201305

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA and KATAKANA Work Sheets

1.

ROMAJI, 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

Meguro Language Center

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.

The MLC original Hiragana Cards and Katakana Cards

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

480

480

Meguro Language Center

K
S
T
N
H
M
Y
R
W
-

a
ka
sa
ta
na
ha
ma
ya
ra
wa
n,m

ROMAJI, HIRAGANA and KATAKANA

I
U
E
i
u
e

k
ku ke
sh su se
ch tsu te
n
nu ne
h
fu
he
m mu me

yu
ri
ru re

o
ko
so
to
no
ho
mo
yo
ro
o

go
zo
do
bo
po

n before b, m and p is pronounced like m in sample.

ga
za
da
ba
pa

kya
sha
cha
nya
hya
mya
rya
gya
ja
bya
pya

gi
ji
ji
b
p

kyu
shu
chu
nyu
hyu
myu
ryu
gyu
ju
byu
pyu

gu
zu
zu
bu
pu

Foreign words representation by

she che je
tsa tse tso
fa
fi
fe
ti
dhi dyu
wi
we wo
va
vi
ve

ge
ze
de
be
pe

kyo
sho
cho
nyo
hyo
myo
ryo
gyo
jo
byo
pyo

KATAKANA

fo

quo

vo

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA
Printing
2

1
2

ka

ki

2 3

1
2

ku

ke

ko

1
2

[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)

okii (big)

kao (face)

ue (on top)

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA
2

sa

shi

su

se

3 2

so

[QUIZ]
asa (morning)

seki (cough)

sushi

sake

shio (salt)

ase (sweat)
2

ta

chi

tsu

3
4
2

te

to

[QUIZ]
ashita (tomorrow)

tokei (watch)

chikatetsu (subway)

kutsu (shoes)

keisatsu (police)

tako (octopus)

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

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA
2

na

1 2

ni
nu
ne

1 2

no

[QUIZ]
kono neko (this cat)

ano sakana (that fish)

nani (what)

anata (you)

inu (dog)

niku (meat)

ha
*wa

1 2 3

hi

fu

he

ho

12 4
3

[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)
4

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA
3

ma

mi

mu

1
2

me

mo

2
3

[QUIZ]
ame (rain)

meishi (business card)

miso

mushi (insect)

namae (name)

moshi moshi (Hello)

3

ya

yu

yo

[QUIZ]
yasumi (day off)

fuyu (winter)

yuki (snow)

yakiniku

Note that u and o are represented by adding .

yumei (famous)

ohayo

yofuku (Western clothes)

kino (yesterday)

kuko (airport)
koko (highschool)

Hiragana quiz 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
5

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

ra

ri

ru

re

ro

wa

n,m

[QUIZ]

Note that the particle O is represented by , not

kore (this)

yakitori

sore (that)

rosoku (candle)

sayonara

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

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

ga
gi
gu
ge
go

Meguro Language Center

[QUIZ]
mado (window)

mada (not yet)

Sugoi desune! (Great!)

za
ji
zu
ze
zo

Dozo yoroshiku.

Arigato gozaimasu.

Hajime mashite.

da
ji
zu
de
do

denwa (telephone)

Komban wa.

(particle)

shimbun (newspaper)

ba
bi
bu
be
bo

tomodachi (friend)

Ginza

ginko (bank)

pa
pi
pu
pe
po

Omedeto gozaimasu.

Kanpai! (Cheers!)

Hiragana quiz 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
7

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

kya
kyu
kyo

gya
gyu
gyo

sha
shu
sho

ja
ju
jo

cha
chu
cho

nya
nyu
nyo

hya
hyu
hyo

bya
byu
byo

pya
pyu
pyo

mya
myu
myo

rya
ryu
ryo

[QUIZ]
-

Tokyo

jusho (address)

kaisha (company)

Ja mata. (See you again.)

kanojo (she)

kyuryo (salary)

okyakusan (guest)

Shinjuku

- -

shumatsu (weekend)

shashin (photo)

sanbyakuen (\300)

chukaryori (Chinese food)

shukudai (homework)

gohyakuen (\500)

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

The rules in Hiragana

(1) Long vowels

a is represented by adding .

okasan (mother) mama (so-so)

ii and i are represented by adding .

oniisan (older brother) ojiisan/oj i san (grandfather)

u is represented by adding .

taifu (typhoon)

yugata (early evening) chugoku (China)

kuki (air)

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

onesan (older sister)

ei is written in in the words of Chinese origin.

Eigo (English) yumei (famous)

sensei (teacher)

gakusei (studnet)

o is represented by adding .

sayonara byoin (hospital)

kyo (today)

Domo arigato gozaimasu.

n some words it is traditionally written in .

okii (big) to (ten)

tori (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.

gakko (school) ikkai (once)

ikko (one small object)
juppun (10 min.)
ippon (one long object)
zasshi (magazine)

roppyakuen (\600)
kippu (ticket)
ippiki (one small animal)
issatsu (one book)

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA
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 .

Kyo wa doyobi 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?)

Kyoto e ikimasu. (Im going to Kyoto.)

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

10

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

Meguro Language Center

Hiragana Review Quiz

(1) Write the following sentences in romaji.

(2) Write the following romanized sentences in hiragana.

Gambatte kudasai.

Chotto matte kudasai.

Meguro kara Tokyo eki made densha de 20 ppun desu.

Watashiwa kino tomodachi to Roppongi ni ikimashita.

Tanaka san wa kaisha no hito to Kyoto no shisha ni ikimasu.

Uchino denwa bango wa namban desuka.

11

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

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, .
Printing

12

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

ka

ki

1 2

1
2

ku

ke

ko

ga
gi
gu
ge
go

[QUIZ]

kukk i (cookie)

koku (coke)

kikku (kick)

kokekokko (cock-a-doodle-doo)

keki (cake)

13

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

2 3

sa

shi

su

se

so

za
ji
zu
ze
zo

[QUIZ]

suk i (ski)

kesu (case)

gasu (gas)

sosu (sauce)

soseji (sausage)

uisuk i (whisky)

kosu (course)

14

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

1 2

ta

chi

3 1

1 2 3

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

shi
tsu

Katakana

1
2
3

1 2 3

Keep in mind the equivalent hiragana, (shi) and (tsu).

[QUIZ]
tekisuto (textbook)

takush i (taxi)

suteki (steak)

ch i zu (cheese)
doa (door)

dezato (dessert)
15

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

na

ni

1
2

nu

ne

no

[QUIZ]
tenisu (tennis)

noto (notebook)

nekutai (necktie)

16

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

ha
hi

1 2

2 1

fu

he

1
3

ho

ba
bi
bu
be
bo
pa
pi
pu
pe
po

[QUIZ]

sup i do (speed)

h i ta (heater)

pasuta (pasta)

basu (bus)

17

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

ma
mi

1
2
3

mu

me

mo

1
2

[QUIZ]

hamu (ham)

mota (motor)

memo (memo)

messeji (message)

gamu (gum)
2

ya

yu

yo

1
2
3

[QUIZ]
yotto (yacht)

yuza (user)

18

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

ra

1 2

1 2

ri

ru
re

ro

wa

1
2

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
sa/na/me

n/so

ku/ta
fu/u/wa

ma/a

nu/su
hi/e/ni/mi

Katakana quiz 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
19

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

kya
kyu
kyo

gya
gyu
gyo

sha
shu
sho

ja
ju
jo

cha
chu
cho

nya
nyu
nyo

hya
hyu
hyo

bya
byu
byo

pya
pyu
pyo

mya
myu
myo

rya
ryu
ryo

tsa
tse
tso

she
che

je
quo

va
vi
ve
vo

fa
fi
fe
fo

wi
we
wo

ti
di
dyu

Katakana quiz 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 are available upon request. Please ask your teacher.
20

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

QUIZ 1 - MENU

Write the following words in romaji.

Example

menyu

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
21

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

QUIZ 2 - SIGNS and TOWN

Write the following words in romaji.

Example

Taxi

Parking

Toilet

Escalator

KARAOKE

Elevator

Game Center

Restaurant

Information

Sports Club

Disney Land

McDonaldss

Department store

Convenience Store

Seven-Eleven

Rental Video

Hotel

takushi

22

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

QUIZ 3 - DAILY LIFE and BUSINESS

Write the following words in romaji.

Example

fasshon

golf

fashion

vitamin C

party

concert

computer

video camera

schedule

date

FAX

discount

basketball

maker

data

system

cancel

Email
23

Meguro Language Center

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

QUIZ 4 - Write in Katakana

Write the following words in Katakana
Example

suicchi

gurasu

glass

switch

foku

walkman

wokuman

floppy disk

eakon

TV set

h i ta

air conditioner

fairu

fork

carpet

kapetto

heater

orenji jusu

white shirts

terebi

sofa

seta

file

nekutai

trousers

zubon

necktie

sofa

sweater

waishatsu

orange juice

furopp i disuku

24

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

Meguro Language Center

QUIZ 5 - Write in Hiragana and Katakana

Write the following sentences in hiragana and katakana.

(1) Tomu san wa kino takush i de pat i ni ikimashita.

(2) Kono dejitaru kamera wa ikura desuka.

(3) Watashi wa igirisujin dewa arimasen.

(4) Kono painappuru wa oishii desu.

(5) Ashita garufurendo to Roppongi no resutoran ni ikimasu.

(6) Kono kompyuta wa nihon no dewa arimasen.

(7) Kore wa konsato no chiketto desu.

(8) Borubo wa suweden no kuruma desu. (VOLVO)

(9) Kentakk i furaido chikin wa doko desuka.

(10) Hambaga to furaido poteto to salada o kudasai.

25

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

Katakana/Hiragana

Romaji

Meguro Language Center

English

Bagdad

Jr

North

UK

26

HIRAGANA KATAKANA

Meguro Language Center

Helsinki

City

ralia

Madorido/Madoriddo

shit

Minami-afurika

27