# 2.1.4. `e`/`æ`

有些词典，针对美式发音，常常会用 `ɛ` 标注 `e` 这个音。

Some dictionaries often use `ɛ` to annotate the American English sound of `e`.

`æ` 相当于是 `e` 的更长版本。虽然 `æ` 后面没有长元音符号 `ː`，但它的确比其它短元音**长**，算作**半长元音**。

`æ` can be deemed as a more extended version of `e`. Even though there's no long vowel symbol `ː` following `æ`, it is *longer* than other short vowels, and is a **half long vowel**.

![mouth shape e-æ](/images/vowels-mouth-e-æ.svg)

亚洲人在读这个音的时候，经过提醒，都能做到把嘴巴张得相对更大一点，但都会不由自主地将它读成更短的版本。

When Asians try to pronounce this sound, once reminded, they can usually open their mouths a bit wider, but they often unconsciously make the sound shorter than it should be.

`æ` 的发音有两个要点:

> 1. 音拉长一点
> 2. 嘴张大一点

There are two key points to pronouncing `æ`:

> 1. Stretch the sound a little longer
> 2. Open your mouth wider

其中，第一个要点相对更为重要。你可以多试试这两个词，*apple* `/ˈæp·əl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/apple-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/apple-us-female.mp3"></span>，*banana* `/bəˈnæn·ə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/banana-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/banana-us-female.mp3"></span>，并刻意把其中的 `æ` 拉得更长一点。

The first point is relatively more important. Try saying these two words: *apple* `/ˈæp·əl/` and *banana* `/bəˈnæn·ə/`, and try intentionally stretching the `æ` a little longer.