Download Hiragana Alphabet tracing sheet PDF
Download Katakana Alphabet tracing sheet PDF
Here’s a list of
Japanese Hiragana and Katakana characters with their pronunciations. Japanese
characters are grouped by their "gojūon" (五十音) order, starting with
the vowel sounds and followed by consonant groups.
Hiragana and
Katakana with Pronunciation
|
Hiragana |
Katakana |
Pronunciation |
|
あ |
ア |
a |
|
い |
イ |
i |
|
う |
ウ |
u |
|
え |
エ |
e |
|
お |
オ |
o |
|
か |
カ |
ka |
|
き |
キ |
ki |
|
く |
ク |
ku |
|
け |
ケ |
ke |
|
こ |
コ |
ko |
|
さ |
サ |
sa |
|
し |
シ |
shi |
|
す |
ス |
su |
|
せ |
セ |
se |
|
そ |
ソ |
so |
|
た |
タ |
ta |
|
ち |
チ |
chi |
|
つ |
ツ |
tsu |
|
て |
テ |
te |
|
と |
ト |
to |
|
な |
ナ |
na |
|
に |
ニ |
ni |
|
ぬ |
ヌ |
nu |
|
ね |
ネ |
ne |
|
の |
ノ |
no |
|
は |
ハ |
ha |
|
ひ |
ヒ |
hi |
|
ふ |
フ |
fu |
|
へ |
ヘ |
he |
|
ほ |
ホ |
ho |
|
ま |
マ |
ma |
|
み |
ミ |
mi |
|
む |
ム |
mu |
|
め |
メ |
me |
|
も |
モ |
mo |
|
や |
ヤ |
ya |
|
(none) |
(none) |
- |
|
ゆ |
ユ |
yu |
|
(none) |
(none) |
- |
|
よ |
ヨ |
yo |
|
ら |
ラ |
ra |
|
り |
リ |
ri |
|
る |
ル |
ru |
|
れ |
レ |
re |
|
ろ |
ロ |
ro |
|
わ |
ワ |
wa |
|
(none) |
(none) |
- |
|
を |
ヲ |
wo (o) |
|
ん |
ン |
n |
Special Sounds
In addition to the
basic sounds, Japanese also has voiced and semi-voiced consonant
sounds (indicated by adding diacritical marks to the base characters) and combined
sounds made by adding small や (ya), ゆ (yu), or よ (yo)
after certain characters. Here are a few examples:
Voiced and
Semi-Voiced Sounds
|
Hiragana |
Katakana |
Pronunciation |
|
が |
ガ |
ga |
|
ぎ |
ギ |
gi |
|
ぐ |
グ |
gu |
|
げ |
ゲ |
ge |
|
ご |
ゴ |
go |
|
ざ |
ザ |
za |
|
じ |
ジ |
ji |
|
ず |
ズ |
zu |
|
ぜ |
ゼ |
ze |
|
ぞ |
ゾ |
zo |
|
だ |
ダ |
da |
|
ぢ |
ヂ |
ji (di) |
|
づ |
ヅ |
zu (du) |
|
で |
デ |
de |
|
ど |
ド |
do |
|
ば |
バ |
ba |
|
び |
ビ |
bi |
|
ぶ |
ブ |
bu |
|
べ |
ベ |
be |
|
ぼ |
ボ |
bo |
|
ぱ |
パ |
pa |
|
ぴ |
ピ |
pi |
|
ぷ |
プ |
pu |
|
ぺ |
ペ |
pe |
|
ぽ |
ポ |
po |
Combined Sounds
|
Hiragana |
Katakana |
Pronunciation |
|
きゃ |
キャ |
kya |
|
きゅ |
キュ |
kyu |
|
きょ |
キョ |
kyo |
|
しゃ |
シャ |
sha |
|
しゅ |
シュ |
shu |
|
しょ |
ショ |
sho |
|
ちゃ |
チャ |
cha |
|
ちゅ |
チュ |
chu |
|
ちょ |
チョ |
cho |
|
にゃ |
ニャ |
nya |
|
にゅ |
ニュ |
nyu |
|
にょ |
ニョ |
nyo |
|
ひゃ |
ヒャ |
hya |
|
ひゅ |
ヒュ |
hyu |
|
ひょ |
ヒョ |
hyo |
|
みゃ |
ミャ |
mya |
|
みゅ |
ミュ |
myu |
|
みょ |
ミョ |
myo |
|
りゃ |
リャ |
rya |
|
りゅ |
リュ |
ryu |
|
りょ |
リョ |
ryo |
This list covers the
full range of Hiragana and Katakana sounds, including basic, voiced, and
combined sounds. Mastering these characters and sounds is essential for reading
and writing in Japanese and forms the foundation for learning Kanji as well.
The Beauty of the Japanese Language
The Japanese language is a rich tapestry of history, culture, and aesthetics, interwoven through its unique writing systems and sounds. The Japanese writing system comprises three scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Hiragana and Katakana are phonetic alphabets, where each character represents a specific sound, while Kanji consists of logographic characters, each symbolizing a concept or idea.
Hiragana, with its flowing, rounded shapes, is often seen as the most “Japanese” of the scripts. It’s used to write native Japanese words and grammatical elements, creating a gentle, rhythmic flow when read. Katakana, on the other hand, is used for foreign words, names, and emphasis. Its angular forms contrast with Hiragana's softness, providing a dynamic visual and functional balance in written text.
Together, these scripts allow Japanese writing to express nuanced ideas with clarity, elegance, and versatility. Words written in Kanji convey deep meaning with just a few characters, while Hiragana adds layers of grammar and rhythm, and Katakana highlights borrowed words and expressions, showing how language evolves with culture.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Japanese is how much it values simplicity and aesthetic balance. This is not just in its writing but also in how it shapes thought. Japanese often focuses on what is implied rather than what is directly stated, leaving space for interpretation and reflection. This quality gives the language a subtlety that mirrors Japanese art, from brush calligraphy to minimalist poetry like Haiku.
Japanese is a language that combines structure with artistry, respect for tradition with openness to influence, and it does so with a quiet elegance that speaks to the heart of Japanese culture.
Learning Japanese alphabets—Hiragana and Katakana—can seem challenging, but with the right techniques and a steady approach, you can make great progress quickly. Here are some effective strategies to help you learn these alphabets easily:
1. Start with Hiragana First
- Why: Hiragana is the fundamental script used for native Japanese words, grammatical endings, and beginner-level Japanese texts.
- How: Begin by memorizing the five vowel sounds (あ, い, う, え, お) and their Hiragana characters. Then move through each consonant group (ka, sa, ta, etc.) one by one.
2. Use Mnemonics
- Associating images or stories with characters can help you remember them faster. For example, remember "あ (a)" by visualizing it as an apple with a stem.
- Apps like "Dr. Moku" and Tofugu’s Hiragana mnemonics guide provide illustrations and memorable stories for each character.
3. Practice with Writing
- Writing helps reinforce memory through muscle memory. Start by tracing the characters and then try writing them without looking.
- Use practice sheets or apps like Kanji Study or Kana Quiz that allow you to trace or write characters.
4. Learn Katakana After Hiragana
- Once you’re comfortable with Hiragana, begin learning Katakana. It’s similar in structure but has different shapes. Use the same mnemonic approach and practice writing these characters as well.
- Remember that Katakana is primarily used for foreign words, names, and some onomatopoeic sounds.
5. Break It Down into Small Groups
- Study five to ten characters at a time to avoid overwhelming yourself. Review them regularly, and move to the next set only when you’re confident with the previous one.
6. Use Flashcards
- Digital flashcards are excellent for spaced repetition learning. Apps like Anki or Quizlet let you practice Hiragana and Katakana while reinforcing recall through repetition.
7. Practice with Real Words
- As you learn new characters, try to form simple words with them. Practice writing and reading words like あい (love), かお (face), or even names in Katakana. This makes learning practical and more engaging.
8. Read Simple Japanese Texts
- Children’s books, flashcards, and basic manga written in Hiragana are perfect for beginners. Apps like LingoDeer and sites like NHK Easy Japanese News also provide beginner content with Hiragana and Katakana.
9. Use Apps and Games
- Duolingo, LingoDeer, Memrise, and Human Japanese offer structured lessons, quizzes, and games to help you learn both Hiragana and Katakana interactively.
10. Set a Consistent Practice Schedule
- Short, daily practice sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones. Aim for 10-15 minutes each day to review and write characters, and gradually increase your practice time as you improve.
Sample Plan
1. Week 1-2: Focus on Hiragana (10-15 characters per day).
2. Week 3: Review all Hiragana characters and practice forming simple words.
3. Week 4-5: Move on to Katakana with the same pace.
4. Week 6: Practice both Hiragana and Katakana, mixing in real words, reading, and writing exercises.
Helpful Resources
- Kana Drills (online drills for practicing reading).
- Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese (free online textbook for learning Hiragana, Katakana, and basic grammar).
- JapanesePod101 (videos for pronunciation and flashcard sets).
By staying consistent and making your study sessions enjoyable, you can build a strong foundation in Hiragana and Katakana in a matter of weeks!
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