Hiragana Alphabet for Beginners
If you're starting your Japanese language journey, one of the first things you'll encounter is Hiragana. It's a key part of the Japanese writing system and essential for reading and writing in Japanese. Alongside Hiragana, you'll also learn Katakana, but don't worry—we'll break everything down for you!
Get to know Hiragana
Hiragana is one of of the three writing systems in Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Hiragana, with a more cursive look, is often used for native Japanese words, and grammatical particles. On the other hand, Katakana, with a rough appearance, is often used for foreign words, and names. Together, they form the basic foundation for learning Japanese letters.
When you're starting out with Japanese, this writing system should be the first thing you learn.
How many characters are there?
There are in total 46 basic Hiragana characters. Each character corresponds to a specific sound or syllable, and all sounds are formed based on 5 basic vowels: a,i,u,e,o.
In addition to the basic characters, there are variations like dakuon, handakuon, and yoon. You will surely figure out how to use them as you proceed learning.
It might seem like a lot at first, but with practice, you'll find it’s manageable. Many people find it helpful to use a Hiragana chart, which shows all the characters at a glance, so you can see and memorize them more easily. You can checkout our chart in the image bellow or download the PDF version here.
Hiragana chart
Learn Hiragana from the basic
If you’re asking yourself how to learn Hiragana, don’t worry—it’s simpler than it looks! Here's a step-by-step approach to get you started:
- Study a Hiragana Chart: A Hiragana chart is a great tool for beginners. It lists all the characters, helping you visualize each one. Keep it handy as you practice!
- Practice Reading: Start with simple sentences and read aloud. This will help you get comfortable with the sounds and how Hiragana flows in actual language use.
- Write It Out: Practice writing Hiragana by hand. The repetitive action helps with muscle memory, and you’ll get familiar with the shapes.
- Use a Hiragana Keyboard: Typing in Japanese? You'll need to install a Hiragana keyboard on your phone or computer. It’s an excellent way to practice recognizing and using Hiragana while you type.
- Flashcards & Apps: There are plenty of apps and online resources that offer Hiragana flashcards, quizzes, and games. These tools. make it fun to test your knowledge and track your progress. We recommend you trying MochiKana. MochiKana is an app that provides fun lessons of how to read and write Hiragana step by step.
Are you ready?
Hiragana is your gateway to mastering Japanese. Once you've learned it, you’ll be well on your way to understanding more complex aspects of the language. By using a Hiragana chart, practicing with a Hiragana keyboard, and incorporating fun learning tools, you’ll find that memorizing and learning Hiragana becomes much easier. Keep practicing every day, and soon enough, you'll have all those Japanese letters down!
Happy learning, and remember—every small step counts!