Learn Hiragana

How do I learn these Japanese symbols they call hiragana?

You learn hiragana it the same way you learned the English alphabet.

You memorise it!

Having said that you can make the memorization slow and painful or you can make it relatively quick and easy.

I’ll show you the quick and easy method.

There are basically five vowels in Japanese alphabet and the other alphabet sounds are formed by attaching a consonant to the beginning of each vowel.

I will give them to you five symbols at a time in groups of three.
This means that I will first write the five sounds phonetically, then
underneath I will write the same five sounds in hiragana and finally
underneath the hiragana I will write the five sounds in romaji.

In this way you will memorise them one set at a time or five Japanese symbols at a time, making ten sets.

First Step

  1. Look at the first hiragana symbol and pronounce it, as it is written, phonetically, just above it.
  2. Go on to the next japanese symbol and do the same, until you have done all five symbols.
  3. Repeat this three times.     

     ah  ee  oo  eh  oh    

     あ　 い　 う　 え　  お

         a      i       u      e         o

Now practice writing each Japanese character.

Don’t worry about them being perfect.

This trying to write them will help you to differentiate, remember and recognise them when you see them.

At this point you are not learning to write Japanese.

Second Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

     kah  kee  koo keh  koh

      か　  き　   く　  け　   こ

          ka          ki          ku       ke          ko


Third Step

  1. Without looking at the above hiragana symbols, look at the below two sets of romaji symbols and write the hiragana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

                 a     i    u     e     o           

                 ka   ki   ku   ke   ko

Fourth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

     sah  shee   soo  seh  soh

       さ　     し　     す　  せ　  そ

          sa         shi             su         se         so

Fifth Step

  1. Without looking at the above hiragana symbols, look at the below three sets of romaji symbols and write the hiragana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so   

Sixth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

     nah  nee   noo  neh  noh

      な　    に　   ぬ　   ね　   の

           na            ni           nu         ne       no


Seventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below four sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne    no

Eighth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.
  2. Note that these are closer to an "L" sound, rather than an "R" sound.

     rah  ree   roo  reh  roh

      ら　  り　    る　   れ　   ろ

           ra         ri             ru        re        ro

Ninth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below five sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

Tenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.
  2. Notice that where you would expect a "HOO" sound, it is acually a "FOO" sound.

     hah  hee   foo  heh  hoh

      は　   ひ　   ふ　   へ　   ほ

           ha          hi           fu         he         ho


Eleventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below six sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

Twelfth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

     tah  chee   tsoo   teh  toh

      た　   ち　     つ　    て       と

           ta          chi             tsu          te        to


Thirteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below seven sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

Fourteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.
  2. The "o" of this character indicates the particle "o," as in hon o tabemasu.

     wah           oh   ehn

     わ　　                を        ん

          wa                           o          n


Fifteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below eight sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

                 wa    o     n

Sixteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

        yah    yoo   yoh

     や      ゆ　    よ

           ya           yu           yo

Seventeenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below nine sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

                 wa    o     n

                 ya           yu            yo

Eighteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

        mah  mee   moo   meh  moh

     ま　     み　     む　    め　  　も

           ma           mi              mu           me           mo


Nineteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below ten sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

                 wa    o     n

                 ya           yu            yo

                 ma    mi   mu   me  mo  

First Step

  1. Look at the first hiragana symbol and pronounce it, as it is written, phonetically, just above it.
  2. Go on to the next symbol and do the same, until you have done all five symbols.
  3. Repeat this three times.     

ah  ee  oo  eh  oh    

あ　 い　 う　 え　  お

 a       i       u      e         o

Now practice writing each Japanese symbol.

Don’t worry about them being perfect.

This trying to write them will help you to differentiate, remember and recognise them when you see them.

At this point you are not learning to write Japanese.

Second Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

kah  kee  koo keh  koh

か　  き　   く　  け　   こ

ka         ki           ku       ke         ko


Third Step

  1. Without looking at the above hiragana symbols, look at the below two sets of romaji symbols and write the hiragana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

a     i    u     e     o           

ka   ki   ku   ke   ko

Fourth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

sah shee  soo  seh  soh

さ　     し　     す　  せ　  そ

sa          shi           su          se        so

Fifth Step

  1. Without looking at the above hiragana symbols, look at the below three sets of romaji symbols and write the hiragana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so   

Sixth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

nah  nee   noo  neh  noh

な　    に　   ぬ　   ね　   の

na           ni            nu         ne        no

Seventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below four sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne    no

Eighth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.
  2. Note that these are closer to an "L" sound, rather than an "R" sound.

rah  ree   roo  reh  roh

ら　  り　    る　   れ　   ろ

ra        ri            ru           re       ro

Ninth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below five sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

Tenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.
  2. Notice that where you would expect a "HOO" sound, it is acually a "FOO" sound.

hah  hee   foo  heh  hoh

は　   ひ　   ふ　   へ　   ほ

ha          hi           fu           he       ho


Eleventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below six sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

Twelfth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

tah  chee   tsoo  teh  toh

た　   ち　     つ　   て       と

ta          chi           tsu           te        to


Thirteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below seven sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

Fourteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.
  2. The "o" of this character indicates the particle "o," as in hon o tabemasu.

wah           oh   ehn

わ　　                を        ん

wa                         o          n


Fifthteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below eight sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

wa    o     n

Sixteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

yah    yoo   yoh

や      ゆ　    よ

  ya           yu           yo

Seventeenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below nine sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

wa   o     n

ya           yu            yo

Eighteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of hiragana symbols.

mah  mee   moo   meh  moh

ま　    み　     む　    め　  　も

ma           mi              mu           me           mo


Nineteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the hiragana for the below ten sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

wa   o     n

ya           yu            yo

ma  mi    mu    me   mo

So that completes all of the basic hiragana symbols.

For a few extra sounds, like "B" and "P," plus a few others, the Japanese use some of the Japanese characters we've already covered and just add an additional small symbol to it. To master these, click here.