If you’re serious about learning Japanese, mastering hiragana (ひらがな) is the first step. This essential writing system forms the backbone of Japanese grammar, allowing you to read and write even before learning kanji. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy (and fun!) to learn!
What is Hiragana?
Hiragana is one of the three Japanese writing systems, alongside katakana and kanji. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable, making it a phonetic alphabet. Unlike kanji, which represents meaning, hiragana is purely sound-based.
🔹 Fun Fact: Hiragana was originally developed by Japanese women in the Heian period because kanji was primarily used by men in official documents. It was sometimes called “women’s writing” (女手, onnade).
The 46 Basic Hiragana Characters
The following are the basic hiragana characters used along with an approximation of the sound that charcter makes.
あ (a) い (i) う (u) え (e) お (o) か (ka) き (ki) く (ku) け (ke) こ (ko) さ (sa) し (shi) す (su) せ (se) そ (so) た (ta) ち (chi) つ (tsu) て (te) と (to) な (na) に (ni) ぬ (nu) ね (ne) の (no) は (ha) ひ (hi) ふ (fu) へ (he) ほ (ho) ま (ma) み (mi) む (mu) め (me) も (mo) や (ya) ゆ (yu) よ (yo) ら (ra) り (ri) る (ru) れ (re) ろ (ro) わ (wa) を (wo) ん (n)
Hiragana Charts
Hiragana charts are a great study tool for you to reference these characters. Take a look at our own Hiragana Chart.
How to Write Hiragana (Stroke Order)
Each character has a specific stroke order that helps with legibility and speed. Practicing stroke order correctly from the beginning builds muscle memory and makes your writing look more natural.
📝 Tip: Use our Japanese Dictionary to see animated stroke orders for each character!
Take a look at the first character you’ll learn with Hiragana. あ (a). Nihongo Master shows you how to write it, pronounce it as well as print practice sheets so you can write it at home.
Hiragana Pronunciation Guide
Hiragana pronunciation is straightforward, as each character represents only one sound. Unlike English, there are no silent letters or complex spelling rules.
か (ka) is always “ka”—no variations!
し (shi) sounds like “she” in English.
ふ (fu) is a soft “fu,” almost like blowing out a candle.
Tricks to Memorize Hiragana Faster
Memorizing 46 characters might seem daunting, but here are some easy tricks:
Mnemonics: Associate each character with an image (e.g., “し” (shi) looks like a smiling face!).
Practice writing daily: Repetition is key!
Use flashcards or SRS apps like Nihongo Master’s drills to reinforce learning.
🔹 Cultural Note: Ever seen a Japanese calligraphy brush? Traditional hiragana was written with a brush, giving it a flowing and artistic look!
Next Steps: Moving Beyond Hiragana
Once you’ve mastered hiragana, the next step is:
Learning katakana for foreign words.
Diving into kanji for more advanced reading.
Practicing real sentences using our structured lessons on Nihongo Master.
