Pronunciation: [ɹˈɒmɐd͡ʒˌi] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "romaji" is a combination of two Japanese words - "roman" meaning "Roman", and "ji" meaning "character". It is used to refer to the Romanized form of the Japanese language, where the Roman alphabet is used to transcribe Japanese sounds. The IPA phonetic transcription for "romaji" is /ɾomadʑi/, with stress on the first syllable. The "r" sound is trilled, while the "j" sound is pronounced like the "j" in "juice".
Romaji is a term derived from two Japanese words - "ro" meaning "Roman" (referring to the Roman alphabet, i.e., the Latin alphabet) and "maji" meaning "characters". It refers to the representation of the Japanese language using the Latin alphabet. Specifically, it is the system of transliterating or writing Japanese words and phrases phonetically using the Roman alphabet, thereby allowing speakers of non-Japanese languages to read and pronounce them accurately.
This transliteration system is commonly used in various contexts to aid learners, tourists, and non-native speakers in understanding and pronouncing Japanese words. Romaji is especially useful in electronic media, textbooks, and communication with foreigners. It ensures that the pronunciation remains consistent across different languages, making it accessible to individuals unfamiliar with the Japanese writing system.
Romaji is not considered a writing system of its own but rather a tool to help non-Japanese speakers approximate the sounds of Japanese words using the Latin alphabet. It includes specific convention rules for indicating different Japanese sounds, such as the elongated vowels, glottal stops, double consonants, and other phonetic elements unique to the language.
While Romaji serves its purpose in aiding non-native speakers, it is important to note that it is not widely used by native Japanese speakers in everyday written communication. Instead, Japanese people typically employ their native writing systems, namely kanji, hiragana, and katakana.
The word "romaji" is a combination of two Japanese words: "roma" (ローマ) and "ji" (字).
- "Roma" refers to Rome or Roman, and in the context of "romaji", it specifically means the Roman alphabet used for writing in English and other Western languages.
- "Ji" means "character" or "letter".
Hence, "romaji" can be understood as "Roman letters" or "Roman characters". It is the term used to describe the Latin script used to write Japanese words phonetically.
