbe/), Nagoya (名古屋; /náɡoja/), Hyōgo (兵庫; /hjóRɡo/), Yamato (大和; /jámato/), Shizuoka (静岡; /ɕizɯ́oka/), Nagasaki (長崎; /naɡásaki/), Fukuoka (福岡; /ɸɯ̥kɯ́oka/), Wakayama (和歌山; /wakájama/), etc.
• Go (呉; /ɡó/; 'Wu'), So (楚; /só/; 'Chu'), Kan (漢・韓; /káN/; 'Han; Han'), Gen (元; /ɡéN/; 'Yuan'), Tō (唐; /tóR/; 'Tang'), Seian (西安; /séiaN/; 'Xi'an'), Tai (泰; /tái/; 'Thailand'), Indo (印度; /íNdo/; 'India'), etc.
• Yōroppa (ヨーロッパ; /joRɾóQpa/; 'Europe'), Rōma (ローマ; /ɾóRma/; 'Rome'), Pari (パリ; /páɾi/; 'Paris'), Suisu (スイス; /sɯ́isɯ/; 'Switzerland'), Doitsu (ドイツ; /dóitsɯ/; 'Germany'), Kanada (カナダ; /kánada/; 'Canada'), Biruma (ビルマ; /báRma/; 'Birma'), Perū (ペルー; /péɾɯR/; 'Peru'), Supein (スペイン; /sɯ̥péiN/; 'Spain'), Chibetto (チベット; /tibéQto/; 'Tibet'), Nepāru (ネパール; /nepáRɾɯ/; 'Nepal'), Nyū Yōku (ニューヨーク; /njɯR jóRkɯ/; 'New York'), Suwēden (スウェーデン; /sɯwéRdeN/; 'Sweden'), Washinton (ワシントン; /waɕíNtoN/; 'Washington'), Ōsutoraria (オーストラリア; /oRsɯ̥toɾáɾia/; 'Australia'), Hawai (ハワイ; /háwai/; 'Hawaii'), Roshia (ロシア; /ɾóɕia/; 'Russia'), etc.

Recent loanwords

Most recent loanwords (外来語, gairaigo) conform to the antepenultimate rule, and if they are trimoraic or shorter, they tend to be initial-accented.

• gasu (ガス; /gásɯ/; 'gas'), kari (カリ; /káɾi/; 'potash'), gamu (ガム; /ɡámɯ/; 'gum'), pai (パイ; /pái/; 'pi(e)'), kamera (カメラ; /kámeɾa/; 'a camera'), karuto (カルト; /káɾɯto/; 'a cult'), kurasu (クラス; /kɯ́ɾasɯ/; 'class'), kēki (ケーキ; /kéRki/; 'cake'), batā (バター; /bátaR/; 'cake'), merī (メリー; /méɾiR/; 'merry'), etc.
• orību (オリーブ; /oɾíRbɯ/; 'olive'), natoriumu/natoryūmu (ナトリウム・ナトリューム; /natoɾíɯmɯ/natoɾjɯ́Rmɯ/; 'sodium'), orenji (オレンジ; /oɾéNʑi/; 'orange'), sukāto (スカート; /sɯ̥káRto/; 'a skirt'), torippu (トリップ; /toɾíQpɯ/; 'a trip'), raketto (ラケット; /ɾakéQto/; 'a racket'), asufaruto (アスファルト; /asɯɸáɾɯto/; 'asphalt'), sutoraiki (ストライキ; /sɯ̥toɾáiki/; 'a labor strike'), sutoraiku (ストライク; /sɯ̥toɾáikɯ/; 'a baseball strike'), chokorēto (チョコレート; /cɕokoɾéRto/; 'chocolate'), arufabetto (アルファベット; /aɾɯɸabéQto/; 'an alphabet'), daiyamondo (ダイヤモンド; /daijamóNdo/; 'diamond'), Orinpikku (オリンピック; /oɾiNpí̥Qkɯ/; 'the Olympics'), etc.
• kurowassan (クロワッサン; /kɯɾowáQsaN/; 'a croissant'), konpasu (コンパス; /kóNpasɯ/; 'a compass'), enjin (エンジン; /éNʑiN/; 'an engine'), ōdio (オーディオ; /óRdio/; 'audio'), kappuru (カップル; /káQpɯɾɯ/; 'couple'), sutōrī (ストーリー; /sɯ̥tóRɾiR/; 'a story'), suponsā (スポンサー; /sɯ̥póNsaR/; 'a sponsor'), doressā (ドレッサー; /doɾéQsaR/; 'a dresser'), purinsesu (プリンセス; /pɯɾíNsesɯ/; 'a princess'), imitēshon (イミテーション; /imitéRɕoN/; 'imitation'), etc.

Some words retain their accent locations in English, especially if they were freshly borrowed:

• grey /ɡɹɛj/ → gurē (グレー) /ɡɯɾéR/
• blue /blʉw/ → burū (ブルー) /bɯɾɯ́R/
• fry /fɹɑj/ / fly /flaj/ → furai (フライ) /ɸɯɾái/
• free /fɹɪj/ → furī (フリー) /ɸɯɾíR/
• ski /skɪj/ → sukī (スキー) /sɯ̥kíR/
• machine /məˈʃɪjn/ → mashin (マシン) /maɕíN/
• Japan /dʒəˈpan/ → Japan (ジャパン) /ʑapáN/
• onion /ˈɐnɪjən/ → onion (オニオン) /ónioN/
• taboo /təˈbʉw/ → tabū (タブー) /tabɯ́R/
• review /ɹɪˈvjʉw/ → rebyū (レビュー) /ɾebjɯ́R/
• calorie /ˈkaləɹɪj/ → karorī (カロリー) /káɾoɾiR/
• comedy /ˈkɔmədɪj/ → komedī (コメディー) /kómediR/
• majority /məˈdʒɔɹətɪj/ → majoritī (マジョリティー) /maʑóɾitiR/
• vitality /vɑjˈtalətɪj/ → baitaritī (バイタリティー) /baitáɾitiR/
• technology /tɛkˈnɔlədʒɪj/ → tekunorojī (テクノロジー) /tekɯnóɾoʑiR/
• accent /ˈaksənt/ → akusento (アクセント) /ákɯ̥seNto/
• guidance /ˈɡɑjdəns/ → gaidansu (ガイダンス) /ɡáidaNsɯ/
• cycling /ˈsɑjklɪŋ/ → saikuringu (サイクリング) /sáikɯɾiNɡɯ/
• stocking /ˈstɔkɪŋ/ → sutokkingu (ストッキング) /sɯ̥tóQkiNɡɯ/
• assessment /əˈsɛsmənt/ → asesumento (アセスメント) /asésɯmeNto/

Some old or high-frequency words, especially quadrimoraic ones, are unaccented:

• orugan (オルガン; /oɾɯɡaN/; 'an organ'), saboten (サボテン; /saboteN/; 'a cactus'), purachina (プラチナ; /pɯɾacɕina/; 'platinum'), foa gura (フォアグラ; /ɸoa ɡɯɾa/; 'foie gras'), omuretsu (オムレツ; /omɯɾetsɯ/; 'an omelette'), nonburu (ノンブル; /noNbɯɾɯ/; 'pagination'), kiseru (キセル; /ki̥seɾɯ/; 'a smoking pipe'), garasu (ガラス; /ɡaɾasɯ/; 'a glass'), koppu (コップ; /koQpɯ/; 'a cup'), moruhine (モルヒネ; /moɾɯhine/; 'morphine'), arukōru (アルコール; /aɾɯkoRɾɯ/; 'alcohol'), kareē (カレー; /kaɾeR/; 'curry'), baketsu (バケツ; /baketsɯ/; 'a bucket'), aian (アイアン; /aiaN/; 'a golf iron'), airon (アイロン; /aiɾoN/; 'a clothes iron'), arubamu (アルバム; /aɾɯbamɯ/; 'an album'), katsuretsu (カツレツ; /katsɯɾetsɯ/; 'a cutlet'), sutajio (スタジオ; /sɯ̥taʑio/; 'a studio'), manikyua (マニキュア; /manikjɯa/; 'manicure'), baiorin (バイオリン; /baioɾiN/; 'a violin'), etc.
• botan (ボタン; /botaN ~ bótaN/; 'a button'), doramu (ドラム; /dóɾamɯ ~ doɾamɯ/; 'a drum'), mēru (メール; /méRɾɯ ~ meRɾɯ/; 'e-mail'), sākuru (サークル; /sáRkɯɾɯ ~ saRkɯɾɯ/; 'a circle'), tōsuto (トースト; /tóRsɯ̥to ~ toRsɯ̥to/; 'toast'), manējā (マネージャー; /manéRʑaR ~ maneRʑaR/; 'a manager'), etc.

Noun + particle

Particles following nouns can be classified into the following groups (asterisked particles belong to more than one group):

• Special: no / n
• Recessive and preaccenting (RecPre): shika*
• Recessive and unaccented (Rec0): ka, ga, sa, de, to / to shite / tte, ni, wa (は), e, mo, ya, yo, o, kara, kiri, shika*, dake*, hodo
• Recessive and final-accented (Rec-1): ne, ka na (doubt) / ka ne, yue*
• Recessive and initial-accented (Rec+1): ka i / ka na (exclamation) / ka mo, koso, sae, shika*, shimo, sura, da to / da no / da tte, de wa (では) / de mo, to ka / to te / to wa (とは) / to mo, nado / na no de / na no ni / na n ka / na n te, nara(ba), nari, ni wa (には) / ni mo, nē, nomi, e wa (へは) / e mo, made, yara, yue*, yori / yori ka / yori mo, kashira, kurai* / gurai*, dokoro*, bakari*
• Dominant and initial-accented (Dom+1): gatera, kurai* / gurai*, dokoro*, bakari*
• Dominant and deaccenting (DomDe): dake*

Noun type				Special	RecPre	Rec0	Rec-1	Rec+1	Dom+1	DomDe
Unaccented		ki (気; 'spirits')	/ki/	/ki no/	/kí ɕi̥ka/	/ki ɕi̥ka/ /ki dake/	/ki̥ ka ná/	/ki ɕí̥ka/ /ki ɡɯ́ɾai/ /ki̥ ká na/	/ki ɡɯ́ɾai/	/ki dake/
		hashi (端; 'an edge')	/haɕi/	/haɕi no/	/haɕí ɕi̥ka/	/haɕi ɕi̥ka/ /haɕi dake/	/haɕi̥ ka ná/	/haɕi ɕí̥ka/ /haɕi ɡɯ́ɾai/ /haɕi̥ ká na/	/haɕi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/haɕi dake/
		sakura (桜; 'a cherry blossom')	/sakɯɾa/	/sakɯɾa no/	/sakɯɾá ɕi̥ka/	/sakɯɾa ɕi̥ka/ /sakɯɾa dake/	/sakɯɾa ka ná/	/sakɯɾa ɕí̥ka/ /sakɯɾa ɡɯ́ɾai/ /sakɯɾa ká na/	/sakɯɾa ɡɯ́ɾai/	/sakɯɾa dake/
Final-accented		hashi (橋; 'a bridge')	/haɕí/	/haɕi no/	/haɕí ɕi̥ka/	/haɕí ɕi̥ka/ /haɕí dake/	/haɕí̥ ka na/	/haɕí ɕi̥ka/ /haɕí ɡɯɾai/ /haɕí̥ ka na/	/haɕi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/haɕi dake/
		yasumi (休み; 'a break')	/jasɯmí/	/jasɯmi no/	/jasɯmí ɕi̥ka/	/jasɯmí ɕi̥ka/ /jasɯmí dake/	/jasɯmí ka na/	/jasɯmí ɕi̥ka/ /jasɯmí ɡɯɾai/ /jasɯmí ka na/	/jasɯmi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/jasɯmi dake/
	Penultimate-accented with a final special mora	kinō (昨日; 'yesterday')	/kinóR/	/kinoR no/	/kinóR ɕi̥ka/	/kinóR ɕi̥ka/ /kinóR dake/	/kinóR ka na/	/kinóR ɕi̥ka ~ kinóR | ɕí̥ka/ /kinóR ɡɯɾai ~ kinóR | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /kinóR ka na ~ kinóR | ká na/	/kinoR ɡɯ́ɾai/	/kinoR dake/
		Nihon (日本; 'Japan')	/nihóN/	/nihoN no ~ nihóN no/	/nihóN ɕi̥ka/	/nihóN ɕi̥ka/ /nihóN dake/	/nihóN ka na/	/nihóN ɕi̥ka ~ nihóN | ɕí̥ka/ /nihóN ɡɯɾai ~ nihóN | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /nihóN ka na ~ nihóN | ká na/	/nihoN ɡɯ́ɾai/	/nihoN dake/
		ototoi (一昨日; 'the day before yesterday')	/ototói/	/ototoi no ~ ototói no/	/ototói ɕi̥ka/	/ototói ɕi̥ka/ /ototói dake/	/ototói ka na/	/ototói ɕi̥ka ~ ototói | ɕí̥ka/ /ototói ɡɯɾai ~ ototói | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /ototói ka na ~ ototói | ká na/	/ototoi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/ototoi dake/
Medial-accented		okashi (お菓子; 'a sweet')	/okáɕi/	/okáɕi no/	/okáɕi ɕi̥ka/	/okáɕi ɕi̥ka/ /okáɕi dake/	/okáɕi̥ ka na/	/okáɕi ɕi̥ka ~ okáɕi | ɕí̥ka/ /okáɕi ɡɯɾai ~ okáɕi | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /okáɕi̥ ka na ~ okáɕi̥ | ká na/	/okaɕi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/okaɕi dake/
		nomimono (飲み物; 'a drink')	/nomímono/	/nomímono no/	/nomímono ɕi̥ka/	/nomímono ɕi̥ka/ /nomímono dake/	/nomímono ka na/	/nomímono ɕi̥ka ~ nomímono | ɕí̥ka/ /nomímono ɡɯɾai ~ nomímono | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /nomímono ka na ~ nomímono | ká na/	/nomimono ɡɯ́ɾai/	/nomimono dake/
		mizuumi (湖; 'a lake')	/mizɯɯ́mi/	/mizɯɯ́mi no/	/mizɯɯ́mi ɕi̥ka/	/mizɯɯ́mi ɕi̥ka/ /mizɯɯ́mi dake/	/mizɯɯ́mi ka na/	/mizɯɯ́mi ɕi̥ka ~ mizɯɯ́mi | ɕí̥ka/ /mizɯɯ́mi ɡɯɾai ~ mizɯɯ́mi | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /mizɯɯ́mi ka na ~ mizɯɯ́mi | ká na/	/mizɯɯmi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/mizɯɯmi dake/
Initial-accented		ki (木; 'a tree')	/kí/	/kí no/	/kí ɕi̥ka/	/kí ɕi̥ka/ /kí dake/	/kí̥ ka na/	/kí ɕi̥ka/ /kí ɡɯɾai/ /kí̥ ka na/	/ki ɡɯ́ɾai/	/ki dake/
		hashi (箸; 'a chopstick')	/háɕi/	/háɕi no/	/háɕi ɕi̥ka/	/háɕi ɕi̥ka/ /háɕi dake/	/háɕi̥ ka na/	/háɕi ɕi̥ka ~ háɕi | ɕí̥ka/ /háɕi ɡɯɾai ~ háɕi | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /háɕi̥ ka na ~ háɕi̥ | ká na/	/haɕi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/haɕi dake/
		midori (緑; 'green')	/mídoɾi/	/mídoɾi no/	/mídoɾi ɕi̥ka/	/mídoɾi ɕi̥ka/ /mídoɾi dake/	/mídoɾi ka na/	/mídoɾi ɕi̥ka ~ mídoɾi | ɕí̥ka/ /mídoɾi ɡɯɾai ~ mídoɾi | ɡɯ́ɾai/ /mídoɾi ka na ~ mídoɾi | ká na/	/midoɾi ɡɯ́ɾai/	/midoɾi dake/

No

As shown above, the particle no, as well as its reduced variant n, can deaccent many final-accented nouns, as well as some penultimate-accented nouns whose last mora is special. It is not conclusive how many penultimate-accented nouns no can deaccent, although it has been suggested that deaccentable nouns are not as common as undeaccentable ones.

The following list includes sample nouns that do not get deaccented:

• Nouns that express numerical quantity or order:
  • tsugi no hito (次の人; /tsɯɡí no hi̥to/ 'the next person'), hyaku no hito (百の人; /hjakɯ́ no hi̥to/ 'the hundred people'), futatsu no kodomo (二つの子供; /ɸɯ̥tatsɯ́ no kodomo/ 'a two-year-old'), nido no tsutome (二度の勤め; /nidó no tsɯ̥tome/ 'working at the same place after quitting', lit. 'second-time work'), ichinichi no shigoto (一日の仕事; /icɕinicɕí no ɕiɡoto/ 'a one-day job'), etc.
  • gonin no ko (五人の子; /ɡoníN no ko/ 'the five children'), hyakuman no mikata (百万の味方; /hjakɯmáN no mikata/ 'invincibility', lit. 'the million allies'), takusan no hana (沢山の花; /takɯ̥sáN no hana/ 'a profusion of flowers'), ōzei no hito (大勢の人; /oRzéi no hi̥to/ 'a flock of people'), etc.
• Province names: Tosa no kuni (土佐国; /tosá no kɯni/ 'Tosa Province'), Mino no kuni (美濃国; /minó no kɯni/ 'Mino Province'), Sagami no kuni (相模国; /saɡamí no kɯni/ 'Sagami Province'), Shinano no kuni (信濃国; /ɕinanó no kɯni/ 'Shinano Province'), Mikawa no kuni (三河国; /mikawá no kɯni/ 'Mikawa Province'), etc.
• Art names: Enchō no hanashi (円朝の噺; /eNcɕóR no hanaɕi/ 'Enchō's story'), Baikō no gei (梅幸の芸; /baikóR no | ɡéi/ 'Baikō's craft'), etc.
• Nouns that become final-accented due to accent shifts away from devoiced vowels:
  • kiki no toki (危機の時; /ki̥kí no toki/ 'an opportune time'), shiki no uta (四季の歌; /ɕi̥kí no ɯta/ 'a song of four seasons'), fuki no kyaku (不帰の客; /ɸɯ̥kí no kjakɯ/ 'a dead person', lit. 'an unreturning guest'), etc.
  • kisha no naka (汽車の中; /ki̥ɕá no naka ~ ki̥ɕa no náka/ 'on the train'), chichi no heya (父の部屋; /cɕi̥cɕí no heja ~ cɕi̥cɕi no hejá/ 'one's father's room'), etc.
• Exceptions of penultimate-accented nouns with a final special mora:
  • /N/: ehon no sashie (絵本の挿絵; /ehóN no saɕie/ 'a picture-book illustration'), Japan no gogen (ジャパンの語源; /ʑapáN no ɡoɡeN/ 'the etymology of Japan'), wantan no kawa (ワンタンの皮; /waNtáN no kawa/ 'a wonton wrapper'), mashin no teishi (マシンの停止; /maɕíN no teiɕi/ 'the shutdown of a machine'), etc.
  • /R/: kōjō no haisui (工場の排水; /koRʑóR no haisɯi/ 'factory effluent'), hyōjō no kaizen (表情の改善; /hjoRʑóR no kaizen/ 'improvement in facial expressions'), kōhī no aji (コーヒーの味; /koRhíR no aʑi/ 'coffee taste'), burū no fuku (ブルーの服; /bɯɾɯ́R no ɸɯ̥kɯ/ 'blue clothes'), etc.
  • /i/: negai no koto (願いの事; /neɡái no koto ~ neɡai no kotó/ 'one's desire'), nioi no nai (匂いの無い; /niói no | nái ~ nioi no nái/ 'that is free of odor'), etc.
  • /ei → eR/: sensei no kōgi (先生の講義; /seNséi no koRɡi → seNséR no koRɡi/ 'a teacher's lecture'), etc.
• Other exceptions: yoso no kuni (余所の国; /josó no kɯni/ 'a foreign country'), heta no yokozuki (下手の横好き; /hetá no jokozɯki/ 'an unskilled person'), etc.

In order for deaccentuation to be realized, the noun phrase before no must be in the same minor phrase as the noun phrase after it. If there is a break between the noun phrases, deaccentuation is blocked:

• yama no ue ni wa ie ga atta (山の上には家があった; 'on the mountain, there was a house'): /jama no ɯé ni wa | ié ɡa aQta ~ jamá no | ɯe ní wa | ié ɡa aQta/

If there is no noun phrase after no as a result of ellipsis, deaccentuation does not obtain:

• kore wa inu no kubiwa darō (これは犬の首輪だろう; 'this must be the dog's collar'): /koɾe wa inɯ no kɯbiwa daɾóR/

→ kore wa inu no darō (これは犬のだろう; 'this must be the dog's'): /koɾe wa inɯ́ no daɾoR/

• uma no wara wa kore desu (馬の藁はこれです; 'the horse's straw is this'): /uma no wáɾa wa koɾe desɯ/

→ uma no wa kore desu (馬のはこれです; 'the horse's is this'): /umá no wa koɾe desɯ/

Deaccentuation is also blocked by an attributive expression that directly modifies the final-accented noun. If the noun belongs to a larger phrase, however, deaccentuation applies as normal:

• kono {uma no iro} (この{馬の色}; 'this {horsey color}'): /kono {ɯma no iɾó}/
• {kono uma} no iro ({この馬}の色; '{this horse}'s color'): /{kono ɯmá} no iɾo/
• {ane no uma} no kubiwa ({姉の馬}の首輪; '{one's big sister's horse}'s collar'): /{ane no ɯmá} no kɯbiwa/
• {akai uma} no kubiwa ({赤い馬}の首輪; '{the red horse}'s collar'): /{akai ɯmá} no kɯbiwa/
• {nete iru uma} no kubiwa ({寝ている馬}の首輪; '{the sleeping horse}'s collar'): /{nete iɾɯ ɯmá} no kɯbiwa/
• {aru uma} no kubiwa ({ある馬}の首輪; '{some horse}'s collar'): /{áɾɯ | ɯmá} no kɯbiwa/

Noun + auxiliary

Auxiliaries following nouns can be classified into the following groups:

• Recessive and unaccented (Rec0): da
• Recessive and initial-accented (Rec+1): na no (da) / na n da, mitai (da)
• Recessive and penultimate-accented (Rec-2):
  • Modern: darō, desu / deshō, rashī ("seems like")
  • Classical: nari, rashi
• Dominant and penultimate-accented (Dom-2): rashī ("is typical of")
• Recessive or dominant, antepenultimate-accented, classical: gotoshi

Noun type			Rec0	Rec+1	Rec-2	Dom-2	gotoshi
Unaccented	ki (気; 'spirits')	/ki/	/ki da/	/ki mítai/	/ki ɾaɕíR, ki ɾáɕi/		/ki ɡótoɕi/
	hashi (端; 'an edge')	/haɕi/	/haɕi da/	/haɕi mítai/	/haɕi ɾaɕíR, haɕi ɾáɕi/		/haɕi ɡótoɕi/
	sakura (桜; 'a cherry blossom')	/sakɯɾa/	/sakɯɾa da/	/sakɯɾa mítai/	/sakɯɾa ɾaɕíR, sakɯɾa ɾáɕi/		/sakɯɾa ɡótoɕi/
Final-accented	hashi (橋; 'a bridge')	/haɕí/	/haɕí da/	/haɕí mitai/	/haɕí ɾaɕiR ~ haɕí | ɾaɕíR, haɕí ɾaɕi/	/haɕi ɾaɕíR/	/haɕí ɡotoɕi ~ haɕi ɡótoɕi/
	yasumi (休み; 'a break')	/jasɯmí/	/jasɯmí da/	/jasɯmí mitai/	/jasɯmí ɾaɕiR ~ jasɯmí | ɾaɕíR, jasɯmí ɾaɕi/	/jasɯmi ɾaɕíR/	/haɕí ɡotoɕi ~ haɕi ɡótoɕi/
Medial-accented	okashi (お菓子; 'a sweet')	/okáɕi/	/okáɕi da/	/okáɕi mitai ~ okáɕi | mítai/	/okáɕi ɾaɕiR ~ okáɕi | ɾaɕíR, okáɕi ɾaɕi ~ okáɕi | ɾáɕi/	/okaɕi ɾaɕíR/	/okáɕi ɡotoɕi ~ okáɕi | ɡótoɕi ~ okaɕi ɡótoɕi/
	nomimono (飲み物; 'a drink')	/nomímono/	/nomímono da/	/nomímono mitai ~ nomímono | mítai/	/nomímono ɾaɕiR ~ nomímono | ɾaɕíR, nomímono ɾaɕi ~ nomímono | ɾáɕi/	/nomimono ɾaɕíR/	/nomímono ɡotoɕi ~ nomímono | ɡótoɕi ~ nomimono ɡótoɕi/
	mizuumi (湖; 'a lake')	/mizɯɯ́mi/	/mizɯɯ́mi da/	/mizɯɯ́mi mitai ~ mizɯɯ́mi | mítai/	/mizɯɯ́mi ɾaɕiR ~ mizɯɯ́mi | ɾaɕíR, mizɯɯ́mi ɾaɕi ~ mizɯɯ́mi | ɾáɕi/	/mizɯɯmi ɾaɕíR/	/mizɯɯ́mi ɡotoɕi ~ mizɯɯ́mi | ɡótoɕi ~ mizɯɯmi ɡótoɕi/
Initial-accented	ki (木; 'a tree')	/kí/	/kí da/	/kí mitai/	/kí ɾaɕiR ~ kí | ɾaɕíR, kí ɾaɕi/	/ki ɾaɕíR/	/kí ɡotoɕi ~ ki ɡótoɕi/
	hashi (箸; 'a chopstick')	/háɕi/	/háɕi da/	/háɕi mitai ~ háɕi | mítai/	/háɕi ɾaɕiR ~ háɕi | ɾaɕíR, háɕi ɾaɕi ~ háɕi | ɾáɕi/	/haɕi ɾaɕíR/	/háɕi ɡotoɕi ~ háɕi | ɡótoɕi ~ haɕi ɡótoɕi/
	midori (緑; 'green')	/mídoɾi/	/mídoɾi da/	/mídoɾi mitai ~ mídoɾi | mítai/	/mídoɾi ɾaɕiR ~ mídoɾi | ɾaɕíR, mídoɾi ɾaɕi ~ mídoɾi | ɾáɕi/	/midoɾi ɾaɕíR/	/mídoɾi ɡotoɕi ~ mídoɾi | ɡótoɕi ~ midoɾi ɡótoɕi/

Rashī

The adjectival suffix rashī has one accent type but two different behavior types depending on meaning:

• kare wa dō mo Nihonjin rashī (彼はどうも日本人らしい; 'he seems to be Japanese'): /káɾe wa | dóR mo | nihoNʑíN | ɾaɕíR/
• kare wa to te mo Nihonjin rashī (彼はとても日本人らしい; 'he is so typical of a Japanese person'): /káɾe wa to te mo | nihoNʑiN ɾaɕíR/

Pronouns, attributives, adverbs and conjunctions

Pronouns, attributives (連体詞, rentaishi), adverbs and conjunctions generally behave like nouns before particles and auxiliaries:

• kore (此れ; 'this thing'): /koɾe → koɾe wa, koɾe máde, koɾe kóso, koɾe náɾa, koɾe bákaɾi, koɾe daɾóR/
• kochira (此方; 'this place'): /kocɕiɾa → kocɕiɾa ni/
• dare (誰; 'who'): /dáɾe → dáɾe kaɕiɾa, dáɾe daɾoR ~ dáɾe | daɾóR/
• itsu (何時; 'when'): /ítsɯ → ítsɯ̥ ka/
• amata (数多; 'in large numbers'): /ámata → ámata no/
• tsugitsugi (次々; 'one after another'): /tsɯɡítsɯɡi → tsɯɡítsɯɡi ni/

Some unaccented words can become final-accented:

• tokidoki (時々; 'sometimes'): /tokidoki → tokidoki wa ~ tokidokí wa/
• mattaku (全く; 'entirely'): /maQtakɯ → maQtakɯ no ~ maQtakɯ́ no, maQtakɯ́ da, maQtakɯ́ desɯ/
• yohodo (余程; 'greatly'): /johodo → johodo désɯ ~ johodó desɯ/
• sekkaku (折角; 'kindly'): /seQkakɯ → seQkakɯ́ desɯ/

Adjectival and auxiliary nouns

Adjectival and auxiliary nouns are often treated as conjugational (hence the terms keiyō dōshi (形容動詞; lit. 'descriptive verbs') and jodōshi (名詞型助動詞; lit. 'noun-like auxiliary verbs')). Their so-called "conjugation," however, relies solely on a following copula (see Japanese conjugation § Copulae), typically exemplified by de aru → da (/de áɾɯ → da/).

• jōbu (丈夫; 'robust'): /ʑoRbɯ → ʑoRbɯ de, ʑoRbɯ da, ʑoRbɯ na, ʑoRbɯ ni/
• kirei (綺麗; 'fine'): /kíɾei → kíɾei de, kíɾei da, kíɾei na, kíɾei ni/
• naku + sō → naku sō (泣く+そう; 'cries + it's said → it's said he cries'): /naku → nakɯ̥ sóR de aɾɯ, nakɯ̥ sóR da, nakɯ̥ sóR daɾoR, nakɯ̥ sóR na, nakɯ̥ sóR ni naɾɯ/
• yomu + sō → yomu sō (読み+そう; 'reads + it's said → it's said he reads'): /jómu → jómu soR de aɾɯ ~ jómu | sóR de aɾɯ, jómu soR da ~ jómu | sóR da, jómu soR daɾoR ~ jómu | sóR daɾoR, jómu soR na ~ jómu | sóR na, jómu soR ni naɾɯ ~ jómu | sóR ni naɾɯ/
• naki + sō → nakisō (泣き+そう; 'crying + likely to → likely to cry'): /naki → naki̥soR de áɾɯ, naki̥soR da, naki̥soR daɾóR, naki̥soR na, naki̥soR ni náɾɯ/
• yomi + sō → yomisō (読み+そう; 'reading + likely to → likely to read'): /jómi → jomisóR de aɾɯ, jomisóR da, jomisóR daɾoR, jomisóR na, jomisóR ni naɾɯ/

Adjectival nouns ending in ‑ka are mostly antepenultimate-accented:

• oroka (愚か; /óɾoka/ 'simple-minded'), kasuka (幽か; /kásɯ̥ka/ 'faint'), sayaka (清か; /sájaka/ 'clear'), honoka (仄か; /hónoka/ 'faint'), yutaka (豊か; /jɯ́taka/ 'abundant'), etc.
  • haruka (遥か; 'distant'): /háɾɯka → háɾɯka da, háɾɯka na, háɾɯka ni/
  • kokoro + shizuka → kokoroshizuka (心+静か→心静か; 'a heart + quiet → tranquil'): /kokóɾo ~ kokoɾó + ɕízɯka → kokoɾo-ɕízɯka/
• komayaka (濃やか; /komájaka/ 'caring'), sawayaka (爽やか; /sawájaka/ 'refreshing'), nigiyaka (賑やか; /niɡíjaka/ 'lively'), fukuyoka (膨よか; /ɸɯ̥kɯ́joka/ 'plump'), uraraka (麗らか; /ɯɾáɾaka/ 'splendid'), hogaraka (朗らか; /hoɡáɾaka/ 'clear'), yasuraka (安らか; /jasɯ́ɾaka/ 'tranquil'), etc.
  • ada + orosoka → adaorosoka (徒+疎か→徒疎か; 'malice + negligent → flippant'): /adá + oɾósoka → ada-oɾósoka/
  • iro + azayaka → iroazayaka (色+鮮やか→色鮮やか; 'a color + vivid → colorful'): /iɾó + azájaka → iɾo-azájaka/
• miyabiyaka (雅びやか; /mijabíjaka/ 'graceful'), makotoshiyaka (真しやか; /makotoɕíjaka/ 'plausible'), tsumabiraka (詳らか; /tsɯmabíɾaka/ 'shown in detail'), etc.
• atataka (暖か; /atátaka ~ atatáka → aQtáka/ 'warm'), etc.
  • mono + yawaraka → monoyawaraka (物+柔らか→物柔らか; 'a thing + soft → mild-mannered'): /monó ~ mono + jawáɾaka ~ jawaɾáka → mono-jawáɾaka ~ mono-jawaɾáka/

Adjectival nouns ending in ‑ra, ‑re and ‑ro are mostly unaccented: mabara (疎ら; /mabaɾa/ 'sparse'), itazura (悪戯; /itazɯɾa/ 'mischievous'), gūtara (ぐうたら; /ɡɯRtaɾa/ 'idle'), madara; hadare (斑; /madaɾa; hadaɾe/ 'spotted; flaky'), utsuro (空ろ; /ɯtsɯɾo/ 'empty'), sozoro (漫ろ; /sozoɾo/ 'distracted'), nengoro (懇ろ; /neNɡoɾo/ 'courteous'), etc.

Clippings

Simplex clippings

Trimoraic or shorter clippings tend to be initial-accented:

• keizai → kei (経済→経; 'an economy'): /kéizai → kéi/
• shamisen → shami ~ samisen → sami (三味線→三味): /ɕamiseN → ɕámi ~ samiseN → sámi/
• mukuinu → muku (尨犬→尨; 'a shaggy dog'): /mɯkɯinɯ → mɯ́kɯ/
• mochiron → mochi (勿論→もち; 'a matter of course'): /mocɕíɾoN → mócɕi/
• chokorēto → choko (チョコレート→チョコ; 'chocolate'): /cɕokoɾéRto → cɕóko/
• rokēshon → roke (ロケーション→ロケ; 'a location'): /ɾokéRɕoN → ɾóke/
• shōchū → chū (焼酎→酎): /ɕoRcɕɯ́R → cɕɯ́R/
• bifuteki → teki (ビフテキ→テキ; 'beefsteak → steak'): /biɸɯ̥teki → téki/
• pāmanento → pāma (パーマネント→パーマ; 'a permanent → a perm'): /paRmanéNto → páRma/
• daiyamondo → daiya (ダイヤモンド→ダイヤ; 'diamond'): /daijamóNdo → dáija ~ daija/
• buranketto → ketto (ブランケット→ケット; 'a blanket'): /bɯɾáNkeQto → kéQto ~ keQto/
• purattohōmu → hōmu (プラットホーム→ホーム; 'a railway platform'): /pɯɾaQtohóRmɯ → hóRmɯ/

Most quadrimoraic clippings are unaccented recent loanwords:

• asuparagasu → asupara (アスパラガス→アスパラ; 'asparagus'): /asɯ̥paɾáɡasɯ → asɯ̥paɾa/
• anakuronizumu → anakuro (アナクロニズム→アナクロ; 'an anachronism'): /anakɯɾonízɯmɯ → anakɯɾo/
• infurēshon → infure (インフレーション→インフレ; 'inflation'): /iNɸɯɾéRɕoN → iNɸɯɾe/

Compound-derived clippings

Bimoraic clippings, trimoraic Sino-Japanese clippings, and new recent-loanword clippings tend to be initial-accented:

• Kojiki + Nihon Shoki → Kiki (古事記+日本書紀→記紀; 'the Records of Ancient Matters and Chronicles of Japan'): /kóʑiki + nihoN ɕóki → kí̥ki → ki̥kí/
• Togikai giin → Togi (都議会議員→都議; 'a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly'): /toɡikai ɡíiN → tóɡi/
• bēsu appu → bea (ベースアップ→ベア; 'a basic-pay raise'): /beRsɯ áQpɯ → béa/
• modan gāru → moga (モダンガール→モガ; 'a modern girl'): /modaN ɡáRɾɯ → móɡa/
• modan bōi → mobo (モダンボーイ→モボ; 'a modern boy'): /modaN bóRi → móbo/
• kengikai giin → kengi (県議会議員→県議; 'a member of a prefectural assembly'): /keNɡikai ɡíiN → kéNɡi/
• kenkō hoken → kenpo (健康保険→健保; 'health insurance'): /keNkoR hókeN → kéNpo/
• rōdō kumiai → rōso (労働組合→労組; 'a labor union'): /ɾoRdoR kɯ́miai → ɾóRso/
• seikatsu kyōdō kumiai → seikyō (生活協同組合→生協; 'a consumers' cooperative'): /seikatsɯ̥ kjoRdoR kɯ́miai → seikjoR ~ séikjoR/
• tsūshin hanbai → tsūhan (通信販売→通販; 'mail order'): /tsɯRɕiN háNbai → tsɯRhaN ~ tsɯ́RhaN/
• tēpu rekōdā → tereko (テープレコーダー→テレコ; 'a tape recorder'): /teRpɯ ɾekóRdaR → téɾeko/

Compound-derived clippings with daigaku → dai (大学→大; /daiɡakɯ → dái/ 'a university') tend to be unaccented:

• shiritsu daigaku → shidai (私立大学→私大; 'a private university'): /ɕiɾitsɯ dáiɡakɯ → ɕidai/
• toritsudaigaku → todai (都立大学→都立大; 'a Tokyo-run university'): /toɾitsɯ dáiɡakɯ → toɾitsɯdai/
• Tōkyō daigaku → Tōdai (東京大学→東大; 'the University of Tokyo'): /toRkjoR dáiɡakɯ → toRdai/
• joshi daigaku → joshidai (女子大学→女子大; 'a women's university'): /ʑoɕi dáiɡakɯ → ʑoɕidai/

Quadrimoraic clippings tend to be unaccented:

• unagidonburi → unadon (鰻丼): /ɯnaɡi dóNbɯɾi → ɯnadoN/
• kōtō gakkō → kōkō (高等学校→高校; 'a senior high school → a senior high'): /koRtoR ɡáQkoR → koRkoR/
• Kokusai Renō → Kokuren (国際連合→国連; 'the United Nations → the UN'): /kokɯ̥sai ɾéNɡoR → kokɯɾeN/
• rōdō kumiai → rōkumi (労働組合→労組; 'a labor union → a union'): /ɾoRdoR kɯ́miai → ɾoRkɯmi/
• arukōru chūdoku (アルコール中毒→アル中; 'alcohol poisoning'): /aɾɯkoRɾɯ cɕɯ́Rdokɯ → aɾɯcɕɯR/
• ea kondishoningu, ea kondishonā (エアコンディショニング・エアコンディショナー→エアコン; 'air conditioning, an air conditioner → aircon'): /ea koNdíɕoniNɡɯ, ea koNdíɕonaR → eakoN/
• sekondo hando (セコンドハンド→セコハン; 'second hand'): /sekoNdo háNdo → sekohaN/
• hangā sutoraiki → hansuto (ハンガーストライキ→ハンスト; 'a hunger strike'): /haNɡaR sɯ̥toɾáiki → haNsɯ̥to/
• pantī sutokkingu → pansuto (パンティーストッキング→パンスト; 'pantyhose'): /paNtiR sɯ̥tóQkiNɡɯ → paNsɯ̥to/
• masu komyunikēshon → masukomi (マスコミュニケーション→マスコミ; 'mass communication'): /masɯ̥ komjɯnikéRɕoN → masɯ̥komi/
• rajio kasetto → rajikase (ラジオカセット→ラジカセ; 'a radio-cassette recorder'): /ɾaʑio kaséQto ~ ɾaʑio káseQto → ɾaʑikase/

Quinquemoraic or longer clippings tend to be antepenultimate-accented:

• Nihon Kyōikuin Kumiai → Nikkyōso (日本教職員組合→日教組; 'the Japan Teachers' Union'): /niQkjóRso/
• Nippon Keieisha Dantai Renmei → Nikkeiren (日本経営者団体連盟→日経連; 'the Japan Federation of Employers' Associations'): /niQkéiɾeN/
• disuinfurēshon → disuinfure (ディスインフレーション→ディスインフレ; 'disinflation'): /disɯiNɸɯɾéRɕoN → disɯíNɸɯɾe/

Verbs and adjectives

Main article: Japanese pitch accent rules (verbs and adjectives)

Bibliography

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• Hayata, Teruhiro (28 February 1986). "The prosodic unit of Japanese, especially on the bearer of accent" アクセントの単位―特にその担い手について (PDF). Studies in Literature 文學研究 (in Japanese). 83. Faculty of Literature, Kyushu University: 115–147. doi:10.15017/2332627.
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• Kawahara, Shigeto (2015). "11 The phonology of Japanese accent". In Kubozono, Haruo; Shibatani, Masayoshi; Kageyama, Taro (eds.). Handbook of Japanese Phonetics and Phonology (PDF). Handbooks of Japanese Language and Linguistics. Vol. 2. Berlin; Munich; Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 445–492. ISBN 978-1-61451-252-3.
• Kubozono, Haruo (2002) [1999]. "2. Mora and Syllable". In Tsujimura, Natsuko (ed.). The Handbook of Japanese Linguistics. Malden, Massachusetts; Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. pp. 31–61. ISBN 0-631-23494-2.
• Labrune, Laurence (2012). The Phonology of Japanese. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-9545834.
• Martin, Samuel Elmo (2004) [1975]. A Reference Grammar of Japanese (revised ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 0-8248-2818-6.
• Matsumori, Akiko; Nitta, Tetsuo; Kibe, Nobuko; Nakai, Yukihiko (1 May 2026) [20 September 2012]. An Introduction to Japanese Accent 日本語アクセント入門 (in Japanese) (3rd ed.). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Sanseido. ISBN 978-4-385-36531-2.
• NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, ed. (20 June 2025) [25 May 2016]. NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典 (in Japanese) (15th ed.). Shibuya, Tokyo: NHK Publishing. ISBN 978-4-14-011345-5.
• Poser, William John (1984). The Phonetics and Phonology of Tone and Intonation in Japanese (doctoral thesis). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Tanaka, Ishiki (1 January 2017). "Evolution to "NHK's New Dictionary of Japanese Pronunciation and Accentuation" [Part VII]: Pronunciation and Accentuation of Compound Nouns: The Purpose of the New Dictionary and Accentuation Rules" NHKアクセント辞典"新辞典"への大改訂⑦　複合名詞の発音とアクセント　～『新辞典』のねらいとアクセント規則～ (PDF). The NHK Monthly Report on Broadcast Research 放送研究と調査. 67 (1). NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute: 54–63.
• Vance, Timothy John (1987). An Introduction to Japanese Phonology. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-88706-360-8.
• Vance, Timothy John (October 2008). The Sounds of Japanese with Audio CD. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-61754-3.

Further reading

• Kōri, Shirō (30 May 2015). 助詞・助動詞のアクセントについての覚え書き—直前形式との複合形態の観点からの分類— (PDF). 言語文化共同研究プロジェクト (in Japanese). Graduate School of Language and Culture, Osaka University: 63–74. doi:10.18910/53334.
• Kōri, Shirō (31 July 2020). 日本語の助詞・助動詞類のアクセント—一覧と使い分け，変化の方向性— (PDF). 言語文化共同研究プロジェクト (in Japanese). Graduate School of Language and Culture, Osaka University: 13–24. doi:10.18910/77063.

External links

• Online Japanese Accent Dictionary