Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................... 3

Hiragana Charts .................................................................. 12

Stroke Order Practice ..................................................... 14

Learning Japanese Words in Hiragana ................... 85

Practicing Double Consonants ................................... 131

Using Modified Syllables .............................................. 133

Examples of Modified Syllables ............................... 139

Exceptions and a Little Grammar ........................... 142

 Introduction
There are 3 types of Japanese characters:
hiragana, katakana, and kanji. The first two
are called kana, and they are similar in that
they are both sound-based characters.

In addition, there is rōmaji, which is Japanese

that is written with the Latin alphabet. You
don’t really need to spend any time learning
rōmaji, since you already know it.

Hiragana and katakana are the most simple

and important characters to learn, which is
why it is best to learn them first!

Japanese sentences often contain a mix

of hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
 Hiragana
ひらがな

Hiragana is probably the most important

form of writing that you will learn. Hiragana is a
syllabary, a sound-based form of writing. Most
hiragana are made up of 2 English letters, but
one sound or syllable (e.g. か ka, ま ma, な na).

Generally hiragana is used for particles and

the ends of verbs and adjectives, while kanji
is used for stems of verbs and adjectives and
nouns. However, you can use hiragana to write
anything in Japanese.
 Katakana
カタカナ

Katakana, similar to hiragana, is a syllabary.

Katakana is primarily used for words of foreign
origin (words that come from English, Chinese,
German, etc.).

However, this is not a hard rule. There are

other times when katakana is used, but 99%
of the time you see katakana, it will be for
foreign words.

Japanese has a lot of foreign words,

especially from English. Most Japanese
billboards and magazines are full of Katakana.
 Kanji

Kanji, the oldest form of Japanese writing,

has its origin in China. Unlike hiragana and
katakana, kanji each carry a meaning with them
rather than a sound.

There are usually multiple ways to read the

same kanji, making it difficult for beginners.
However, sometimes one can guess the meaning
of the kanji based on its parts.
 Romaji
ローマ字

Rōmaji uses the Latin alphabet, making

it so that even people who haven’t learned
hiragana, katakana, or kanji can read and
write in Japanese.

However, only knowing rōmaji can be very

limiting. Rōmaji can be helpful when you are
first starting out, but since Japanese people
don’t really use it, it is important to learn how
to read and write hiragana and katakana.
 Furigana
ふりがな

Furigana (AKA rubi) is small hiragana that

is written above (for horizontal text) or next
to (for vertical text) kanji to indicate the
pronunciation.

For people who know hiragana but do not

know many kanji yet, furigana is a very helpful
reading tool. You can frequently see furigana
in children’s books and manga.
Pronunciation Guide
There only 5 vowel sounds in Japanese,
and they are always pronounced the same
way! In this way, Japanese pronunciation
is much easier than English!

あ a as in Ah! Example: あめ ame rain

い i as in Eek! Example: いす isu chair
う u as in Moo! Example: うさぎ usagi rabbit
え e as in Hey! Example: えんぴつ enpitsu pencil
お o as in Oh! Example: おちゃ 　 ocha tea

Long Vowels

In this book, long vowels will be romanized

in the following ways.

aa ii ū ee ei ō ō
ああ　いい　うう　ええ　えい　おお　おう
Pronunciation Guide
When two consonants are placed next
to each other (double consonants, e.g.
kk), there is a sort of pause before the
consonant is pronounced. The best way to
master this is to listen and repeat.

Don’t forget to listen to the audio that is

included in this book and repeat it out loud
to practice your pronunciation! Have fun!!
 Tips on how to get the most
out of this workbook

1. Listen to the audio to hear pronunciation

and practice saying it!

2. Print out and practice writing as many

times as you want!

3. Look at the charts as much as you need

to! Eventually, you will not need to look.

4. Expand your vocabulary as you learn to

write!

5. がんばって！Ganbatte!! Do your best!

If you keep on trying you will remember!
Have fun!!
Hiragana Chart
a i u e o
あ い う え お
k か き く け こ
s さ し shi す せ そ
t た ち chi つ tsu て と
n な に ぬ ね の
h は ひ ふ fu へ ほ
m ま み む め も
y や ゆ よ
r ら り る れ ろ
w わ を
n ん n

Hiragana Chart 2: Voiced Consonants

a i u e o
g が ぎ ぐ げ ご
z ざ じ ji ず ぜ ぞ
d だ ぢ ji づ zu で ど
b ば び ぶ べ ぼ
p ぱ ぴ ぷ ぺ ぽ
Hiragana Chart 3: Modified Syllables

The following hiragana are simply modifications of the hiragana

listed in the first two figures. They are pronounced as one syllable,
and the や, ゆ, or よ is written smaller than normal.

ya yu yo
k きゃ きゅ きょ
s しゃ sha しゅ shu しょ sho
c ちゃ cha ちゅ chu ちょ cho
n にゃ にゅ にょ
h ひゃ ひゅ ひょ
m みゃ みゅ みょ
r りゃ りゅ りょ
g ぎゃ ぎゅ ぎょ
j じゃ ja じゅ ju じょ jo
b びゃ びゅ びょ
p ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ
 a あい
ai

あ あああ ああああああ

あ あああ ああああああ
 i いるか
iruka
dolphin

い いいい いいいいいい

い いいい いいいいいい
 うみ
umi

u
ocean

う ううう うううううう

うううう うううううう
 e
えいが
eiga
movie

え えええ ええええええ

え えええ ええええええ
 o
およぐ
oyogu
to swim

お おおお おおおおおお

お おおお おおおおおお
 ka かさ
kasa
umbrella

か かかか かかかかかか

か かかか かかかかかか
 ki きのこ
kinoko
mushroom

き ききき きききききき

き ききき きききききき
 ku
くま
kuma
bear

く くくく くくくくくく

く くくく くくくくくく
 ke けしごむ
keshigomu
eraser

け けけけ けけけけけけ

け けけけ けけけけけけ
 こうえん
kōen
park

ko
こ こここ ここここここ

ここここ ここここここ
 さくら

sa
sakura
cherry blossom

さ さささ ささささささ

さ さささ ささささささ
 しま
shima

shi
island

し ししし しししししし

し ししし しししししし
 すし
sushi

su
sushi

す すすす すすすすすす

す すすす すすすすすす
 se せかい
sekai
world

せ せせせ せせせせせせ

せ せせせ せせせせせせ
 so
そら
sora
sky

そ そそそ そそそそそそ

そ そそそ そそそそそそ
 ta たこ
tako
octopus

た たたた たたたたたた

た たたた たたたたたた
 ちず
chizu
map

chi
ち ちちち ちちちちちち

ち ちちち ちちちちちち
 tsu つり
tsuri
fishing

つ つつつ つつつつつつ

つ つつつ つつつつつつ
 te て
te
hand

て ててて てててててて

て ててて てててててて
 とら
tora

to
tiger

と ととと とととととと

と ととと とととととと
 na なつ
natsu
summer

な ななな なななななな

な ななな なななななな
 ni にじ
niji
rainbow

に ににに にににににに

に ににに にににににに
 nu ぬりえ
nurie
coloring book

ぬ ぬぬぬ ぬぬぬぬぬぬ

ぬ ぬぬぬ ぬぬぬぬぬぬ
 ne ねずみ
nezumi
mouse

ね ねねね ねねねねねね

ね ねねね ねねねねねね
 no のり
nori
seaweed

の ののの のののののの

の ののの のののののの
 ha はち
hachi
bees

は ははは はははははは

は ははは はははははは
 hi
ひよこ
hiyoko
chick

ひ ひひひ ひひひひひひ

ひ ひひひ ひひひひひひ
 fu ふうせん
fūsen
balloons

ふ ふふふ ふふふふふふ

ふふふふ ふふふふふふ
 へや

he
heya
room

へ へへへ へへへへへへ

へ へへへ へへへへへへ
 ほし
hoshi

ho
stars

ほ ほほほ ほほほほほほ

ほ ほほほ ほほほほほほ
 ma まんが
manga
comic book

まままままままままま

まままままままままま
 mi みみ
mimi
ears

み みみみ みみみみみみ

みみみみ みみみみみみ
 mu むし
mushi
bugs

む むむむ むむむむむむ

む むむむ むむむむむむ
 me めがね
megane
glasses

め めめめ めめめめめめ

め めめめ めめめめめめ
 もり
mori
forest

mo
も ももも もももももも

も ももも もももももも
 ya やさい
yasai
vegetables

や やや や やややややや

ややや や やややややや
 yu ゆき
yuki
snow

ゆ ゆ ゆゆ ゆゆゆゆゆゆ

ゆ ゆ ゆ ゆ ゆゆゆゆゆゆ
 yo よる
yoru
night

よ よよ よ よよよよよよ

よよ よ よ よよよよよよ
 ra らくだ
rakuda
camel

ら らら ら らららららら

らら ら ら らららららら
 りんご
ringo

ri
apple

り り りり りりりりりり

り り りり りりりりりり
 ru
るすばん
rusuban
house-sitting

る る る る るるるるるる

るる る る るるるるるる
 re れいぞうこ
reizōko
refrigerator

れ れ れれ れれれれれれ

れ れ れ れ れれれれれれ
 ろうそく
rōsoku
candles

ro
ろろろ ろ ろろろ ろろろ

ろろ ろろ ろろろ ろろろ
 wa わがし
wagashi
Japanese sweets

わ わ わ わ わわわわわわ

わ わ わ わ わわわわわわ
 o (wo) てをあらう
te o arau
to wash one’s hands

を をを を をををををを

を を を を をををををを
 でんしゃ
densha
train

n
ん ん ん ん んんんんんん

ん ん ん ん んんんんんん
 ga がっこう
gakkō
school

が が が が がががががが

が が が が がががががが
 ぎゅうにゅう

gi
gyūnyū
milk

ぎ ぎ ぎ ぎ ぎぎぎぎぎぎ

ぎぎぎ ぎ ぎぎぎぎぎぎ
 ぐん
gun
military

gu
ぐ ぐ ぐぐ ぐぐぐぐぐぐ

ぐぐ ぐぐ ぐぐぐ ぐぐぐ
 ge
げいしゃ
geisha
geisha

げ げげ げ げげげげげげ

げ げげ げ げげげげげげ
 go ごみ
gomi
trash

ご ご ごご ごごごごごご

ご ご ご ご ごごごごごご
 za ざぶとん
zabuton
cushion

ざ ざざ ざ ざざざざざざ

ざ ざ ざざ ざざざざざざ
 ji じてんしゃ
jitensha
bicycle

じ じじ じ じじじじじじ

じ じじ じ じじじじじじ
 すずめ
suzume
sparrow

zu
ず ず ず ず ずずずずずず

ず ず ず ず ずずずずずず
 ぜん
zen
zen

ze
ぜ ぜ ぜ ぜ ぜぜぜぜぜぜ

ぜぜぜ ぜ ぜぜぜぜぜぜ
 zo
ぞう
zō
elephant

ぞ ぞぞぞ ぞぞぞぞぞぞ

ぞ ぞ ぞ ぞ ぞぞぞぞぞぞ
 da
だんご
dango
dango

だ だだ だ だだだだだだ

だ だ だだ だだだだだだ
 ji はなぢ
hanaji
nosebleed

ぢ ぢぢぢ ぢぢぢぢぢぢ

ぢ ぢ ぢ ぢぢぢぢぢぢぢ
 つづく

zu tsuzuku
to continue

づ づ づ づ づづづづづづ

づ づづづ づづづづづづ
 でんわ
denwa
telephone

de
で で で で でででででで

ででで で でででででで
 どんぐり
donguri
acorns

do
ど ど どど どどどどどど

ど どど ど どどどどどど
 ばくだん
bakudan
bomb

ba
ば ば ばば ばばばばばば

ば ば ば ば ばばばばばば
 びょういん
byōin
hospital

bi
び び びび びびびびびび

び び び び びびびびびび
 ぶどう
budō
grapes

bu
ぶ ぶ ぶ ぶ ぶぶぶぶぶぶ

ぶぶ ぶ ぶ ぶぶぶぶぶぶ
 be
べんとう
bentō
boxed lunch

べべ べ べ べ べ べべべべ

べべ べ べ べ べ べべべべ
 ぼんさい
bonsai
bonsai

bo
ぼ ぼ ぼ ぼ ぼぼぼぼぼぼ

ぼぼ ぼ ぼ ぼぼぼぼぼぼ
 ぱん
pan
bread

pa
ぱぱ ぱ ぱ ぱぱぱぱぱぱ

ぱ ぱ ぱ ぱ ぱぱぱぱぱぱ
 pi ぴよぴよ
piyopiyo
tweet tweet

ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴぴぴぴぴぴ

ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴ ぴぴぴぴぴぴ
 ぷりん
purin
pudding

pu
ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷぷぷぷぷぷ

ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷ ぷぷぷぷぷぷ
 ぺんき
penki
paint

pe
ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺぺぺぺぺぺ

ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺ ぺぺぺぺぺぺ
 po ぽけっと
poketto
pocket

ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽぽぽぽぽぽ

ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽ ぽぽぽぽぽぽ
 a
あ
Examples:
1. あ き 3. あ い
aki ai
FALL/AUTUMN LOVE

2. あ り 4. あ し
ari ashi
ANT FOOT/LEG
 i
い
Examples:
1. い し 3. い ぬ
ishi inu
STONE DOG

2. い る か 4. い す
iruka isu
DOLPHIN CHAIR
 u
う
Examples:
1. う し 3. う さ ぎ
ushi usagi
COW RABBIT

2. う ま 4. う み
uma umi
HORSE OCEAN
 e
え
Examples:
1. え 3. え さ
e esa
PICTURE PET FOOD

2. え び 4. え い が
ebi eiga
SHRIMP MOVIE
 o
お
Examples:
1. お に 3. お ち ゃ
oni ocha
DEMON TEA

2. お よ ぐ 4. お り が み
oyogu origami
TO SWIM ORIGAMI
 ka
か
Examples:
1. か い 3. か さ
kai kasa
SHELL UMBRELLA

2. か え る 4. が っ こ う
kaeru gakkō
FROG SCHOOL
 ki
き
Examples:
1. き の こ 3. ぎ ん こ う
kinoko ginkō
MUSHROOM BANK

2. き つ ね 4. ぎ ゅ う に ゅ う
kitsune gyūnyū
FOX MILK
 ku
く
Examples:
1. く ま 3. く る ま
kuma kuruma
BEAR CAR

2. く も 4. ぐ ん
kumo gun
SPIDER MILITARY
 ke
け
Examples:
1. け ん 3. け い さ つ
ken keisatsu
SWORD POLICE

2. け し ご む 4. げ い し ゃ
keshigomu geisha
ERASER GEISHA
 ko
こ
Examples:
1. こ う え ん 3. ご み
kōen gomi
PARK GARBAGE

2. こ い 4. ご き ぶ り
koi gokiburi
ROMANTIC LOVE COCKROACH
 sa
さ
Examples:
1. さ く ら 3. ざ い さ ん
sakura zaisan
CHERRY BLOSSOM FORTUNE

2. さ め 4. ざ ぶ と ん
same zabuton
SHARK CUSHION
 shi
し
Examples:
1. し か 3. じ し ょ
shika jisho
DEER DICTIONARY

2. し ま 4. じ て ん し ゃ
shima jitensha
ISLAND BICYCLE
 su
す
Examples:
1. す し 3. す ず め
sushi suzume
SUSHI SPARROW

2. す も う 4. す い か
sumō suika
SUMO WATERMELON
 se
せ
Examples:
1. せ み 3. ぜ ん
semi zen
CICADA ZEN

2. せ か い 4. ぜ ん ざ い
sekai zenzai
WORLD ZENZAI
 so
そ
Examples:
1. そ ら 3. ぞ う
sora zō
SKY ELEPHANT

2. そ ば 4. ぞ う す い
soba zōsui
SOBA ZōSUI
 ta
た
Examples:
1. た こ 3. だ ん ご
tako dango
OCTOPUS DANGO

2. た い や き 4. だ い こ ん
taiyaki daikon
TAIYAKI DAIKON RADISH
 chi
ち
Examples:
* bothぢ andじ are pronounced ji, but in most cases, じ is used. ぢ is only used in a few specific cases.

1. ち ず 3. ち き ゅ う
chizu chikyū
MAP EARTH

2. ち ょ う ち ょ 4. は な ぢ
chōcho hanaji
BUTTERFLY NOSEBLEED
 tsu
つ
Examples: * bothづ andず are pronounced zu, but in most cases, ず is used. づ is only used in a few specific cases.

1. つ り 3. つ く え
tsuri tsukue
FISHING DESK

2. つ み き 4. つ づ く
tsumiki tsuzuku
BLOCKS TO CONTINUE
 te
て
Examples:
1. て 3. で ぐ ち
te deguchi
HAND EXIT

2. て ら 4. で ん わ
tera denwa
TEMPLE TELEPHONE
 to
と
Examples:
1. と り 3. と け い
tori tokei
BIRD CLOCK

2. と ら 4. ど ん ぐ り
tora donguri
TIGER ACORNS
 na
な
Examples:
1. な つ 3. な す び
natsu nasubi
SUMMER EGGPLANT

2. な み だ 4. な っ と う
namida nattō
TEARS NATTO
 ni
に
Examples:
1. に く 3. に じ
niku niji
MEAT RAINBOW

2. に っ き 4. に わ と り
nikki niwatori
JOURNAL CHICKEN
 nu
ぬ
Examples:
1. ぬ ま 3. ぬ く
numa nuku
SWAMP TO PULL

2. ぬ り え 4. ぬ い ぐ る み
nurie nuigurumi
COLORING BOOK STUFFED ANIMAL
 ne
ね
Examples:
1. ね こ 3. ね る
neko neru
CAT TO SLEEP

2. ね ぎ 4. ね ず み
negi nezumi
GREEN ONION MOUSE
 no
の
Examples:
1. の る 3. の り
noru nori
TO RIDE SEAWEED

2. の む 4. の ぼ る
nomu noboru
TO DRINK TO CLIMB
 ha
は
Examples:
1. は ち 3. ぱ ん
hachi pan
BEES BREAD

2. は さ み 4. ば く だ ん
hasami bakudan
SCISSORS BOMB
 hi
ひ
Examples:
1. ひ よ こ 3. び ょ う い ん
hiyoko byōin
CHICK HOSPITAL

2. ひ ま わ り 4. ぴ よ ぴ よ
himawari piyopiyo
SUNFLOWER TWEET TWEET
 fu
ふ
Examples:
1. ふ ね 3. ぷ り ん
fune purin
SHIP PUDDING

2. ふ う せ ん 4. ぶ ど う
fūsen budō
BALLOONS GRAPES
 he
へ
Examples:
1. へ び 3. ぺ ん き
hebi penki
SNAKE PAINT

2. へ や 4. べ ん と う
heya bentō
ROOM BOXED LUNCH
 ho
ほ
Examples:
1. ほ し 3. ぽ け っ と
hoshi poketto
STARS POCKET

2. ほ ん 4. ぼ ん さ い
hon bonsai
BOOK BONSAI
 ma
ま
Examples:
1. ま め 3. ま ん が
mame manga
BEANS COMIC BOOK

2. ま ど 4. ま ほ う
mado mahō
WINDOW MAGIC
 mi
み
Examples:
1. み み 3. み ち
mimi michi
EAR ROAD

2. み ず 4. み か ん
mizu mikan
WATER ORANGE
 mu
む
Examples:
1. む し 3. む ず か し い
mushi muzukashii
BUGS DIFFICULT

2. む し ば 4. む ら さ き
mushiba murasaki
CAVITY PURPLE
 me
め
Examples:
1. め 3. め が ね
me megane
EYES GLASSES

2. め ろ ん 4. め だ ま や き
meron medamayaki
MELON FRIED EGG
 mo
も
Examples:
1. も も 3. も り
momo mori
PEACH FOREST

2. も ち 4. も ぐ ら
mochi mogura
MOCHI MOLE
 ya
や
Examples:
1. や か ん 3. や ぎ
yakan yagi
KETTLE GOAT

2. や さ い 4. や き と り
yasai yakitori
VEGETABLES GRILLED CHICKEN
 yu
ゆ
Examples:
1. ゆ き 3. ゆ め
yuki yume
SNOW DREAM

2. ゆ う れ い 4. ゆ う え ん ち
yūrei yūenchi
GHOST THEME PARK
 yo
よ
Examples:
1. よ る 3. よ う せ い
yoru yōsei
NIGHT FAIRY

2. よ て い 4. よ う ち え ん
yotei yōchien
PLANS KINDERGARTEN
 ra
ら
Examples:
1. ら っ ぱ 3. ら い お ん
rappa raion
TRUMPET LION

2. ら く だ 4. ら く が き
rakuda rakugaki
CAMEL GRAFFITI
 ri
り
Examples:
1. り す 3. り ぼ ん
risu ribon
SQUIRREL RIBBON

2. り ん ご 4. り ゅ う
ringo ryū
APPLE DRAGON
 ru
る
Examples:
1. る す ば ん 3. ひ る
rusuban hiru
HOUSE SITTING AFTERNOON

2. さ る 4. く る ま
saru kuruma
MONKEY CAR
 re
れ
Examples:
1. れ き し 3. れ ん が
rekishi renga
HISTORY BRICKS

2. れ ん あ い 4. れ い ぞ う こ
renai reizōko
ROMANTIC LOVE REFRIGERATOR
 ro
ろ
Examples:
1. ろ う や 3. ろ ば
rōya roba
PRISON DONKEY

2. ろ う じ ん 4. ろ う そ く
rōjin rōsoku
OLD PERSON CANDLES
 wa
わ
Examples:
1. わ に 3. わ さ び
wani wasabi
ALLIGATOR WASABI

2. わ が し 4. わ た あ め
wagashi wataame
JAPANESE SWEETS COTTON CANDY
 o
(wo)

を
Examples:
1. て を あ ら う 3. お さ け を の む
te o arau osake o nomu
TO WASH ONE’S HANDS TO DRINK ALCOHOL

2. ご は ん を た べ る
gohan o taberu
TO EAT RICE
 n
ん
Examples:
1. ほ ん だ な 3. で ん し ゃ
hondana densha
BOOKSHELF TRAIN

2. に ん じ ゃ 4. べ ん き ょ う
ninja benkyō
NINJA STUDY
Double Consonants
Words that have double consonants are written with a small つ which indicates the short pause that
you take when pronouncing these words. Take a look at the examples below and pay close attention to
the difference in pronunciation.

kk きって ざっし
kitte zasshi
ss STAMP MAGAZINE
tt
つ
らっぱ にっき
pp rappa nikki
TRUMPET DIARY

Practice
Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.

nikki
1. に っ き DIARY

rappa
2. ら っ ぱ TRUMPET
Practice (continued)
Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.

zasshi
3. ざ っ し MAGAZINE

kitte
4. き っ て STAMP

gakkō
5. が っ こ う SCHOOL

nattō
6. な っ と う NATTO

futtō
7. ふ っ と う BOILING

nettō
8. ね っ と う BOILING WATER

hokkaidō
9. ほ っ か い ど う HOKKAIDO
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.

kya
きゃ
kyu きゅ
kyo きょ
gya ぎゃ
gyu ぎゅ
gyo
ぎょ
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.

sha
しゃ
shu しゅ
sho しょ
ja じゃ
ju じゅ
jo
じょ
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.

cha
ちゃ
chu ちゅ
cho ちょ
nya にゃ
nyu にゅ
nyo
にょ
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.

hya
ひゃ
hyu ひゅ
hyo ひょ
bya びゃ
byu びゅ
byo
びょ
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.

pya
ぴゃ
pyu ぴゅ
pyo ぴょ
mya みゃ
myu みゅ
myo
みょ
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small や、ゆ、or よ next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small や、ゆ、or よ are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.

rya
りゃ
ryu
りゅ
ryo りょ
 EXAMPLES

ひゃ く hyaku one hundred

お ちゃ ocha green tea

いしゃ isha doctor

り ょ かん ryokan Traditional
Japanese Inn

う ん て んしゅ untenshu driver

 EXAMPLES

ちょ う ちょ chōcho butterfly

かいしゃ kaisha company

に ん じゃ ninja ninja

べ ん きょ う benkyō study

で ん しゃ densha train
 EXAMPLES

ryū dragon
りゅ う
おもち ゃ omocha toy

ぎゅ うに ゅ う gyūnyū milk

び ょ うき byōki sick

じし ょ jisho dictionary
 は is not always ha

When は is written as a particle, it is pronounced wa. Be

careful not to confuse は(wa) with わ(wa).

Example: わたしはたなかです。
Watashi wa tanaka desu.
I am Tanaka.

Practice: Write the correct hiragana for the sentences

below. Make sure to pay attention to particles!

1. _____________________________________
Kore wa kaban desu.
This is a bag.
2. _____________________________________
Sore wa watashi no kasa desu.
That is my umbrella.
3. _____________________________________
Watashi wa daigakusei desu.
I am a college student.
4. _____________________________________
Suzuki san wa nihonjin desu.
Mr./Ms. Suzuki is Japanese.
5. _____________________________________
Are wa tomodachi no kuruma desu.
That is my friend’s car.
 は is not always ha
answers

1. これはかばんです。
Kore wa kaban desu.
This is a bag.

2. それはわたしのかさです。
Sore wa watashi no kasa desu.
That is my umbrella.

3. わたしはだいがくせいです。
Watashi wa daigakusei desu.
I am a college student.

4. すずきさんはにほんじんです。
Suzuki san wa nihonjin desu.
Mr./Ms. Suzuki is Japanese.

5. あれはともだちのくるまです。
Are wa tomodachi no kuruma desu.
That is my friend’s car.
 へ is not always he

When へ is written as a particle, it is pronounced e. Be careful

not to confuse へ(e) with え(e).

Example: がっこうへいきます。
Gakkō e ikimasu.
I will go to school.

Practice: Write the correct hiragana for the sentences below.

Make sure to pay attention to particles!

1. _____________________________________
Suzuki san wa nihon e kaerimashita.
Mr./Ms Suzuki returned to Japan.
2. _____________________________________
Shigoto e ikimasu.
I will go to work.
3. _____________________________________
Uchi e kaerimasu.
I will return home.
4. _____________________________________
Tōkyō (toukyou) e ikimasu.
I will go to Tokyo.
5. _____________________________________
Ginkō (ginkou) e ittekimashita
I went to the bank.
 へ is not always he
answers

1. すずきさんはにほんへかえりました。
Suzuki san wa nihon e kaerimashita.
Mr./Ms Suzuki returned to Japan.

2. しごとへいきます。
Shigoto e ikimasu.
I will go to work.

3. うちへかえります。
Uchi e kaerimasu.
I will return home.

4. とうきょうへいきます。
Tōkyō (toukyou) e ikimasu.
I will go to Tokyo.

5. ぎんこうへいってきました。
Ginkō (ginkou) e ittekimashita.
I went to the bank.
 　　　お vs. を

The hiragana を can be romanized as wo or o, but it is usually

pronounced o. Do not confuse を(o) with お(o). を is only used as
a particle in modern Japanese. If you don’t know what a particle
is, or how this particle is used, please visit our website! We have
a lot of videos about Japanese particles!

Example: りんごをたべます。
Ringo o tabemasu.
I will eat an apple.

Practice: Write the correct hiragana for the sentences below.

Make sure you pay attention to particles!

1. _____________________________________
Mizu o kudasai.
Please give me water.
2. _____________________________________
Hon o yomimasu.
I will read a book.
3. _____________________________________
Eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie.
4. _____________________________________
Sōji (souji) o shimashita.
I did the cleaning.
5. __________________________________________
Benkyō o shimashita.
I studied.
 　　　お vs. を
answers
1. みずをください。
Mizu o kudasai.
Please give me water.

2. ほんをよみます。
Hon o yomimasu.
I will read a book.

3. えいがをみました。
Eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie.

4. そうじをしました。
Sōji (souji) o shimashita.
I did the cleaning.

5. べんきょうをしました。
Benkyō o shimashita.
I studied.
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