For example, 化粧 is read けしょう. When followed by を, how is it pronounced?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-18T20:31:49.883
56718
2018-02-20T15:28:27.103
2018-02-19T07:34:53.750
1628
9857
question
pronunciation long-vowels
How is the long O sound pronounced when followed by を?
けしょうを - Keshō o. Use google translate [link
here](https://translate.google.com/#auto/ja/%E5%8C%96%E7%B2%A7%E3%82%92%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82)
and click on audio button.

You do not want to shorten vowels. Each 'sound' has its place and should not
be modified.

You could potentially eliminate the particle を, but that is a separate issue.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-18T20:52:28.640
56722
2018-02-18T20:52:28.640
27280
56718
answer
There are two things you should try to pay attention to when trying to listen
to or pronouncing a long O.

  1. ### Rhythm

The language is modelled on morae ( _sing._ mora) creating a rhythm. For
example こんにちは is different from こにちわ and a "long O" is either 1,2,3,... morae
long. (Also see [Distinguishing between んな/な, んの/の,
etc](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/14213/1628))

  2. ### Pitch

Individual morae can have either a low or a high pitch. A drop or rise in
pitch marks a mora boundary, so this can also help you count.

For example, 化粧を is pronounced [ケショオオ]{LHHLL}. The オオ at the end being twice
as long tells you that the final オ should be を.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-19T07:29:44.693
56729
2018-02-19T07:29:44.693
1628
56718
answer
Some sounds are very indistinct in nihongo, such as the U sound in です. It’s
there, but so barely pronounced that it’s almost silent. The same can be said
for words that end in ん followed by に. In this way, words that end in the o
sound such as の or お, followed by わ, the W sound is nearly indistinguishable,
but is still there. So the sound should be like owo, but the W is so under-
pronounced that you can barely tell it is there in casual speech.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-20T15:28:27.103
56764
2018-02-20T15:28:27.103
27811
56718
answer