But if there are two zz then they are pronounced more strongly; e.g., mizzu.
When there are two tt, xx, zz, qq, cq, ij, or pp[[47]] it is important to persist in order to obtain perfect pronunciation and the exact value of the word; for mizu means 'honey' and mizzu means 'water.' Therefore, if the words are said with the same strength or the same gentleness they can mean either 'water' or 'honey.'
When ch comes before a vowel it is pronounced as in the Spanish chimera; e.g., fochó.
But if nh comes before a vowel it is pronounced as in the Spanish maña; e.g., nhuva.
The letter f is pronounced in various regions of Japan as it is in Latin. In others it is pronounced as if it were an imperfect h. For both pronunciations the lips and the mouth should be nearly, but not completely, closed.
When tç is in a word (and it appears quite frequently) the student should pray that God have mercy on his pronunciation because the word is very difficult, and its pronunciation is not to be found (5 in any other language. It is not truly pronounced tç, nor as s, nor as c alone, but rather by striking the tongue violently against the teeth in order to pronounce both t and ç, but with more ç than t seeming to be sounded; e.g., tçutçumu.
The letter r is said smoothly and softly everywhere it is found, either at the beginning or in the middle of a word; e.g., ranguió, or cutabiruru.
Ya, ye, yo, and yu are pronounced as in Spanish.[[48]]
When words ending in i or u are pronounced by the Japanese, the last letter is almost not heard by the student. For instance, if he hears gozaru he will think he hears gozar, if he hears fitotçu he will believe he hears only fitotç, and when he hears axi no fara he will perceive only ax no fara.