Learn Hiragana: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Writing

level1 (N5)

Introduction

If you’re starting to learn Japanese, Hiragana (ひらがな) is your first big step. Hiragana is one of the three writing systems in Japanese (along with Katakana and Kanji), and it’s essential for reading, writing, and speaking the language.

In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔ What Hiragana is and how it’s used
✔ The 46 basic Hiragana characters
✔ Special Hiragana sounds (like きゃ, しゃ, が, ぱ…)
✔ How to pronounce them correctly
✔ Practice examples and common words

Let’s start your Hiragana journey!

1. What is Hiragana?

Hiragana is a phonetic writing system with 46 basic characters. Each character represents a syllable (like “ka,” “shi,” or “mu”). Hiragana is used to:

  • Spell native Japanese words
  • Write grammatical parts (like particles or verb endings)
  • Add pronunciation hints (called furigana) to kanji

💡 Example words written in Hiragana:

  • わたし (watashi) – I / me
  • にほん (nihon) – Japan
  • おいしい (oishii) – Delicious

2. The 46 Basic Hiragana Characters

Here are the core characters you need to learn first:

VowelsAIUEO
–あいうえお
K-rowかきくけこ
S-rowさしすせそ
T-rowたちつてと
N-rowなにぬねの
H-rowはひふへほ
M-rowまみむめも
Y-rowや–ゆ–よ
R-rowらりるれろ
W-rowわ–––を
nん––––

💡 Pronunciation Note:
Some sounds use special Romanization to reflect real pronunciation better:

  • し → shi (not si)
  • ち → chi (not ti)
  • つ → tsu (not tu)
  • ふ → fu (not hu)
  • を → pronounced as “o”, not “wo”

3. Special Hiragana Sounds

Once you learn the basics, you can create 23 more sounds using diacritical marks:

3.1 Voiced Sounds (with ゛)

  • か → が (ga), さ → ざ (za), た → だ (da), は → ば (ba)
  • Example: ごはん (gohan) – rice, meal

3.2 Plosive Sounds (with ゜)

  • は → ぱ (pa), ひ → ぴ (pi), etc.
  • Example: てんぷら (tenpura) – tempura

4. Contracted Sounds (きゃ, しゃ, ちゃ, etc.)

When small や (ya), ゆ (yu), or よ (yo) follow certain characters ending in “i,” a new blended sound is formed:

CombinationSoundExample
き + ゃきゃ (kya)きゃく (kyaku) – guest
し + ゅしゅ (shu)しゅくだい (shukudai) – homework
ち + ょちょ (cho)ちょっと (chotto) – a little
に + ょにょ (nyo)にょろにょろ – wiggly (sound effect)

These are pronounced as single syllables, not two.

5. Double Consonants & the Small つ (っ)

A small つ (っ) is used to show a double consonant. Think of it like a pause before the second consonant.

ExampleMeaning
きって (kitte)stamp
がっこう (gakkou)school
ざっし (zasshi)magazine

🛑 Without the small っ, the meaning completely changes!

6. Practice Time!

Try reading these Hiragana words aloud:

にほん (Japan)

かわいい (Cute)

くるま (Car)

さんぽ (Stroll)

しゅっしん (Hometown)

じゅぎょう (Class)

がっこう (School)

りゅうがくせい (Exchange student)

📝 Tip: Record yourself and compare it with a native speaker!

7. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q
Should I memorize all 46 characters at once?
A

No! Start with 5 a-i-u-e-o sounds, then move on row by row. Break it into chunks.

Q
What’s the difference between Hiragana and Katakana?
A

Hiragana is usually used for native Japanese words. Katakana is usually used for foreign loanwords, like “コンピュータ” (computer).

Q
Can I write everything in Hiragana?
A

Technically yes, but native Japanese writing also uses Kanji and Katakana. Hiragana is great for beginners, children, and learners.

Q
What’s the best way to practice Hiragana?
A

Use flashcards, write them out by hand, read children’s books, or try language apps that include stroke order and pronunciation.

Q
How do I know when to use small characters like っ or ゃ?
A

You’ll learn them naturally through practice! Small characters often appear in blended or doubled sounds. Listening and reading practice will help a lot.

8. Conclusion: Your First Step into Japanese

Hiragana is the foundation of Japanese literacy. Once you master it, you’ll be able to read and write basic Japanese, pronounce words correctly, and move on to Katakana and Kanji with more confidence.

💪 Next Steps:

  • Practice writing 5 characters a day
  • Read easy words out loud
  • Use Hiragana in short phrases

Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?

Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.

Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.