Learn Hiragana: the complete guide for Japanese beginners
All 46 characters on one page, each with pronunciation, stroke-by-stroke writing tips, real words and Dr. Moku's mnemonic memory tricks.
Characters you mark as learned turn blue.
Three scripts, one language
Written Japanese mixes three writing systems. Hiragana and Katakana together are called Kana. They're syllabaries rather than alphabets: each character is a whole syllable, and each has 46 basic characters.
Hiragana
Smooth, curvy lines. Used for native Japanese words, grammar endings and particles. Start here.
Katakana
Sharp, angular lines. Mainly used for words borrowed from other languages.
Kanji
The busy-looking characters that came from Chinese. Each one carries a meaning.
The vowels
The five vowels are the backbone of every other row. Learn these sounds well and the rest of the chart follows the same pattern.
Hiragana あa
Like the "ah" in "father".
This is the first vowel sound you will meet on your journey to learn Japanese. It is not really a word on its own, but あ can be used to show surprise, like the English "huh?"
How to write あ
Start from the left with a horizontal stroke to the right. Cross it with a vertical stroke going down that curves lightly to the right about halfway. The third stroke is the tricky one: start at its top right, curve left and loop around, crossing its own start once and the second stroke twice. It finishes slightly below and to the right of where the second stroke ended.
Words using あ
- あごago - chin
- あいai - love
- あめame - rain
- あかaka - red
Memory trick: There is a letter A hidden right in the middle of this character. Watch the video to see it appear.
Hiragana いi
Like the "ee" in "feet".
い is the second vowel of the Hiragana chart.
How to write い
At the top left, draw a curved vertical stroke that ends with a small hook at the bottom. At the top right, add a shorter stroke that curves slightly in the opposite direction.
Words using い
- いi - stomach
- いけike - pond
- いきるikiru - to live
Hiragana うu
Like the "oo" in "flew" or "do", with relaxed lips.
う and its Katakana counterpart ウ have a very similar shape, which makes them easy to remember together.
How to write う
Start with a short dash going down from left to right. Underneath it, arc a sideways, slanted U that ends near the centre of the character at its base.
Words using う
- うさぎusagi - rabbit
- うたuta - song
- うみumi - sea
Hiragana えe
Like the "e" in "elephant".
When the え sound is stretched out it is often written with an い, as in せんせい (sensei). A short, rising えっ? shows surprise, much like the English "huh?"
How to write え
Start with a short dash going down from left to right. For the second stroke, start with a horizontal line at the top left, cut back into a straight diagonal line down to the bottom left, then without lifting your pen, retrace a little way and curve down before tailing out to the right along the base. It looks a bit like a backwards, misshapen E.
Words using え
- えんen - fate, connection
- えがおegao - smiling face
- えるeru - to get, to earn
Hiragana おo
Like the "o" in "so".
Don't mix this one up with あ or む. The bottom curve and the loop at its base almost make two O shapes, so use that to link it to O.
A short おっ! is an expression of surprise or realisation, like the English "oh!". お is also added in front of many words as a polite prefix, as in おちゃ (ocha, tea).
How to write お
Start with a short horizontal line. Cross it with a vertical stroke that comes down, turns, and loops round to the right to finish in a wide curve at the bottom. Finish with a small dash at the upper right.
Words using お
- おo - tail
- おんがくongaku - music
- おとなotona - adult
- おとoto - sound
The K row
Add a K sound to each vowel. Two small strokes (dakuten) turn every one of these into a G sound.
Hiragana かka
Like the "ca" in "car".
か is the question particle that goes at the end of a sentence.
か and カ look very similar, so they are easy to remember. Just don't confuse them with the Kanji 力 (power).
How to write か
Start from the middle left with a horizontal line that curves down and hooks inwards at the end. Next, a vertical line from the top that cuts through the middle of the first stroke and curves slightly left at the bottom. Finish with a small diagonal dash at the upper right.
Words using か
- かわkawa - river
- かいしゃkaisha - company
- かぞくkazoku - family
- かさkasa - umbrella
Hiragana きki
Like the word "key".
A long きい, often written キーッ, is the sound of a creak or a screech.
き and キ both have two horizontal lines crossing a vertical one. In handwritten き the top line is usually longer; in キ it's the bottom one. In most typed fonts they look the same length.
How to write き
Draw two horizontal lines, the top one a little shorter. Cross them with a diagonal stroke going down to the right. Finish with a separate curve at the bottom, like the left half of a smile. In many fonts the last two strokes join up, but when writing by hand keep them apart.
Words using き
- きki - tree, wood
- きってkitte - postage stamp
- きっぷkippu - ticket
- ひきhiki - counter for animals
Memory trick: Handwritten き looks like a nose and a mouth. It's the KEY to your face.
Hiragana くku
Like the "coo" in "cool".
A long くう, often written クー, is the sound of sleeping, like the English "zzz".
How to write く
One stroke. Start at the top and draw the shape in a single one-two motion, like an arrow pointing left: <
Words using く
- くちkuchi - mouth
- くろkuro - black
- くつしたkutsushita - socks
- くもkumo - cloud
Memory trick: "Ku ku!" It's the open beak of a cuckoo bird.
Hiragana けke
Like the letter K, "kay".
けっ is a short, dismissive laugh, like the English "pfft".
How to write け
Start with the left vertical line, slightly curved from top to bottom. The hook at the end is optional when handwritten. Add a horizontal stroke about a third of the way down, then cross it with the second vertical stroke, curving it inwards at the bottom.
Words using け
- けっこんkekkon - marriage
- けいさつkeisatsu - police
- けんきゅうkenkyū - research
- けいざいkeizai - economy
Hiragana こko
Like the "co" in "Coca-Cola".
In manga, こっ is the sound of footsteps.
How to write こ
Start with the top horizontal line; the little hook at its end is optional. Then draw the bottom line, starting with a short curve that flows into a horizontal line of roughly the same length. It's like け turned on its side, without the second stroke.
Words using こ
- こko - child
- こなkona - flour
- ことばkotoba - word, language
- こうえんkōen - park
- こえkoe - voice
The S row
Mostly S sounds, with one exception: there is no "si" in Japanese, only shi.
Hiragana さsa
Like the "sa" in "satin".
You'll sometimes hear さあ, meaning "who knows?" or "I'm not sure."
Like き, the handwritten version of さ looks a little different from the typed one.
How to write さ
Start with a horizontal line through the middle, curving up slightly. Cross it with a slanting line going down to the right. Finish with a curve at the base, like the left side of a smile. It's basically き with one horizontal line missing.
Words using さ
- さsa - difference
- さんぽsanpo - walk, stroll
- さいふsaifu - wallet
- さとうsatō - sugar
Hiragana しshi
Like the word "she".
There is no "si" sound in native Japanese, only shi. Add dakuten and you get じ (ji).
A long しいい is how you say "shh!" in Japanese. The Katakana シ is easy to confuse with ツ, so learn them together.
How to write し
One stroke. Start at the top, come straight down, then curve round to the right at the base.
Words using し
- しshi - four
- しごとshigoto - work
- しんぶんshinbun - newspaper
- しみんshimin - citizen
Memory trick: She has shiny hair! This character looks like the swoop of a long ponytail.
Hiragana すsu
Like the name "Sue".
す appears in すう (to breathe in, to smoke). It comes from the cursive form of the Kanji 寸.
Don't confuse the Katakana ス with ヌ.
How to write す
Start with a horizontal line. Then draw a vertical line that crosses it slightly right of centre, makes a loop just below, and ends with a tail curving to the left.
Words using す
- すsu - nest
- すいどうsuidō - water supply
- すうがくsūgaku - mathematics
- すなsuna - sand
Memory trick: Super Sumo! Picture a sumo wrestler's round belly in the loop.
Hiragana せse
Like the word "say".
A common word using it is せっせと, meaning "diligently". せ and セ look very alike.
How to write せ
Start with a horizontal line, slanting up slightly. Then draw the right vertical line, hooking left at the bottom. Finish with the left vertical line that curves along the bottom and out to the right, past the right-hand line.
Words using せ
- せんせいsensei - teacher
- せんたくsentaku - laundry
- せっけんsekken - soap
- せびろsebiro - business suit
Memory trick: It looks just like a huge syringe going into an arm. I SEriously hate syringes. Picture your own arm and it will stick.
Hiragana そso
Like the "so" in "soda".
そう is one of the most useful words in Japanese. On its own it means "I see", and depending on tone it can show surprise, disappointment or agreement. It often pairs with か, ね, よ or だ.
The Katakana ソ is like ツ with only one dash.
How to write そ
One stroke. Start small at the top, cut back diagonally down, then make a longer horizontal line through the middle. Finish with a curve that opens to the right.
Words using そ
- そうじsōji - cleaning
- そつぎょうsotsugyō - graduation
- そとsoto - outside
- そうおんsōon - noise
The T row
Watch out for ち (chi) and つ (tsu). They break the pattern, and つ is a sound English doesn't have.
Hiragana たta
Like the "ta" in "tall", said short.
The first part looks like a letter t, followed by a small こ. たたた is the sound of running footsteps, and ターッ! is a classic battle cry.
How to write た
Start with a short horizontal line. Cross it in the middle with a long slanting line. Then add the small こ on the right: a short top line, then a bottom line that starts with a small curve.
Words using た
- たまごtamago - egg
- たばこtabako - tobacco
- たいしかんtaishikan - embassy
- たんじょうびtanjōbi - birthday
Hiragana ちchi
Like the "chee" in "cheese".
There is no native "ti" sound. In foreign words it's written ティ, using a small Katakana ィ.
How to write ち
Start with a short horizontal line. Cross it with a slanting line that goes down, then swings right and loops back round to finish at the bottom left.
Words using ち
- ちchi - blood
- ちかてつchikatetsu - subway
- ちからchikara - power
- ちきゅうchikyū - the Earth
Hiragana つtsu
Like the "tsu" in "tsunami".
English speakers often say "sunami", but the t is there. Try blending "to" and "sew" and you'll find tsu between them.
A small っ doubles the next consonant (see Sokuon below). The Katakana ツ is easy to mix up with シ.
How to write つ
One smooth stroke. Start at the left, arc over the top and curve back round to finish at the bottom left, just like the bottom of ち.
Words using つ
- つなみtsunami - tsunami
- つりtsuri - fishing
- つばさtsubasa - wing
- つゆtsuyu - rainy season
Memory trick: It doesn't get easier than this one: it looks just like a tsunami wave!
Hiragana てte
Like the "te" in "ten".
て means hand (Kanji 手). It also shows up constantly in verb forms, like たべて (eat, and...).
Don't confuse the Katakana テ with the Japanese postal mark 〒.
How to write て
One stroke. Draw the upper horizontal line, then curve down and back inward. It's the bottom half of そ.
Words using て
- てte - hand
- てがみtegami - letter
- てぶくろtebukuro - gloves
- てつどうtetsudō - railway
Hiragana とto
Like the word "toe".
と is the particle for "and" when listing things. It's also used when quoting speech and thoughts.
How to write と
Start with a short slanting line. Follow with a long curving line that begins at its base.
Words using と
- としtoshi - year
- とけいtokei - clock
- としょかんtoshokan - library
- ときtoki - time
Memory trick: A thorn in my toe!
The N row
A friendly row, full of grammar particles you'll use every day.
Hiragana なna
Like the last "na" in "banana".
At the end of a sentence, な adds a feeling of musing or wishing.
The left part of な looks like ナ.
How to write な
Start with the left horizontal line. Cross it with a slanting line going down. Add a small dash to the right, at the same height as the horizontal line. Finally, draw a vertical line that loops round at the bottom and finishes with a curve to the right.
Words using な
- なまえnamae - name
- なつnatsu - summer
- なみだnamida - tear
- なみnami - wave
Hiragana にni
Like the word "knee".
に means two (Kanji 二). It's also the particle for time, place and direction.
How to write に
Start with a vertical line on the left, finishing with a small hook. On the right, draw a short horizontal line, then a longer one below it that starts with a little curve. The right half is like a small こ.
Words using に
- にni - two
- にしnishi - west
- にんぎょうningyō - doll
- にっきnikki - diary
Hiragana ぬnu
Like the word "new".
Don't confuse it with め (me). ぬ has the extra loop at the end.
Said with a questioning tone, ぬ? is a lot like the English "hm?"
How to write ぬ
Start with a short line curving down to the right. Then draw a long stroke that curves left, loops round crossing itself once and the first stroke twice, and ends with a small loop at the bottom right.
Words using ぬ
- ぬすむnusumu - to steal
- ぬまnuma - swamp
- ぬるnuru - to paint
- ぬれるnureru - to get wet
Hiragana ねne
Like the word "nay".
ね at the end of a sentence asks for agreement, like the English "right?" or "isn't it?"
How to write ね
Start with a straight vertical line. Begin the second stroke on the left, crossing the first line a little above the middle. Cut back diagonally down to the left, retrace slightly, then curve out wide to the right and finish with a small loop at the base.
Words using ね
- ねこneko - cat
- ねずみnezumi - mouse, rat
- ねるneru - to sleep
- ねだんnedan - price
Hiragana のno
Like the word "no".
の is the possessive particle, like the English 's or "of".
How to write の
One stroke. Start near the centre, draw a line down to the left, then swing up and round clockwise in a big curve, finishing at the bottom right.
Words using の
- のりものnorimono - vehicle
- のみものnomimono - drink
- のうかnōka - farmer
- のうぎょうnōgyō - agriculture
Memory trick: No smoking! の looks just like a no smoking sign. Play the video to see it in action.
The H row
Here ふ breaks the pattern: it's a soft "fu", not "hu". Dakuten turns this row into B, and the small circle (handakuten) turns it into P.
Hiragana はha
Like the "ha" in "hard".
When は is the topic particle it's pronounced "wa", as in わたしは (watashi wa).
は also means tooth (Kanji 歯).
How to write は
Start with the left vertical line, slightly curved. Then the straight horizontal line on the right. Cross it with a vertical stroke that finishes with a full loop and a tail at its base.
Words using は
- はなhana - flower
- はるharu - spring
- はしhashi - chopsticks, bridge
- はこhako - box
Hiragana ひhi
Like the word "he".
ひ is written in one continuous stroke and looks a bit like a big grin.
How to write ひ
One stroke. Start with a short line to the left, dip down into a wide U, come back up, then finish with a small flick down to the right.
Words using ひ
- ひとhito - person
- ひるhiru - noon
- ひかりhikari - light
- ひこうきhikōki - aeroplane
Hiragana ふfu
A soft, breathy "fu", made with both lips (no teeth).
It sits somewhere between "hoo" and "foo". Blow gently as if cooling soup.
How to write ふ
Start with a small dash at the top. Then a curved stroke down through the middle, finishing with a hook. Add a short dash on the left and one on the right.
Words using ふ
- ふねfune - boat
- ふゆfuyu - winter
- ふくfuku - clothes
- ふじさんfujisan - Mount Fuji
Hiragana へhe
Like "hey".
As the direction particle ("to, towards") it's pronounced "e".
The Hiragana and Katakana versions are almost identical.
How to write へ
One stroke: a short line up to the right, then a longer line down to the right, like a small mountain.
Words using へ
- へやheya - room
- へびhebi - snake
- へいわheiwa - peace
- へたheta - unskilled
Hiragana ほho
Like the "ho" in "hold".
ほ is は with one extra horizontal line on top. Two lines on the right means ほ.
How to write ほ
Start with the curved vertical line on the left. Add two horizontal lines on the right, then a vertical line through them that ends in a loop at the base.
Words using ほ
- ほんhon - book
- ほしhoshi - star
- ほねhone - bone
- ほそいhosoi - thin
The M row
Hiragana まma
Like the "ma" in "mama".
How to write ま
Draw two horizontal lines, the top one slightly longer. Cross them with a vertical line that finishes in a loop at the base, with a tail to the right.
Words using ま
- まどmado - window
- まちmachi - town
- まめmame - bean
- まくらmakura - pillow
Hiragana みmi
Like the word "me".
How to write み
Start with a short horizontal line, slant down to the left, loop round and sweep out to the right. Finish with a short curved line crossing the tail on the right.
Words using み
- みみmimi - ear
- みずmizu - water
- みせmise - shop
- みちmichi - road
Hiragana むmu
Like the "moo" of a cow.
Don't confuse it with お.
How to write む
Start with a short horizontal line. Cross it with a vertical line that loops at the bottom left and then sweeps up to the right. Finish with a small dash at the upper right.
Words using む
- むしmushi - insect
- むらmura - village
- むねmune - chest
- むすめmusume - daughter
Hiragana めme
Like the "me" in "met".
め is ぬ without the little loop at the end.
How to write め
Start with a short line curving down to the right. Then draw a long stroke that curves left, loops round crossing the first stroke, and ends with an open curve at the bottom right.
Words using め
- めme - eye
- めがねmegane - glasses
- めいしmeishi - business card
Hiragana もmo
Like the "mo" in "more".
も is the particle for "also" or "too".
How to write も
Start with a vertical line that curves at the bottom and flicks up to the right, like a fish hook. Then add two horizontal lines crossing it.
Words using も
- ももmomo - peach
- もりmori - forest
- ものmono - thing
- もちmochi - rice cake
The Y row
Only three characters here. Small versions of them (ゃ ゅ ょ) create combined sounds like kya and sho.
Hiragana やya
Like the "ya" in "yacht".
How to write や
Start with a curved stroke that goes up to the right and hooks down. Add a small dash above it, then a long slanting line crossing through from the top.
Words using や
- やまyama - mountain
- やさいyasai - vegetable
- やねyane - roof
- やすみyasumi - holiday
Hiragana ゆyu
Like the word "you".
How to write ゆ
Start with a vertical line on the left that curves up and round into a loop to the right. Finish with a vertical line through the loop, curving left at the bottom.
Words using ゆ
- ゆきyuki - snow
- ゆめyume - dream
- ゆびyubi - finger
- ゆうびんyūbin - post, mail
Hiragana よyo
Like the "yo" in "yoga".
よ at the end of a sentence adds emphasis, like "you know!"
How to write よ
Start with a short horizontal line on the right. Then draw a vertical line that ends in a loop at the base, tailing out to the right.
Words using よ
- よるyoru - night
- よこyoko - side
- よていyotei - plan
- ようふくyōfuku - clothes
The R row
The Japanese R is a light tap of the tongue, somewhere between English r, l and d.
Hiragana らra
A light, tapped "ra".
How to write ら
Start with a small dash at the top. Then a vertical line that curves round into an open loop to the right.
Words using ら
- らいねんrainen - next year
- らくraku - ease, comfort
- らくだrakuda - camel
Hiragana りri
A light, tapped "ree".
り and リ look almost the same.
How to write り
A short vertical line on the left with a small hook, then a longer line on the right curving down to the left.
Words using り
- りんごringo - apple
- りすrisu - squirrel
- りょこうryokō - travel
Hiragana るru
A light, tapped "roo".
る has a little loop at the bottom; ろ doesn't.
How to write る
One stroke. A short horizontal line, a zigzag down to the left, then a wide curve that ends in a small loop at the base.
Words using る
- るすrusu - not at home
- くるまkuruma - car
- はるharu - spring
Hiragana れre
A light, tapped "reh".
ね, れ and わ share the same left side. れ ends with a straight tail.
How to write れ
Start with a straight vertical line. Then begin on the left, cross it, zigzag, and finish with a tail flicking up to the right.
Words using れ
- れきしrekishi - history
- れんしゅうrenshū - practice
- れいぞうこreizōko - fridge
Hiragana ろro
A light, tapped "roh".
How to write ろ
One stroke, just like る but without the loop at the end.
Words using ろ
- ろくroku - six
- ろうかrōka - corridor
- いろiro - colour
The W row and ん
The final stretch. を is almost only used as a particle, and ん is the only character that's a consonant on its own.
Hiragana わwa
Like the "wa" in "wander".
ね, れ and わ share the same left side. わ ends with an open curve.
How to write わ
Start with a straight vertical line. Then begin on the left, cross it, zigzag, and finish with a wide open curve at the bottom right.
Words using わ
- わたしwatashi - I, me
- わにwani - crocodile
- わらうwarau - to laugh
Hiragana をwo (o)
Pronounced "o", just like お.
を marks the object of a verb. You'll almost never see it anywhere else.
How to write を
Start with a short horizontal line. Draw a stroke that slants down left and bends back to the right. Finish with a curve like a backwards c at the bottom right, crossing the second stroke.
Hiragana んn
Like the "n" in "bun", or "ng" before k and g.
ん never starts a word. The Katakana ン is easy to confuse with ソ.
How to write ん
One stroke. A slanting line down to the left, then a small hump and a flick up to the right.
Words using ん
- ほんhon - book
- にほんnihon - Japan
- せんせいsensei - teacher
Modified Hiragana
The 46 basic characters can be tweaked to cover every sound you need. "Modified" is a handy catch-all while you're starting out, but it's worth knowing the proper names below.
Dakuten ゛
Two small strokes at the top right. They turn K into G, S into Z, T into D and H into B. For example か (ka) becomes が (ga).
Handakuten ゜
A small circle that turns H into P. は (ha) becomes ぱ (pa).
Yōon ゃ ゅ ょ
Small versions of や, ゆ and よ blend with the character before them. きょう (kyō, today) uses a small ょ, while きよう (kiyō, skilful) uses a full-size one.
Sokuon っ
A small つ doubles the consonant that follows it, which creates a short pause.
Chōonpu ー
A dash that stretches the sound before it. You'll mostly see it in Katakana. Hiragana usually lengthens a sound by adding a vowel instead.