Writing/ Reading: Hiragana
Hiragana ひらがな
This chapter, we will learn how to read and write Hiragana.
Please read “Writing System” first.
Hiragana information and practice site (JOSHU)
You can use Hiragana mnemonic pictures. to learn hiragana reading.
Learn how to read and write (stroke order )
あいうえお Hiragana ひらがな table (JOSHU)
You can practice writing with
Hira/Kata Drawing Practice pad (created by UT student Kenneth Le)
あ〜の
Check stroke order and sound
Hiragana ひらがな table あ〜ん (JOSHU)
You can practice writing with
Hira/Kata Drawing Practice pad (created by UT student Kenneth Le)
Hiragana Trace with stroke order あ〜ん
N | T | S | K | ||||||
な | na | た | ta | さ | sa | か | ka | あ | A |
に | ni | ち | chi | し | shi | き | ki | い | I |
ぬ | nu | つ | tsu | す | su | く | ku | う | U |
ね | ne | て | te | せ | se | け | ke | え | E |
の | no | と | to | そ | so | こ | ko | お | O |
Trace and practice Hiragana あ〜の
(print out and write)
Use a blank Practice sheet
if you would like practice more by yourself.
Hiragana chart with stroke order
Practice Hiragana sounds あ〜の(343)
は〜ん
Check stroke order and sound
Hiragana ひらがな table あ〜ん (JOSHU)
You can practice writing with
Hira/Kata Drawing Practice pad (created by UT student Kenneth Le)
Hiragana Trace with stroke order あ〜ん
W | R | Y | M | H | ||||||||
ん | n | わ | wa | ら | ra | や | ya | ま | ma | は | ha | A |
り | ri | み | mi | ひ | hi | I | ||||||
る | ru | ゆ | yu | む | mu | ふ | hu (fu) |
U | ||||
れ | re | め | me | へ | he | E | ||||||
を | (w)o | ろ | ro | よ | yo | も | mo | ほ | ho | O |
Trace and practice Hiragana は〜ん
(print out and write)
Use a blank Practice sheet
if you would like practice more by yourself.
Hiragana chart with stroke order
Practice Hiragana sounds は〜ん (344)
Practice Hiragana sounds あ〜ん (342)
Practice Hiragana あ〜ん flashcards
「あいうえお」のうた カリキュラマシーン
illustration: 赤塚不二夫(あかつかふじお)
が〜ぽ
Check ひらがなtable が〜ぽ
You can practice writing with
Hira/Kata Drawing Practice pad
(created by UT student Kenneth Le)
p | b | d | z | g | |
ぱ | ば | だ | ざ | が | a |
ぴ | び | ぢ | じ | ぎ | i |
ぷ | ぶ | づ | ず | ぐ | u |
ぺ | べ | ぜ | ぜ | げ | e |
ぽ | ぼ | ぞ | ぞ | ご | o |
Trace and practice Hiragana が〜ぽ
(print out and write)
Use a blank Practice sheet
if you would like practice more by yourself.
Practice Hiragana flash cards あ〜ん が〜ぽ
Double Consonants 「っ」
Double consonants(pp, kk etc.) are written using small tsu 「っ」which double the sound it precedes.
Small tsu「っ」=1 beat :
no sound but one syllable timing
ねこ(neko two beat/ cat)
ねっこ(nekko; three beats/ root)
まくら(makura three beats/ pillow)
まっくら(makkura four beats/ pitch black)
Trace and practice Hiragana small っ
(Click 「ひらがな促音-簡単1~2」)
Use a blank Practice sheet
if you would like practice more by yourself.
Double Vowels
Double vowels(aa, ii, uu, ee, oo)
Writing Rule:
<aa>
おばさん(obasan 4beats aunt; middle aged woman
おばあさん(obaasan 5beats grandma; old lady)
<ii>
おじさん(ojisan 4beats uncle; middle aged man)
おじいさん(ojiisan 5 beats grandpa; old man)
<uu>
すうがく(suugaku 4beats math)
Special: most of the time
<ee> uses 「い」
せんせい(sensee 4beats teacher; instructor)
しつれい(shitsuree 4 beats rude; excuse me)
exception:
ええ(ee yes)
ねえ(nee attention getter)
<oo> uses 「う」
おとうさん(otoosan 5beats; father)
どうも(doomo three beats; thanks)
exception:
おおきい(ookii big)
とおい(tooi far)
Trace and practice Hiragana double vowels
(Click 「ひらがな長音-簡単 1〜10」)
Use a blank Practice sheet
if you would like practice more by yourself.
きゃ〜ぴょ
Small ya/ yu/ yo や・ゆ・よ for glade sounds
Check ひらがなtable きゃ〜ぴょ
W | R | Y | M | H | N | T | S | K | ||
ん | わ | ら | や | ま | は | な | た | さ | か | A |
り | み | ひ | に | ち | し | き | I | |||
る | ゆ | む | ふ | ぬ | つ | す | く | U | ||
れ | め | へ | ね | て | せ | け | E | |||
を | ろ | よ | も | ほ | の | と | そ | こ | O |
ry | my | py | by | hy | ny | ch | j | sh | gy | ky | |
rya
りゃ |
mya
みゃ |
pya
ぴゃ |
bya
びゃ |
hya
ひゃ |
nya
にゃ |
cha
ちゃ |
ja
じゃ |
sha
しゃ |
gya
ぎゃ |
kya
きゃ |
a |
ryu
りゅ |
myu
みゅ |
pyu
ぴゅ |
byu
びゅ |
hyu
ひゅ |
nyu
にゅ |
chu
ちゅ |
ju
じゅ |
shu
しゅ |
gyu
ぎゅ |
kyu
きゅ |
u |
ryo
りょ |
myo
みょ |
pyo
ぴょ |
byo
びょ |
hyo
ひょ |
nyo
にょ |
cho
ちょ |
jo
じょ |
sho
しょ |
gyo
ぎょ |
kyo
きょ |
o |
Trace and practice Hiragana きゃ〜ぴょ
(JOSHU:print out and write)
Trace and practice Hiragana glide sounds
(click 「ひらがな練習-拗音」materials)
Use a blank Practice sheet
if you would like practice more by yourself.
Practice Hiragana flash cards が〜ぽ きゃ〜ぴょ
Practice Hiragana sounds きゃ〜ぴょ (345)
Practice Hiragana words recognizing (350)
Practice Hiragana words audio animal(347)
Practice Hiragana words audio 1 (348)
Practice Hiragana words audio 2 (349)
More Practices from JOSHU
Special Writing System
<Particles>
Topic Marker: は(wa)
______は(wa) __________です。
これは(wa)わたしのほんです。
かさは(wa)さんかい(third floor)です。
Object Marker: を(o)
_____を(o)_________ます。(verb)
たなかさんは(wa)、ハンバーガーを(o)たべます。
Destination marker: へ (e)
Place へ(e)_______ます。(motion verb)
ヒューストンへ (e) かえります。
あした、HEBへ (e)いきます。
<Punctuation>
「。」 まる(maru):a period, a question mark
ブラウンさんはだいがくへいきました。
はじめまして。やまだです。
「、」 てん(ten): a comma
すみません、たなかさんですか。
いいえ、ちがいます。
「 」 かぎかっこ(kagikakko): quotation marks
ブラウンさんは「きのう、だいがくへいきました。」といいました。
・ なかてん(nakaten):midpoint
おなまえは。
リンダ・ブラウンです。
... さんてんリーダー(santenriidaa):ellipsis points
あした、えいがをみませんか。
すみませんが、ちょっと ...
Transcription Writing 1 あ〜の
Romanized word | English Nouns can be plural |
Hiragana |
ex) ashi | leg; feet; foot | あし |
aka | red | |
ishi | stone | |
uso | lie | |
eki | station | |
kao | face | |
kaki | persimmon | |
kiku | to listen | |
kusa | grass | |
kesu | to erase | |
koe | voice | |
sasanoha | bamboo grass/ leaf | |
shio | salt | |
suna | sand | |
senaka | back | |
soto | outside | |
tane | seed | |
chika | underground | |
tsuchi | soil | |
teki | enemy | |
tokai | city; urban | |
naku | to cry | |
niku | meat | |
inu | dog | |
neko | cat | |
kinoko | mushroom |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 1_answer
Transcription Writing 2 は〜ん
Romanized word | English Nouns can be plural |
Hiragana |
ex) hachi | bee | はち |
hashi | chopsticks; bridge | |
himo | string; lace | |
hune. (fune) | ship | |
hen | strange; odd | |
hone | bone | |
uma | horse | |
mise | store | |
samui | cold | |
musume | daughter | |
mochi | mochi; sticky rice | |
yasai | vegetable | |
yuki | snow | |
yomu | to read | |
rainen | next year | |
risu | squirrel | |
kuruma | car | |
rekishi | history | |
kuro | black | |
watashi | I | |
mikan | mandarine orange | |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 2_answer
Transcription Writing 3 が〜ぽ
Romanized word | English Nouns can be plural |
Hiragana |
ex) gake | cliff | がけ |
gamen | screen | |
gin | silver | |
kagu | furniture | |
genkan | entryway; entrance hall | |
gohan | meal; cooked rice | |
zarigani | crayfish | |
jishin | earthquake; confidence | |
suzume | sparrow | |
zenbu | all | |
kazoku | family | |
dame | no good | |
hanaji (special ji) | nosebleed | |
denki | light; electric | |
doro | mud | |
kaban | bag | |
kabi | mold | |
buta | pig | |
taberu | to eat | |
tanbo | rice field | |
kinpatsu | blond | |
nenpi | fuel consumption | |
shinpu | Catholic priest | |
penteru | Pentel | |
sanpo | walk; stroll |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 3_answer
Transcription Writing 4 double consonants
Romanized word | English Nouns can be plural |
Hiragana |
ex)happa | leaf | はっぱ |
sekken | soap | |
rakko | sea otter | |
mokkin | marimba | |
batta | grasshopper | |
kitte | stamp | |
chotto | a little |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 4_answer
Transcription Writing 5 double vowels
Romanized word | English Nouns can be plural |
Hiragana |
ex) arigatoo | thank you | ありがとう |
okaasan | mother | |
kooka | effectiveness | |
ginkoo | bank | |
eega | movie | |
suiee | swimming | |
hontoo | real | |
kinoo | yesterday | |
eego | English | |
ii | good | |
kuuki | air | |
huusen (fuusen) | baloon | |
oniisan | older brother |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 5_answer
Transcription Writing 6 glade sounds
Romanized word | English Nouns can be plural |
Hiragana |
ex)kyaku | customer; guest | きゃく |
kyabetsu | cabbage | |
kyuuri (long vowel) | cucumber | |
kyookasho (long vowel) | textbook | |
shashin | picture; photo | |
shukudai | homework | |
shooga (long vowel) | ginger | |
ocha | tea (Asian tea) | |
chuusha (long vowel) | shot; injection | |
choocho (long vowel) | butterfly | |
hannya | prajna | |
nyuugaku | entering school | |
tennyo | heavenly maiden/ nymph | |
hyaku | hundred | |
hyuuga (long vowel) | Hyuuga place; name | |
hyoo (long vowel) | leopard; hail | |
myaku | pulse | |
myooji (long vowel) | last name | |
ryakudatsu | loot | |
ryuu | dragon | |
ryokoo | trip; travel |
gyakuten | adverse change; upset | |
gyuunyuu (long vowel) | milk | |
kingyo | gold fish | |
jagaimo | potato | |
juu (long vowel) | ten | |
joshu | assistant | |
byakuya | night of midnight sun | |
byooin (long vowel) | hospital | |
roppyaku (double con.) | six hundred | |
kanpyoo (long vowel) | gourd strip |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 6_answer
Transcription Writing 7 expressions
Romananizaed | meaning in English | hiragana ひらがな |
ex) hajimemashite | How do you do? | はじめまして |
Doozo yoroshiku | Nice to meet you. | |
Ohayoo gozaimsu | Good morning (formal) | |
Kon-nichiwa | Good afternoon/ hello | |
Konbanwa | Good evening | |
Ja (a) or dewa*. mata *topic wa | See you (bye) | |
Sayoonara | Good bye | |
Shitsuree shimasu | Good bye (formal) | |
Arigatoo | Thank you | |
Arigatoo gozaimasu | Thank you (formal) | |
Doomo arigatoo | Thank you very much | |
Doo itashimashite | You are welcome | |
Sumimasen | Excuse me/ I am sorry Thank you |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 7_answer
Transcription Writing 8 sentences
Romananizaed | hiragana ひらがな |
Ex) Ii otenki desu ne. | いいおてんきですね。 |
Nihongo o kiite kudasai. | |
Hiragana o kaite kudasai. | |
Nihongo o benkyoo shimasu. | |
Machida san no uchi wa doko desu ka. | |
Kinoo, osake o nomimashita. | |
Maiasa asagohan o tabemasu. | |
Tenpura wa ikura desu ka. | |
1500 yen desu. | |
Nanji ni daigaku e ikimasu ka. | |
Kyoo wa ame desu ne. | |
Kasa wa doko desu ka. | |
Machida san wa sakana ga suki desuka. | |
Hai, daisuki desu. |
Check your answer with GS_Transcription 8_Answer
Transcription from JOSHU 1
Hiragana Transcription 1 (printout and practice)
check answer 1
Transcription from JOSHU 2
Media Attributions
- © Chikako Cooke