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HIRAGANA

ひらがな

HIRAGANA

HIRAGANA

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey of a lifetime begins with a single moment of learning."

About Hiragana

Hiragana is Japanese writing system along with kanji and katakana. 

HIRAGANA

あいう

KATAKANA

アイウ

KANJI

漢字

Hiragana characters are relatively simple in form and are written with fewer strokes. Each hiragana character represents a single syllable.


For example: The hiragana character "ね" represents the syllable "ne," and the character "こ" represents the syllable "ko." and when you combine these two hiragana "ねこ," it will read "ne ko" and it means cat.

Ne Ko

ねこ

By combining these characters together, it is possible to write any word in Japanese using the hiragana writing system.


Hiragana is an important part of the Japanese writing system and is essential for anyone learning to read and write in Japanese.

Types of Hiragana

46 Primary Hiragana

Primary Hiragana are classified into five groups based on the position of the vowel sound in relation to the consonant sound that precedes it. 


Dakuon & Handakuon

Voiced Consonants

Dakuon (濁音) characters are hiragana characters that represent voiced consonant sounds. For example, the character が (ga) is a dakuon character that represents the sound "ga," as opposed to the unvoiced consonant sound represented by the character か (ka).


Handakuon (半濁音) characters are hiragana characters that represent a semi-voiced sound; p-sound. ぱ (pa) ぴ (pi) ぷ (pu) ぺ (pe) ぽ (po).


Yo-on

Y-vowel Sounds

Yo-on (拗音) characters are hiragana characters that represent a combination of a consonant sound and one of the three y-sounds: や (ya), ゆ (yu), or よ (yo). They are created by attaching a small, half-size version of the y-sound to the basic hiragana character as you can see in the Hiragana Pronunciation table.


For example, the character きゃ (kya) is a yo-on character that represents the sound "kya," as opposed to the consonant sound represented by the character き (ki) followed by the y-sounds や (ya).


Sokuon

Double Consonants

Sokuon (促音) or a small Tsu is a half-sized hiragana character つ (tsu) that is used to represent a doubled consonant sound in the Japanese language. It is written immediately after the consonant sound and indicates that the initial consonant of the following syllable is doubled.


Hiragana Glyphs

Get your free Hiragana glyphs here! This downloadable sheet is designed to fit on a standard copy paper size, so you can easily print it out. Simply click the download button and start practicing your Hiragana characters today!

46 Primary Hiragana Glyphs
46 Primary Hiragana Glyphs
46 Primary Hiragana Glyphs

Hiragana Pronunciation

Click Hiragana to listen to the sounds.

HIRAGANA - 46 PRIMARY
a i u e o
Vowels
ka ki ku ke ko
Ka-line
sa shi su se so
Sa-line
ta chi tsu te to
Ta-line
na ni nu ne no
Na-line
ha hi fu he ho
Ha-line
ma mi mu me mo
Ma-line
ya yu yo
Ya-line
ra ri ru re ro
Ra-line
wa wo
Wa-line
n
N
HIRAGANA - DAKUON ＆ HANDAKUON
ga gi gu ge go
Ga-line
za ji zu ze zo
Za-line
da di du de do
Da-line
ba bi bu be bo
Ba-line
va vi vu ve vo
Va-line
pa pi pu pe po
Pa-line
HIRAGANA - YO-ON
kya kyu kyo
Kya-line
sha shu sho
Sha-line
cha chu cho
Cha-line
nya nyu nyo
Nya-line
hya hyu hyo
Hya
mya myu myo
Mya-line
rya ryu ryo
Rya-line
gya gyu gyo
Gya-line
jya jyu jyo
Jya-line
dya dyu dyo
Dya-line
bya byu byo
Bya-line
vya vyu vyo
Vya-line
pya pyu pyo
Pya

About Hiragana

Hiragana is Japanese writing system along with kanji and katakana. 

HIRAGANA

あいう

KATAKANA

アイウ

KANJI

漢字

Hiragana characters are relatively simple in form and are written with fewer strokes. Each hiragana character represents a single syllable.


For example: The hiragana character "ね" represents the syllable "ne," and the character "こ" represents the syllable "ko." and when you combine these two hiragana "ねこ," it will read "ne ko" and it means cat.

Ne Ko

ねこ

By combining these characters together, it is possible to write any word in Japanese using the hiragana writing system.


Hiragana is an important part of the Japanese writing system and is essential for anyone learning to read and write in Japanese.

Types of Hiragana

PRIMARY HIRAGANA

Primary Hiragana are classified into five groups based on the position of the vowel sound in relation to the consonant sound that precedes it.


あいうえおかきくけこ 


VOICED VARIATIONS

DAKUON & HANDAKUON

Dakuon (濁音) characters are hiragana characters that represent voiced consonant sounds. For example, the character が (ga) is a dakuon character that represents the sound "ga," as opposed to the unvoiced consonant sound represented by the character か (ka).


Handakuon (半濁音) characters are hiragana characters that represent a semi-voiced sound; p-sound. ぱ (pa) ぴ (pi) ぷ (pu) ぺ (pe) ぽ (po).


がぎぐげご ぱぴぷぺぽ

COMBINED SOUNDS

YŌON

Yōon (拗音) characters are hiragana characters that represent a combination of a consonant sound and one of the three y-sounds: や (ya), ゆ (yu), or よ (yo). They are created by attaching a small, half-size version of the y-sound to the basic hiragana character as you can see in the Hiragana Pronunciation table.


For example, the character しゃ (sha) is a yo-on character that represents the sound "sha," as opposed to the consonant sound represented by the character し (shi) followed by the y-sounds や (ya).


じゃじゅじょみゃみゅみょ

DOUBLE CONSONANTS

SOKUON

Sokuon (促音) or a small Tsu is a half-sized hiragana character つ (tsu) that is used to represent a doubled consonant sound in the Japanese language. It is written immediately after the consonant sound and indicates that the initial consonant of the following syllable is doubled.



FREE DOWNLOAD

Japanese Writing Essentials!

Get your free Hiragana & Katakana glyphs here! This downloadable sheet is designed to fit on standard copy paper size (8.5" x 11"), so you can easily print it out. Signup for our newsletter and get the FREE essentials! Start practicing your Hiragana characters today! 

46 Primary Hiragana Glyphs
46 Primary Hiragana Glyphs
46 Primary Hiragana Glyphs

Hiragana Pronunciation

Click Hiragana to listen to the sounds.

HIRAGANA - 46 PRIMARY
a i u e o
Vowels
ka ki ku ke ko
Ka-line
sa shi su se so
Sa-line
ta chi tsu te to
Ta-line
na ni nu ne no
Na-line
ha hi fu he ho
Ha-line
ma mi mu me mo
Ma-line
ya yu yo
Ya-line
ra ri ru re ro
Ra-line
wa wo
Wa-line
n
N
HIRAGANA - DAKUON ＆ HANDAKUON
ga gi gu ge go
Ga-line
za ji zu ze zo
Za-line
da di du de do
Da-line
ba bi bu be bo
Ba-line
va vi vu ve vo
Va-line
pa pi pu pe po
Pa-line
HIRAGANA - YO-ON
kya kyu kyo
Kya-line
sha shu sho
Sha-line
cha chu cho
Cha-line
nya nyu nyo
Nya-line
hya hyu hyo
Hya
mya myu myo
Mya-line
rya ryu ryo
Rya-line
gya gyu gyo
Gya-line
jya jyu jyo
Jya-line
dya dyu dyo
Dya-line
bya byu byo
Bya-line
vya vyu vyo
Vya-line
pya pyu pyo
Pya
HIRAGANA - 46 PRIMARY
a i u e o
Vowels
ka ki ku ke ko
Ka-line
sa shi su se so
Sa-line
ta chi tsu te to
Ta-line
na ni nu ne no
Na-line
ha hi fu he ho
Ha-line
ma mi mu me mo
Ma-line
ya yu yo
Ya-line
ra ri ru re ro
Ra-line
wa wo
Wa-line
n
N
HIRAGANA - DAKUON ＆ HANDAKUON
ga gi gu ge go
Ga-line
za ji zu ze zo
Za-line
da di du de do
Da-line
ba bi bu be bo
Ba-line
va vi vu ve vo
Va-line
pa pi pu pe po
Pa-line
HIRAGANA - YO-ON
kya kyu kyo
Kya-line
sha shu sho
Sha-line
cha chu cho
Cha-line
nya nyu nyo
Nya-line
hya hyu hyo
Hya
mya myu myo
Mya-line
rya ryu ryo
Rya-line
gya gyu gyo
Gya-line
jya jyu jyo
Jya-line
dya dyu dyo
Dya-line
bya byu byo
Bya-line
vya vyu vyo
Vya-line
pya pyu pyo
Pya
HIRAGANA - 46 PRIMARY
a i u e o
Vowels
ka ki ku ke ko
Ka-line
sa shi su se so
Sa-line
ta chi tsu te to
Ta-line
na ni nu ne no
Na-line
ha hi fu he ho
Ha-line
ma mi mu me mo
Ma-line
ya yu yo
Ya-line
ra ri ru re ro
Ra-line
wa wo
Wa-line
n
N
HIRAGANA - DAKUON ＆ HANDAKUON
ga gi gu ge go
Ga-line
za ji zu ze zo
Za-line
da di du de do
Da-line
ba bi bu be bo
Ba-line
va vi vu ve vo
Va-line
pa pi pu pe po
Pa-line
HIRAGANA - YO-ON
kya kyu kyo
Kya-line
sha shu sho
Sha-line
cha chu cho
Cha-line
nya nyu nyo
Nya-line
hya hyu hyo
Hya
mya myu myo
Mya-line
rya ryu ryo
Rya-line
gya gyu gyo
Gya-line
jya jyu jyo
Jya-line
dya dyu dyo
Dya-line
bya byu byo
Bya-line
vya vyu vyo
Vya-line
pya pyu pyo
Pya

FREE

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Meditation

Hiragana Course: 10-Day Challenge

Learn Hiragana: Day-1 Vowels

Learn Hiragana: Day-2 K-Line (Ka gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-3 S-Line (Sa gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-4 T-Line (Ta gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-5 N-Line (Na gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Midterm Test

Learn Hiragana: Day-6 H-Line (Ha gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-7 M-Line (Ma gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-8 Y-Line (Ya gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-9 R-Line (Ra gyō)

Learn Hiragana: Day-10 W-Line & Solo N (Wa gyō & N)

Learn Hiragana: Final Challenge Exam

Learn Hiragana: 61 Variations

Shop Hiragana Workbook & Worksheet

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Master Japanese hiragana with our beautifully created workbooks!
Our "Hiragana I" workbook includes 46 Primary Hiragana to practice, while "Hiragana II" workbook includes 30 Dakuon/Handakuon and 39 Yo-on Hiragana.
Both books are available in left-handed versions as well!.
Improve reading and writing skills with our fun and effective practice workbooks.
one word a day practice write japanese

Japanese Primary Hiragana Hard Cover

A unique and interactive approach to learning Japanese words

Japanese Primary Hiragana

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Japanese Primary Hiragana Soft Cover

A unique and interactive approach to learning Japanese words

Japanese Primary Hiragana

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Japanese Primary Hiragana For Lefty Soft Cover

A unique and interactive approach to learning Japanese words

Japanese Primary Hiragana for Lefty

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Katakana

Katakana have the same sounds as Hiragana, it is mainly used to represent words imported from other languages; such as "Website", "Google", "Banana", and people's names, etc.

Kanji

Most words in Japanese are written in Kanji. Kanji are Chinese characters adapted for Japanese, are heavily used in writing. and it has been evolving with Japan’s culture over the years.

Romaji

FREE lessons at Romaji Hub! Learn the basic sounds, rules, and practice exercises of Romaji. With our Romaji Mastery Quiz, you'll be able to test your understanding and improve your skills. 

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// Description: This file contains the Hiragana alphabet and the audio files for each letter.