Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................... 3 Hiragana Charts .................................................................. 12 Stroke Order Practice ..................................................... 14 Learning Japanese Words in Hiragana ................... 85 Practicing Double Consonants ................................... 131 Using Modified Syllables .............................................. 133 Examples of Modified Syllables ............................... 139 Exceptions and a Little Grammar ........................... 142
Introduction There are 3 types of Japanese characters: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. The first two are called kana, and they are similar in that they are both sound-based characters. In addition, there is rōmaji, which is Japanese that is written with the Latin alphabet. You don’t really need to spend any time learning rōmaji, since you already know it. Hiragana and katakana are the most simple and important characters to learn, which is why it is best to learn them first! Japanese sentences often contain a mix of hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
Hiragana ひらがな
Hiragana is probably the most important form of writing that you will learn. Hiragana is a syllabary, a sound-based form of writing. Most hiragana are made up of 2 English letters, but one sound or syllable (e.g. か ka, ま ma, な na). Generally hiragana is used for particles and the ends of verbs and adjectives, while kanji is used for stems of verbs and adjectives and nouns. However, you can use hiragana to write anything in Japanese.
Katakana カタカナ
Katakana, similar to hiragana, is a syllabary. Katakana is primarily used for words of foreign origin (words that come from English, Chinese, German, etc.). However, this is not a hard rule. There are other times when katakana is used, but 99% of the time you see katakana, it will be for foreign words. Japanese has a lot of foreign words, especially from English. Most Japanese billboards and magazines are full of Katakana.
Kanji
Kanji, the oldest form of Japanese writing, has its origin in China. Unlike hiragana and katakana, kanji each carry a meaning with them rather than a sound. There are usually multiple ways to read the same kanji, making it difficult for beginners. However, sometimes one can guess the meaning of the kanji based on its parts.
Romaji ローマ字
Rōmaji uses the Latin alphabet, making it so that even people who haven’t learned hiragana, katakana, or kanji can read and write in Japanese. However, only knowing rōmaji can be very limiting. Rōmaji can be helpful when you are first starting out, but since Japanese people don’t really use it, it is important to learn how to read and write hiragana and katakana.
Furigana ふりがな
Furigana (AKA rubi) is small hiragana that is written above (for horizontal text) or next to (for vertical text) kanji to indicate the pronunciation. For people who know hiragana but do not know many kanji yet, furigana is a very helpful reading tool. You can frequently see furigana in children’s books and manga.
Pronunciation Guide There only 5 vowel sounds in Japanese, and they are always pronounced the same way! In this way, Japanese pronunciation is much easier than English! あ い う え お
a as in Ah! i as in Eek! u as in Moo! e as in Hey! o as in Oh!
Example: あめ Example: いす Example: うさぎ Example: えんぴつ Example: おちゃ
ame rain isu chair usagi rabbit enpitsu pencil ocha tea
Long Vowels In this book, long vowels will be romanized in the following ways. aa ii ū ee ei ō ō ああ いい うう ええ えい おお おう
Pronunciation Guide When two consonants are placed next to each other (double consonants, e.g. kk), there is a sort of pause before the consonant is pronounced. The best way to master this is to listen and repeat. Don’t forget to listen to the audio that is included in this book and repeat it out loud to practice your pronunciation! Have fun!!
Tips on how to get the most out of this workbook 1. Listen to the audio to hear pronunciation and practice saying it! 2. Print out and practice writing as many times as you want! 3. Look at the charts as much as you need to! Eventually, you will not need to look. 4. Expand your vocabulary as you learn to write! 5. がんばって!Ganbatte!! Do your best! If you keep on trying you will remember! Have fun!!
Hiragana Chart a i あ
い
う
k
か
き
く
s
さ
し
t
た
ち
n
な
に
h
は
ひ
ふ
m
ま
み
む
y
や
r
ら
w
わ
n
ん
shi
chi
u
す つ ぬ
え け
る
お こ
せ
そ
tsu
て
と
ね
の
fu
へ
ほ
め
も
ゆ り
e
o
よ れ
ろ を
n
Hiragana Chart 2: Voiced Consonants a i u e o が ぎ ぐ げ ご g ざ じ ji ず ぜ ぞ z だ ぢ ji づ zu で ど d ば び ぶ べ ぼ b ぱ ぴ ぷ ぺ ぽ p
Hiragana Chart 3: Modified Syllables The following hiragana are simply modifications of the hiragana listed in the first two figures. They are pronounced as one syllable, and the や, ゆ, or よ is written smaller than normal.
ya
k
きゃ
n
にゃ
s
しゃ
h
yu
きゅ sha
しゅ
shu
yo
きょ しょ
c
ちゃ ひゃ
ひゅ
ひょ
m
みゃ
みゅ
みょ
r
りゃ
りゅ
りょ
g
ぎゃ
ぎゅ
ぎょ
j
じゃ
b
びゃ
p
ぴゃ
cha
ja
ちゅ にゅ
じゅ びゅ ぴゅ
chu
ju
ちょ にょ
じょ びょ ぴょ
sho
cho
jo
a
あい
ai
あ あああ ああああああ あ あああ ああああああ
i
いるか
iruka dolphin
い いいい いいいいいい い いいい いいいいいい
うみ
u
umi ocean
う ううう うううううう うううう うううううう
e
えいが
eiga movie
え えええ ええええええ え えええ ええええええ
o
およぐ
oyogu to swim
お おおお おおおおおお お おおお おおおおおお
ka
かさ
kasa umbrella
か かかか かかかかかか か かかか かかかかかか
ki
きのこ
kinoko mushroom
き ききき きききききき き ききき きききききき
ku
くま
kuma bear
く くくく くくくくくく く くくく くくくくくく
ke
けしごむ
keshigomu eraser
け けけけ けけけけけけ
け けけけ けけけけけけ
こうえん
ko
kōen park
こ こここ ここここここ ここここ ここここここ
sa
さくら
sakura cherry blossom
さ さささ ささささささ さ さささ ささささささ
しま
shi
shima island
し ししし しししししし し ししし しししししし
すし
su
sushi sushi
す すすす すすすすすす す すすす すすすすすす
se
せかい
sekai world
せ せせせ せせせせせせ せ せせせ せせせせせせ
so
そら
sora sky
そ そそそ そそそそそそ そ そそそ そそそそそそ
ta
たこ
tako octopus
た たたた たたたたたた た たたた たたたたたた
ちず
chi
chizu map
ち ちちち ちちちちちち ち ちちち ちちちちちち
tsu
つり
tsuri fishing
つ つつつ つつつつつつ つ つつつ つつつつつつ
te
て
te hand
て ててて てててててて て ててて てててててて
とら
to
tora tiger
と ととと とととととと と ととと とととととと
na
なつ
natsu summer
な ななな なななななな な ななな なななななな
ni
にじ
niji rainbow
に ににに にににににに に ににに にににににに
nu
ぬりえ
nurie coloring book
ぬ ぬぬぬ ぬぬぬぬぬぬ ぬ ぬぬぬ ぬぬぬぬぬぬ
ne
ねずみ
nezumi mouse
ね ねねね ねねねねねね
ね ねねね ねねねねねね
no
のり
nori seaweed
の ののの のののののの の ののの のののののの
ha
はち
hachi bees
は ははは はははははは は ははは はははははは
hi
ひよこ
hiyoko chick
ひ ひひひ ひひひひひひ
ひ ひひひ ひひひひひひ
fu
ふうせん
fūsen balloons
ふ ふふふ ふふふふふふ ふふふふ ふふふふふふ
he
へや
heya room
へ へへへ へへへへへへ へ へへへ へへへへへへ
ほし
ho
hoshi stars
ほ ほほほ ほほほほほほ ほ ほほほ ほほほほほほ
ma
まんが
manga comic book
まままままままままま まままままままままま
mi
みみ
mimi ears
み みみみ みみみみみみ
みみみみ みみみみみみ
mu
むし
mushi bugs
む むむむ むむむむむむ む むむむ むむむむむむ
me
めがね
megane glasses
め めめめ めめめめめめ め めめめ めめめめめめ
もり
mo
mori forest
も ももも もももももも も ももも もももももも
ya
やさい
yasai vegetables
や やや や やややややや
ややや や やややややや
yu
ゆき
yuki snow
ゆ ゆ ゆゆ ゆゆゆゆゆゆ ゆ ゆ ゆ ゆ ゆゆゆゆゆゆ
yo
よる
yoru night
よ よよ よ よよよよよよ よよ よ よ よよよよよよ
ra
らくだ
rakuda camel
ら らら ら らららららら らら ら ら らららららら
りんご
ri
ringo apple
り り りり りりりりりり り り りり りりりりりり
ru
るすばん
rusuban house-sitting
る る る る るるるるるる るる る る るるるるるる
re
れいぞうこ
reizōko refrigerator
れ れ れれ れれれれれれ
れ れ れ れ れれれれれれ
ろうそく
ro
rōsoku candles
ろろろ ろ ろろろ ろろろ ろろ ろろ ろろろ ろろろ
wa
わがし
wagashi Japanese sweets
わ わ わ わ わわわわわわ わ わ わ わ わわわわわわ
o (wo)
てをあらう
te o arau to wash one’s hands
を をを を をををををを を を を を をををををを
でんしゃ
n
densha train
ん ん ん ん んんんんんん ん ん ん ん んんんんんん
ga
がっこう
gakkō school
が が が が がががががが が が が が がががががが
gi
ぎゅうにゅう
gyūnyū milk
ぎ ぎ ぎ ぎ ぎぎぎぎぎぎ ぎぎぎ ぎ ぎぎぎぎぎぎ
ぐん
gu
gun military
ぐ ぐ ぐぐ ぐぐぐぐぐぐ ぐぐ ぐぐ ぐぐぐ ぐぐぐ
ge
げいしゃ
geisha geisha
げ げげ げ げげげげげげ
げ げげ げ げげげげげげ
go
ごみ
gomi trash
ご ご ごご ごごごごごご ご ご ご ご ごごごごごご
za
ざぶとん
zabuton cushion
ざ ざざ ざ ざざざざざざ ざ ざ ざざ ざざざざざざ
ji
じてんしゃ
jitensha bicycle
じ じじ じ じじじじじじ じ じじ じ じじじじじじ
すずめ
zu
suzume sparrow
ず ず ず ず ずずずずずず ず ず ず ず ずずずずずず
ぜん
ze
zen zen
ぜ ぜ ぜ ぜ ぜぜぜぜぜぜ ぜぜぜ ぜ ぜぜぜぜぜぜ
zo
ぞう
zō elephant
ぞ ぞぞぞ ぞぞぞぞぞぞ ぞ ぞ ぞ ぞ ぞぞぞぞぞぞ
da
だんご
dango dango
だ だだ だ だだだだだだ だ だ だだ だだだだだだ
ji
はなぢ
hanaji nosebleed
ぢ ぢぢぢ ぢぢぢぢぢぢ ぢ ぢ ぢ ぢぢぢぢぢぢぢ
つづく
zu
tsuzuku to continue
づ づ づ づ づづづづづづ づ づづづ づづづづづづ
でんわ
de
denwa telephone
で で で で でででででで ででで で でででででで
どんぐり
do
donguri acorns
ど ど どど どどどどどど ど どど ど どどどどどど
ばくだん
ba
bakudan bomb
ば ば ばば ばばばばばば ば ば ば ば ばばばばばば
びょういん
bi
byōin hospital
び び びび びびびびびび び び び び びびびびびび
ぶどう
bu
budō grapes
ぶ ぶ ぶ ぶ ぶぶぶぶぶぶ ぶぶ ぶ ぶ ぶぶぶぶぶぶ
be
べんとう
bentō boxed lunch
べべ べ べ べ べ べべべべ べべ べ べ べ べ べべべべ
ぼんさい
bo
bonsai bonsai
ぼ ぼ ぼ ぼ ぼぼぼぼぼぼ ぼぼ ぼ ぼ ぼぼぼぼぼぼ
ぱん
pa
pan bread
ぱぱ ぱ ぱ ぱぱぱぱぱぱ ぱ ぱ ぱ ぱ ぱぱぱぱぱぱ
pi
ぴよぴよ
piyopiyo tweet tweet
ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴぴぴぴぴぴ ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴぴぴぴぴぴ
ぷりん
pu
purin pudding
ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷぷぷぷぷぷ ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷぷぷぷぷぷ
ぺんき
pe
penki paint
ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺぺぺぺぺぺ ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺぺぺぺぺぺ
po
ぽけっと
poketto pocket
ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽぽぽぽぽぽ ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽぽぽぽぽぽ
あ Examples: 1. あ き
3. あ い
2. あ り
4. あ し
aki
FALL/AUTUMN
ari
ANT
ai
LOVE
ashi
FOOT/LEG
a
い Examples: 1. い し ishi
3. い ぬ
2. い る か
4. い す
STONE
iruka
DOLPHIN
inu DOG
isu
CHAIR
i
う Examples: 1. う し
3. う さ ぎ
2. う ま
4. う み
ushi COW
uma
HORSE
usagi
RABBIT
umi
OCEAN
u
え Examples: 1. え
3. え さ
2. え び
4. え い が
e
PICTURE
ebi
SHRIMP
esa
PET FOOD
eiga
MOVIE
e
お Examples: 1. お に
3. お ち ゃ
2. お よ ぐ
4. お り が み
oni
DEMON
oyogu
TO SWIM
ocha TEA
origami ORIGAMI
o
か Examples: 1. か い
3. か さ
2. か え る
4. が っ こ う
kai
SHELL
kaeru FROG
kasa
UMBRELLA
gakkō
SCHOOL
ka
き Examples:
1. き の こ
3. ぎ ん こ う
2. き つ ね
4. ぎ ゅ う に ゅ う
kinoko
MUSHROOM
kitsune FOX
ginkō BANK
gyūnyū MILK
ki
く Examples: 1. く ま
3. く る ま
2. く も
4. ぐ ん
kuma BEAR
kumo SPIDER
kuruma CAR
gun
MILITARY
ku
け Examples: 1. け ん
3. け い さ つ
2. け し ご む
4. げ い し ゃ
ken
SWORD
keshigomu ERASER
keisatsu POLICE
geisha GEISHA
ke
こ Examples:
1. こ う え ん
3. ご み
2. こ い
4. ご き ぶ り
kōen PARK
koi
ROMANTIC LOVE
gomi
GARBAGE
gokiburi
COCKROACH
ko
さ Examples:
1. さ く ら sakura
3. ざ い さ ん
2. さ め
4. ざ ぶ と ん
CHERRY BLOSSOM
same SHARK
zaisan
FORTUNE
zabuton CUSHION
sa
し Examples: 1. し か
3. じ し ょ
2. し ま
4. じ て ん し ゃ
shika DEER
shima ISLAND
jisho
DICTIONARY
jitensha BICYCLE
shi
す Examples: 1. す し sushi
3. す ず め
2. す も う
4. す い か
SUSHI
sumō SUMO
suzume SPARROW
suika
WATERMELON
su
せ Examples: 1. せ み
3. ぜ ん
2. せ か い
4. ぜ ん ざ い
semi
CICADA
sekai
WORLD
zen ZEN
zenzai ZENZAI
se
そ Examples: 1. そ ら
3. ぞ う
2. そ ば
4. ぞ う す い
sora SKY
soba SOBA
zō
ELEPHANT
zōsui ZōSUI
so
た Examples: 1. た こ
3. だ ん ご
2. た い や き
4. だ い こ ん
tako
OCTOPUS
taiyaki TAIYAKI
dango DANGO
daikon
DAIKON RADISH
ta
ち Examples:
* bothぢ andじ are pronounced ji, but in most cases, じ is used. ぢ is only used in a few specific cases.
1. ち ず
3. ち き ゅ う
2. ち ょ う ち ょ
4. は な ぢ
chizu MAP
chōcho
BUTTERFLY
chi
chikyū EARTH
hanaji
NOSEBLEED
つ
tsu
Examples:
* bothづ andず are pronounced zu, but in most cases, ず is used. づ is only used in a few specific cases.
FISHING
DESK
1. つ り tsuri
3. つ く え
2. つ み き
4. つ づ く
tsumiki BLOCKS
tsukue
tsuzuku
TO CONTINUE
て Examples: 1. て te
3. で ぐ ち
2. て ら
4. で ん わ
HAND
tera
TEMPLE
deguchi EXIT
denwa
TELEPHONE
te
と Examples: 1. と り
3. と け い
2. と ら
4. ど ん ぐ り
tori BIRD
tora
TIGER
tokei
CLOCK
donguri ACORNS
to
な Examples: 1. な つ
3. な す び
2. な み だ
4. な っ と う
natsu
SUMMER
namida TEARS
nasubi
EGGPLANT
nattō NATTO
na
に Examples: 1. に く
3. に じ
2. に っ き
4. に わ と り
niku MEAT
nikki
JOURNAL
niji
RAINBOW
niwatori CHICKEN
ni
ぬ Examples: 1. ぬ ま
3. ぬ く
2. ぬ り え
4. ぬ い ぐ る み
numa SWAMP
nurie
COLORING BOOK
nuku
TO PULL
nuigurumi
STUFFED ANIMAL
nu
ね Examples: 1. ね こ
3. ね る
2. ね ぎ
4. ね ず み
neko CAT
negi
GREEN ONION
neru
TO SLEEP
nezumi MOUSE
ne
の Examples: 1. の る
3. の り
2. の む
4. の ぼ る
noru
TO RIDE
nomu
TO DRINK
nori
SEAWEED
noboru TO CLIMB
no
は Examples: 1. は ち
3. ぱ ん
2. は さ み
4. ば く だ ん
hachi BEES
hasami
SCISSORS
pan
BREAD
bakudan BOMB
ha
ひ Examples:
1. ひ よ こ
3. び ょ う い ん
2. ひ ま わ り
4. ぴ よ ぴ よ
hiyoko CHICK
himawari SUNFLOWER
byōin
HOSPITAL
piyopiyo
TWEET TWEET
hi
ふ Examples: 1. ふ ね
3. ぷ り ん
2. ふ う せ ん
4. ぶ ど う
fune SHIP
fūsen
BALLOONS
purin
PUDDING
budō
GRAPES
fu
へ Examples: 1. へ び
3. ぺ ん き
2. へ や
4. べ ん と う
hebi
SNAKE
heya ROOM
penki PAINT
bentō
BOXED LUNCH
he
ほ Examples: 1. ほ し
3. ぽ け っ と
2. ほ ん
4. ぼ ん さ い
hoshi STARS
hon
BOOK
poketto POCKET
bonsai BONSAI
ho
ま Examples: 1. ま め mame
3. ま ん が
2. ま ど
4. ま ほ う
BEANS
mado
WINDOW
manga
COMIC BOOK
mahō MAGIC
ma
み Examples: 1. み み
3. み ち
2. み ず
4. み か ん
mimi EAR
mizu
WATER
michi ROAD
mikan ORANGE
mi
む Examples: 1. む し
3. む ず か し い
2. む し ば
4. む ら さ き
mushi BUGS
mushiba CAVITY
muzukashii DIFFICULT
murasaki PURPLE
mu
め Examples: 1. め
3. め が ね
2. め ろ ん
4. め だ ま や き
me
EYES
meron MELON
megane GLASSES
medamayaki FRIED EGG
me
も Examples: 1. も も
3. も り
2. も ち
4. も ぐ ら
momo PEACH
mochi MOCHI
mori
FOREST
mogura MOLE
mo
や Examples:
1. や か ん
3. や ぎ
2. や さ い
4. や き と り
yakan KETTLE
yasai
VEGETABLES
yagi GOAT
yakitori
GRILLED CHICKEN
ya
ゆ Examples: 1. ゆ き
3. ゆ め
2. ゆ う れ い
4. ゆ う え ん ち
yuki
SNOW
yūrei GHOST
yume DREAM
yūenchi
THEME PARK
yu
よ Examples: 1. よ る
3. よ う せ い
2. よ て い
4. よ う ち え ん
yoru NIGHT
yotei PLANS
yōsei FAIRY
yōchien
KINDERGARTEN
yo
ら Examples:
1. ら っ ぱ
3. ら い お ん
2. ら く だ
4. ら く が き
rappa
TRUMPET
rakuda CAMEL
raion LION
rakugaki GRAFFITI
ra
り Examples: 1. り す risu
3. り ぼ ん
2. り ん ご
4. り ゅ う
SQUIRREL
ringo APPLE
ribon
RIBBON
ryū
DRAGON
ri
る Examples:
1. る す ば ん
3. ひ る
2. さ る
4. く る ま
rusuban
HOUSE SITTING
saru
MONKEY
hiru
AFTERNOON
kuruma CAR
ru
れ Examples:
1. れ き し
3. れ ん が
2. れ ん あ い
4. れ い ぞ う こ
rekishi HISTORY
renai
ROMANTIC LOVE
renga BRICKS
reizōko
REFRIGERATOR
re
ろ Examples:
1. ろ う や
3. ろ ば
2. ろ う じ ん
4. ろ う そ く
rōya
PRISON
rōjin
OLD PERSON
roba
DONKEY
rōsoku CANDLES
ro
わ Examples: 1. わ に
3. わ さ び
2. わ が し
4. わ た あ め
wani
ALLIGATOR
wagashi
JAPANESE SWEETS
wasabi WASABI
wataame
COTTON CANDY
wa
を Examples:
1. て を あ ら う te o arau
TO WASH ONE’S HANDS
2. ご は ん を た べ る gohan o taberu TO EAT RICE
3. お さ け を の む osake o nomu
TO DRINK ALCOHOL
o (wo)
ん Examples:
1. ほ ん だ な
3. で ん し ゃ
2. に ん じ ゃ
4. べ ん き ょ う
hondana BOOKSHELF
ninja NINJA
densha TRAIN
benkyō STUDY
n
Double Consonants Words that have double consonants are written with a small つ which indicates the short pause that you take when pronouncing these words. Take a look at the examples below and pay close attention to the difference in pronunciation.
kk ss tt pp
つ
きって kitte STAMP
ざっし zasshi MAGAZINE
らっぱ rappa TRUMPET
にっき nikki DIARY
Practice Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.
1. に っ き 2. ら っ ぱ
nikki DIARY
rappa
TRUMPET
Practice (continued) Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.
3. ざ っ し 4. き っ て
5. が っ こ う
6. な っ と う 7. ふ っ と う 8. ね っ と う
9. ほ っ か い ど う
zasshi
MAGAZINE
kitte
STAMP
gakkō
SCHOOL
nattō
NATTO
futtō
BOILING
nettō
BOILING WATER
hokkaidō HOKKAIDO
Modified Syllables When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
kya
kyu kyo gya
gyu gyo
きゃ きゅ きょ ぎゃ ぎゅ ぎょ
Modified Syllables When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
sha
shu sho ja
ju jo
しゃ しゅ しょ じゃ じゅ じょ
Modified Syllables When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
cha
chu cho nya
nyu nyo
ちゃ ちゅ ちょ にゃ にゅ にょ
Modified Syllables When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
hya
hyu hyo bya
byu byo
ひゃ ひゅ ひょ びゃ びゅ びょ
Modified Syllables When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
pya
pyu pyo
mya
myu myo
ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ
みゃ みゅ みょ
Modified Syllables When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
rya
ryu ryo
りゃ りゅ りょ
EXAMPLES
ひゃ く お ちゃ いしゃ り
ょ
かん
う ん て んしゅ
hyaku
one hundred
ocha
green tea
ryokan
Traditional Japanese Inn
isha
doctor
untenshu driver
EXAMPLES
ちょ う ちょ かいしゃ に ん じゃ べ ん きょ う で ん しゃ
chōcho
butterfly
ninja
ninja
kaisha
benkyō densha
company
study train
EXAMPLES
りゅ う おもち
ゃ
ぎゅ うに び
ょ
じし
うき ょ
ゅ
う
ryū
dragon
omocha
toy
gyūnyū
milk
jisho
dictionary
byōki
sick
は is not always ha When は is written as a particle, it is pronounced wa. Be careful not to confuse は(wa) with わ(wa).
Example: わたしはたなかです。
Watashi wa tanaka desu. I am Tanaka.
Practice: Write the correct hiragana for the sentences below. Make sure to pay attention to particles!
1. _____________________________________ Kore wa kaban desu. This is a bag.
2. _____________________________________ Sore wa watashi no kasa desu. That is my umbrella.
3. _____________________________________ Watashi wa daigakusei desu. I am a college student.
4. _____________________________________ Suzuki san wa nihonjin desu. Mr./Ms. Suzuki is Japanese.
5. _____________________________________ Are wa tomodachi no kuruma desu. That is my friend’s car.
は is not always ha answers 1. これはかばんです。 Kore wa kaban desu. This is a bag.
2. それはわたしのかさです。 Sore wa watashi no kasa desu. That is my umbrella.
3. わたしはだいがくせいです。 Watashi wa daigakusei desu. I am a college student.
4. すずきさんはにほんじんです。 Suzuki san wa nihonjin desu. Mr./Ms. Suzuki is Japanese.
5. あれはともだちのくるまです。 Are wa tomodachi no kuruma desu. That is my friend’s car.
へ is not always he When へ is written as a particle, it is pronounced e. Be careful not to confuse へ(e) with え(e).
Example: がっこうへいきます。 Gakkō e ikimasu. I will go to school.
Practice: Write the correct hiragana for the sentences below. Make sure to pay attention to particles!
1. _____________________________________ Suzuki san wa nihon e kaerimashita. Mr./Ms Suzuki returned to Japan.
2. _____________________________________ Shigoto e ikimasu. I will go to work.
3. _____________________________________ Uchi e kaerimasu. I will return home.
4. _____________________________________ Tōkyō (toukyou) e ikimasu. I will go to Tokyo.
5. _____________________________________ Ginkō (ginkou) e ittekimashita I went to the bank.
へ is not always he answers 1. すずきさんはにほんへかえりました。 Suzuki san wa nihon e kaerimashita. Mr./Ms Suzuki returned to Japan.
2. しごとへいきます。 Shigoto e ikimasu. I will go to work.
3. うちへかえります。 Uchi e kaerimasu. I will return home.
4. とうきょうへいきます。 Tōkyō (toukyou) e ikimasu. I will go to Tokyo.
5. ぎんこうへいってきました。 Ginkō (ginkou) e ittekimashita. I went to the bank.
お vs. を The hiragana を can be romanized as wo or o, but it is usually pronounced o. Do not confuse を(o) with お(o). を is only used as a particle in modern Japanese. If you don’t know what a particle is, or how this particle is used, please visit our website! We have a lot of videos about Japanese particles!
Example: りんごをたべます。
Ringo o tabemasu. I will eat an apple.
Practice: Write the correct hiragana for the sentences below. Make sure you pay attention to particles!
1. _____________________________________ Mizu o kudasai. Please give me water.
2. _____________________________________ Hon o yomimasu. I will read a book.
3. _____________________________________ Eiga o mimashita. I watched a movie.
4. _____________________________________ Sōji (souji) o shimashita. I did the cleaning.
5.
__________________________________________ Benkyō o shimashita. I studied.
お vs. を answers 1. みずをください。 Mizu o kudasai. Please give me water.
2. ほんをよみます。 Hon o yomimasu. I will read a book.
3. えいがをみました。 Eiga o mimashita. I watched a movie.
4. そうじをしました。 Sōji (souji) o shimashita. I did the cleaning.
5. べんきょうをしました。 Benkyō o shimashita. I studied.
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