_Qe_ and _Qi_ are written without _u_, because when _u_ follows _q_ or _c_ both letters are pronounced as a _sinalepha_;[46] e.g., _quódai_ or _quainin_. When _u_ follows _g_ and immediately after the _u_ is the letter _e_ or _i_, it should be pronounced as in the Spanish word _guenin_; but if the letter _e_ or _i_ follows _g_ immediately without the _u_, it should be pronounced as in the Italian word _giorno_; e.g., _xitãgi_. The letter _z_ is pronounced with the same strength as in the Spanish word _zumbar_; e.g., _mizu_. 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_. {109} 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_. When a word ending in a vowel is followed immediately by a consonant, particularly _b_ or _s_,[49] between that vowel and consonant is pronounced the letter _n_, not perfectly, but softly; e.g., _sonõ gotoqu._