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Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA and KATAKANA Work Sheets







1. RO

MAJI, HIRAGANA and KATAKANA Chart 1


2. HIRAGANA work sheets and quizzes 2-8
3. The rules in HIRAGANA 9-10
4. HIRAGANA Review Quiz 11
5. KATAKANA work sheets, small quizzes and rules 12-20
6. KATAKANA quizzes 21-24
7. HIRAGANA and KATAKANA Review Quiz 25
8. Country and Capital 26-27







Meguro Language Center
TEL.: 03-3493-3727
Email: info@mlcjapanese.co.jp
http://www.mlcjapanese.co.jp
201305
Meguro Language Center








































The MLC original Hiragana Cards and Katakana Cards







480 480
There are three types of letters in Japanese.
1. Hiragana (phonetic sounds) are basically used for particles, words and
parts of words.
2. Katakana (phonetic sounds) are basically used for foreign/loan words.
3. Kanji (Chinese characters) are used for the stem of words and convey the
meaning as well as sound.

Hiragana is basically used to express 46 different sounds used in the
Japanese language.
We suggest you start learning Hiragana, then Katakana and then Kanji. If
you learn Hiragana first, it will be easier to learn Katakana next.
Hiragana will help you learn Japanese pronunciation properly, read Japanese
beginners' textbooks and write sentences in Japanese. Japanese will become a
lot easier to study after having learned Hiragana.
Also, as you will be able to write sentences in Japanese, you will be able to
write E-mails in Hiragana.

Katakana will help you read Japanese menus at restaurants.

Hiragana and Katakana will be a good help to your Japanese study and
confortable living in Japan.


On the following page is a Hiragana and Katakana chart - please stick it
somewhere visible so that you can constantly refer to it.


To master Hiragana, it is important to practice writing Hiragana. Revision is
also very important - please go over what you have learned several times.
Meguro Language Center

R

OMAJI, HIRAGANA and KATAKANA


A I U E O
- a i u e o
K ka k ku ke ko
S sa sh su se so
T ta ch tsu te to
N na n nu ne no
H ha h fu he ho
M ma m mu me mo
Y ya yu yo
R ra ri ru re ro
W wa o
- n,m
n before b, m and p is pronounced like m in sample.
ga gi gu ge go
za ji zu ze zo
da ji zu de do
ba b bu be bo
P pa p pu pe po

kya kyu kyo
sha shu sho
cha chu cho
nya nyu nyo
hya hyu hyo
mya myu myo
rya ryu ryo
gya gyu gyo
ja ju jo
bya byu byo
pya pyu pyo
Foreign words representation by KATAKANA
she che je
tsa tse tso
fa fi fe fo
ti dhi dyu
wi we wo quo
va vi ve vo

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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


a




i



u



e



o




ka



ki




ku






ke





ko



[QUIZ] Write the following words in hiragana.
aka (red) ike (pond)
ao (blue) koe (voice)
aki (autumn) ie (house)
eki (station) kaki (persimmon)
ika (squid) o

kii (big)
kao (face)
ue (on top)
1
2
3
2
1
3
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
1 2
1
2
1
2
2
1
3
Printing
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

sa



shi



su



se



so





[QUIZ]
asa (morning) seki (cough)
sushi sake
shio (salt) ase (sweat)

ta



chi



tsu





te



to



[QUIZ]
ashita (tomorrow) tokei (watch)
chikatetsu (subway) kutsu (shoes)
keisatsu (police) tako (octopus)
1
2
1
1
2
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
4
1
1
1
2
Hiragana quiz 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.



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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

na





ni



nu



ne



no



[QUIZ]
kono neko (this cat) ano sakana (that fish)
nani (what) anata (you)
inu (dog) niku (meat)

ha
*wa



hi





fu



he



ho



[QUIZ] Note that the particle WA is represented by , the E is represented by
fuku (clothes) hito (people)
heso (navel) hako (box)
hoshi (star) fune (ship)
1
2
3
2
1
1
2
3
1
4
3
1
2
1
2
1
1
3
2
4
1
1
2
3
4


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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

ma



mi





mu




me



mo



[QUIZ]
ame (rain) meishi (business card)
miso mushi (insect)
namae (name) moshi moshi (Hello)

ya



yu




yo





[QUIZ]
yasumi (day off) fuyu (winter)
yuki (snow) yakiniku
Note that

u and

o are represented by adding .


y

umei (famous) kin

o (yesterday)
ohay

o k

uk

o (airport)
y

ofuku (Western clothes) k

ok

o (highschool)

1
2
3
2
1
1
2 3
2
1
2
3
1 2
1
2
3
1
1
2

Hiragana quiz 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.


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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

ra



ri



ru



re



ro




wa



o



n,m



[QUIZ] Note that the particle O is represented by , not
kore (this) yakitori
sore (that) r

osoku (candle)
say

onara watashi (I)


haru (spring) mikan (tangerine)
yoru (night) sumimasen (sorry)
kuruma (car) sentaku (washing)
[QUIZ] - Similar characters (Write the following characters in hiragana.)
a/o ki/sa chi/ra ta/na
me/nu i/ri ma/mo ru/ro
ke/ha/ho wa/re/ne

1
2
2 1
1
2
3
2
1
1
1
2
1
1





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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

ga
[QUIZ]
gi
mado (window)
gu

ge
mada (not yet)
go



Sugoi desune! (Great!)
za

ji
D

ozo yoroshiku.
zu

ze
Arigat

o gozaimasu.
zo



Hajime mashite.
da

ji
denwa (telephone)
zu

de
Komban wa. (particle)
do



shimbun (newspaper)
ba

bi
tomodachi (friend)
bu

be
Ginza
bo



gink

o (bank)
pa

pi
Omedet

o gozaimasu.
pu

pe
Kanpai! (Cheers!)
po



Hiragana quiz 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

kya

gya


kyu

gyu


kyo

gyo







sha

ja


shu

ju


sho

jo







cha

nya


chu

nyu


cho

nyo







hya

bya


hyu

byu


hyo

byo







pya

mya


pyu

myu


pyo

myo







rya




ryu




ryo





[QUIZ]
T
-
oky
-
o j
-
usho (address)
kaisha (company) Ja mata. (See you again.)
kanojo (she) ky
-
ury
-
o (salary)
okyakusan (guest) Shinjuku
sh
-
umatsu (weekend) shashin (photo)
sanbyakuen (\300) ch
-
ukary
-
ori (Chinese food)
shukudai (homework) gohyakuen (\500)





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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

The rules in Hiragana
(1) Long vowels

a is represented by adding .
ok

asan (mother) m

am

a (so-so)
ii and

i are represented by adding .


oniisan (older brother) ojiisan/oj

i san (grandfather)

u is represented by adding .
y

ugata (early evening) ch

ugoku (China)
k

uki (air) taif

u (typhoon)

e is represented by adding in the words of Japanese origin.


on

esan (older sister)


ei is written in in the words of Chinese origin.
Eigo (English) y

umei (famous)
sensei (teacher) gakusei (studnet)

o is represented by adding .
say

onara by

oin (hospital) ky

o (today)
D

omo arigat

o gozaimasu.
n some words it is traditionally written in .
o

kii (big) to

(ten) to

ri (street)

(2) Double consonants
Double consonants (kk, pp, ss, and tt) are represented by small . As small indicates
a one-syllable pause, the mouth prepares for the pronunciation of the next syllable.
gakk

o (school) ikkai (once)


ikko (one small object) roppyakuen (\600)
juppun (10 min.) kippu (ticket)
ippon (one long object) ippiki (one small animal)
zasshi (magazine) issatsu (one book)
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

Irasshaimase kitte (stamp)
Itte rasshai. (So long)
Chotto matte kudasai.
Gambatte kudasai.

(3) ji and zu are usually written in and . In few cases, they are traditionally written
in and .
sanji (3:00) jisho (dictionary)
chizu (map) mizu (water)

(4) wa using as a particle is written in , not .
Ky

o wa doy

obi desu. (Today is Saturday.)


Watashi wa nihonjin desu. (Im Japanese.)

Watashi wa nihonjin dewa arimasen. (Im not Japanese.)


(5) o using as a particle is written in , not .
Osake o nomimasu. (I drink sake.)
Sore o misete kudasai. (Please show me that.)

Kore o kudasai. (Please give me that.)


(6) e using as a particle is written in , not .
Shibuya e ikimasu. (Im going to Shibuya.)
Doko e ikimasuka. (Where are you going?)
Ky

oto e ikimasu. (Im going to Ky

oto.)

Hiragana quiz 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

Hiragana Review Quiz
(1) Write the following sentences in r

omaji.












(2) Write the following romanized sentences in hiragana.
Gambatte kudasai.

Chotto matte kudasai.

Meguro kara T

oky

o eki made densha de 20 ppun desu.



Watashiwa kin

o tomodachi to Roppongi ni ikimashita.



Tanaka san wa kaisha no hito to Ky

oto no shisha ni ikimasu.



Uchino denwa bang

o wa namban desuka.



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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

Katakana is used in the following ways:
(1) For words of foreign origin
(2) For onomatopoeia e.g. (wanwan) = bowwow
(3) For the names of some animals and insects
(4) For the emphasis of some words e.g.

The rules in Katakana
(1) Long vowels are represented by a dash, .
(2) Double consonants (kk, pp, ss, tt etc.) are represented by small tsu, .

a



i



u



e



o




1
1
2
1
2
2
3
1
2
2
3
1
3



Printing
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


ka



ki



ku



ke



ko





ga
gi
gu
ge
go
[QUIZ]
kukk

i (cookie) kikku (kick)


k

oku (coke) kokekokk

o (cock-a-doodle-doo)
k

eki (cake)

2
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
2
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


sa



shi



su



se



so



za
ji
zu
ze
zo
[QUIZ]
suk

i (ski) k

esu (case)
gasu (gas) s

osu (sauce)
s

os

eji (sausage) uisuk

i (whisky)
k

osu (course)

1
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
3
3
2
2
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


ta



chi



tsu



te



to



da
ji
zu
de
do
ji and zu are usually written in and .
An aid to the (shi) and (tsu), remembrance and distinction.
Hiragana Katakana
shi

tsu

Keep in mind the equivalent hiragana, (shi) and (tsu).
[QUIZ]
tekisuto (textbook) ch

i zu (cheese)
takush

i (taxi) doa (door)


sut

eki (steak) dez

ato (dessert)
3
2
1
1
1
1
2
2 3
3
2



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2
1
3
1
3
2
2
1
3
HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


na





ni




nu



ne





no



[QUIZ]
tenisu (tennis) n

oto (notebook)
nekutai (necktie)

1
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
4

3
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


ha



hi





fu




he




ho



ba
bi
bu
be
bo
pa
pi
pu
pe
po
[QUIZ]
sup

i do (speed) h

i t

a (heater)
pasuta (pasta) basu (bus)


1 2
1
1
1
1
2
3 4
2

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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


ma




mi




mu





me






mo



[QUIZ]
hamu (ham) m

ot

a (motor)
memo (memo) mess

eji (message)
gamu (gum)

ya





yu



yo



[QUIZ]
yotto (yacht) yu

a (user)






2
1
2
2
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
2
3



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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


ra




ri





ru




re



ro




wa





o



n, m



Katakana is not used in modern living.
An aid to remembrance and distinction the (so) and (n,m).
Hiragana Katakana
so

n, m


[QUIZ] - Similar characters (Write the following characters in katakana.)
shi/tsu n/so ku/ta ma/a nu/su
sa/na/me fu/u/wa hi/e/ni/mi



1
1
2
2 1
1
1
2
3
2
1
1
2 1
2
2
Katakana quiz 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.


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1 2
2
1
HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


kya

gya


kyu

gyu


kyo

gyo



sha

ja


shu

ju


sho

jo



cha

nya


chu

nyu


cho

nyo



hya

bya


hyu

byu


hyo

byo



pya

mya


pyu

myu


pyo

myo



rya

tsa


ryu

tse


ryo

tso



she

je


che

quo



va

fa


vi

fi


ve

fe


vo

fo



wi

ti


we

di


wo

dyu







Katakana quiz 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

QUIZ 1 - MENU
Write the following words in ro

maji.
( meny

u )

corn soup
( )

wine
( )

menu
( )

bread
( )

salad
( )

steak
( )

Hamburg steak set
( )

pizza
( )

rice
( )

beer
( )

beef stew
( )

spaghetti
( )

chocolate cake
( )

lemon tea
( )

ice coffee
( )

ice cream
( )

sandwich
Example
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

QUIZ 2 - SIGNS and TOWN
Write the following words in ro

maji.

( takush

i )
Taxi
( )

Parking
( )

Toilet
( )

Escalator
( )

KARAOKE
( )

Elevator
( )

Game Center
( )

Restaurant
( )

Information
( )

Sports Club
( )

Disney Land
( )

McDonaldss
( )

Department store
( )

Convenience Store
( )

Seven-Eleven
( )

Rental Video
( )

Hotel
Example
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

QUIZ 3 - DAILY LIFE and BUSINESS
Write the following words in ro

maji.
( fasshon )

golf
( )

fashion
( )

vitamin C
( )

party
( )

concert
( )

computer
( )

video camera
( )

schedule
( )

date
( )

FAX
( )

discount
( )

basketball
( )

maker
( )

data
( )

system
( )

cancel
( )

Email
Example
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

QUIZ 4 - Write in Katakana
Write the following words in Katakana
suicchi ( )

glass
gurasu ( )

switch
f

oku
( ) walkman
w

okuman
( )

floppy disk
eakon ( )

TV set
h

i t

a
( ) air conditioner
fairu ( )

fork
furopp

i disuku
( ) carpet
k

apetto
( ) heater
orenji j

usu
( ) white shirts
terebi ( )

sofa
s

et

a
( ) file
nekutai ( )

trousers
zubon ( )

necktie
sof

a
( )

sweater
waishatsu ( )

orange juice


Example
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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

QUIZ 5 - Write in Hiragana and Katakana
Write the following sentences in hiragana and katakana.
(1) Tomu san wa kin

o takush

i de p

at

i ni ikimashita.

(2) Kono dejitaru kamera wa ikura desuka.

(3) Watashi wa igirisujin dewa arimasen.

(4) Kono painappuru wa oishii desu.

(5) Ashita g

arufurendo to Roppongi no resutoran ni ikimasu.



(6) Kono kompy

ut

a wa nihon no dewa arimasen.



(7) Kore wa kons

ato no chiketto desu.



(8) Borubo wa suw

eden no kuruma desu. (VOLVO)



(9) Kentakk

i furaido chikin wa doko desuka.



(10) Hamb

ag

a to furaido poteto to salada o kudasai.





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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center

Katakana/Hiragana Ro

maji English

Bagdad





Jr


h

c

North


e







UK






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HIRAGANA KATAKANA Meguro Language Center


/ Mador
-
ido/Madoriddo




Helsinki











shit

City




Minami-afurika

ralia
m


W





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