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Hiragana Workbook
Hiragana Workbook
Hiragana Workbook
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 rmaji, which is Japanese
that is written with the Latin alphabet. You
dont really need to spend any time learning
rmaji, 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
Katakana
Kanji
Romaji
Furigana
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!
a as in Ah!
i as in Eek!
u as in Moo!
e as in Hey!
o as in Oh!
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
ame rain
isu
chair
usagi rabbit
enpitsu pencil
ocha tea
Long Vowels
In this book, long vowels will be romanized
in the following ways.
aa
ii
ee
ei
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.
Dont forget to listen to the audio that is
included in this book and repeat it out loud
to practice your pronunciation! Have fun!!
Hiragana Chart
a
i
shi
chi
tsu
fu
ji
ji zu
ya
yu
sha
shu
yo
cha
ja
chu
ju
sho
cho
jo
ai
iruka
dolphin
umi
ocean
eiga
movie
oyogu
to swim
ka
kasa
umbrella
ki
kinoko
mushroom
ku
kuma
bear
ke
keshigomu
eraser
ko
ken
park
sa
sakura
cherry blossom
shi
shima
island
su
sushi
sushi
se
sekai
world
so
sora
sky
ta
tako
octopus
chi
chizu
map
tsu
tsuri
fishing
te
te
hand
to
tora
tiger
na
natsu
summer
ni
niji
rainbow
nu
nurie
coloring book
ne
nezumi
mouse
no
nori
seaweed
ha
hachi
bees
hi
hiyoko
chick
fu
fsen
balloons
he
heya
room
ho
hoshi
stars
ma
manga
comic book
mi
mimi
ears
mu
mushi
bugs
me
megane
glasses
mo
mori
forest
ya
yasai
vegetables
yu
yuki
snow
yo
yoru
night
ra
rakuda
camel
ri
ringo
apple
ru
rusuban
house-sitting
re
reizko
refrigerator
ro
rsoku
candles
wa
wagashi
Japanese sweets
o (wo)
te o arau
to wash ones hands
densha
train
ga
gakk
school
gi
gyny
milk
gu
gun
military
ge
geisha
geisha
go
gomi
trash
za
zabuton
cushion
ji
jitensha
bicycle
zu
suzume
sparrow
ze
zen
zen
zo
z
elephant
da
dango
dango
ji
hanaji
nosebleed
zu
tsuzuku
to continue
de
denwa
telephone
do
donguri
acorns
ba
bakudan
bomb
bi
byin
hospital
bu
bud
grapes
be
bent
boxed lunch
bo
bonsai
bonsai
pa
pan
bread
pi
piyopiyo
tweet tweet
pu
purin
pudding
pe
penki
paint
po
poketto
pocket
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
aki
FALL/AUTUMN
ari
ANT
ai
LOVE
ashi
FOOT/LEG
Examples:
1.
ishi
3.
2.
4.
STONE
iruka
DOLPHIN
inu
DOG
isu
CHAIR
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
ushi
COW
uma
HORSE
usagi
RABBIT
umi
OCEAN
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
PICTURE
ebi
SHRIMP
esa
PET FOOD
eiga
MOVIE
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
oni
DEMON
oyogu
TO SWIM
ocha
TEA
origami
ORIGAMI
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
kai
SHELL
kaeru
FROG
kasa
UMBRELLA
gakk
SCHOOL
ka
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
kinoko
MUSHROOM
kitsune
FOX
gink
BANK
gyny
MILK
ki
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
kuma
BEAR
kumo
SPIDER
kuruma
CAR
gun
MILITARY
ku
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
ken
SWORD
keshigomu
ERASER
keisatsu
POLICE
geisha
GEISHA
ke
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
ken
PARK
koi
ROMANTIC LOVE
gomi
GARBAGE
gokiburi
COCKROACH
ko
Examples:
1.
sakura
3.
2.
4.
CHERRY BLOSSOM
same
SHARK
zaisan
FORTUNE
zabuton
CUSHION
sa
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
shika
DEER
shima
ISLAND
jisho
DICTIONARY
jitensha
BICYCLE
shi
Examples:
1.
sushi
3.
2.
4.
SUSHI
sum
SUMO
suzume
SPARROW
suika
WATERMELON
su
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
semi
CICADA
sekai
WORLD
zen
ZEN
zenzai
ZENZAI
se
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
sora
SKY
soba
SOBA
ELEPHANT
zsui
ZSUI
so
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
tako
OCTOPUS
taiyaki
TAIYAKI
dango
DANGO
daikon
DAIKON RADISH
ta
Examples:
* both and are pronounced ji, but in most cases, is used. is only used in a few specific cases.
1.
3.
2.
4.
chizu
MAP
chcho
BUTTERFLY
chi
chiky
EARTH
hanaji
NOSEBLEED
tsu
Examples:
* both and are pronounced zu, but in most cases, is used. is only used in a few specific cases.
FISHING
DESK
1.
tsuri
3.
2.
4.
tsumiki
BLOCKS
tsukue
tsuzuku
TO CONTINUE
Examples:
1.
te
3.
2.
4.
HAND
tera
TEMPLE
deguchi
EXIT
denwa
TELEPHONE
te
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
tori
BIRD
tora
TIGER
tokei
CLOCK
donguri
ACORNS
to
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
natsu
SUMMER
namida
TEARS
nasubi
EGGPLANT
natt
NATTO
na
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
niku
MEAT
nikki
JOURNAL
niji
RAINBOW
niwatori
CHICKEN
ni
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
numa
SWAMP
nurie
COLORING BOOK
nuku
TO PULL
nuigurumi
STUFFED ANIMAL
nu
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
neko
CAT
negi
GREEN ONION
neru
TO SLEEP
nezumi
MOUSE
ne
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
noru
TO RIDE
nomu
TO DRINK
nori
SEAWEED
noboru
TO CLIMB
no
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
hachi
BEES
hasami
SCISSORS
pan
BREAD
bakudan
BOMB
ha
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
hiyoko
CHICK
himawari
SUNFLOWER
byin
HOSPITAL
piyopiyo
TWEET TWEET
hi
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
fune
SHIP
fsen
BALLOONS
purin
PUDDING
bud
GRAPES
fu
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
hebi
SNAKE
heya
ROOM
penki
PAINT
bent
BOXED LUNCH
he
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
hoshi
STARS
hon
BOOK
poketto
POCKET
bonsai
BONSAI
ho
Examples:
1.
mame
3.
2.
4.
BEANS
mado
WINDOW
manga
COMIC BOOK
mah
MAGIC
ma
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
mimi
EAR
mizu
WATER
michi
ROAD
mikan
ORANGE
mi
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
mushi
BUGS
mushiba
CAVITY
muzukashii
DIFFICULT
murasaki
PURPLE
mu
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
me
EYES
meron
MELON
megane
GLASSES
medamayaki
FRIED EGG
me
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
momo
PEACH
mochi
MOCHI
mori
FOREST
mogura
MOLE
mo
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
yakan
KETTLE
yasai
VEGETABLES
yagi
GOAT
yakitori
GRILLED CHICKEN
ya
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
yuki
SNOW
yrei
GHOST
yume
DREAM
yenchi
THEME PARK
yu
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
yoru
NIGHT
yotei
PLANS
ysei
FAIRY
ychien
KINDERGARTEN
yo
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
rappa
TRUMPET
rakuda
CAMEL
raion
LION
rakugaki
GRAFFITI
ra
Examples:
1.
risu
3.
2.
4.
SQUIRREL
ringo
APPLE
ribon
RIBBON
ry
DRAGON
ri
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
rusuban
HOUSE SITTING
saru
MONKEY
hiru
AFTERNOON
kuruma
CAR
ru
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
rekishi
HISTORY
renai
ROMANTIC LOVE
renga
BRICKS
reizko
REFRIGERATOR
re
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
rya
PRISON
rjin
OLD PERSON
roba
DONKEY
rsoku
CANDLES
ro
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
wani
ALLIGATOR
wagashi
JAPANESE SWEETS
wasabi
WASABI
wataame
COTTON CANDY
wa
Examples:
1.
te o arau
2.
gohan o taberu
TO EAT RICE
3.
osake o nomu
TO DRINK ALCOHOL
o
(wo)
Examples:
1.
3.
2.
4.
hondana
BOOKSHELF
ninja
NINJA
densha
TRAIN
benky
STUDY
Double Consonants
Words that have double consonants are written with a small 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
ss
tt
pp
kitte
STAMP
zasshi
MAGAZINE
rappa
TRUMPET
nikki
DIARY
Practice
Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.
1.
2.
nikki
DIARY
rappa
TRUMPET
Practice (continued)
Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
zasshi
MAGAZINE
kitte
STAMP
gakk
SCHOOL
natt
NATTO
futt
BOILING
nett
BOILING WATER
hokkaid
HOKKAIDO
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
kya
kyu
kyo
gya
gyu
gyo
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
sha
shu
sho
ja
ju
jo
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
cha
chu
cho
nya
nyu
nyo
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
hya
hyu
hyo
bya
byu
byo
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
pya
pyu
pyo
mya
myu
myo
Modified Syllables
When a hiragana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a
single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character,
and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
rya
ryu
ryo
EXAMPLES
hyaku
one hundred
ocha
green tea
ryokan
Traditional
Japanese Inn
isha
doctor
untenshu driver
EXAMPLES
chcho
butterfly
ninja
ninja
kaisha
benky
densha
company
study
train
EXAMPLES
ry
dragon
omocha
toy
gyny
milk
jisho
dictionary
byki
sick
is not always ha
When is written as a particle, it is pronounced wa. Be
careful not to confuse (wa) with (wa).
Example:
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 friends car.
is not always ha
answers
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 friends car.
is not always he
When is written as a particle, it is pronounced e. Be careful
not to confuse (e) with (e).
Example:
Gakk e ikimasu.
I will go to school.
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. _____________________________________
Tky (toukyou) e ikimasu.
I will go to Tokyo.
5. _____________________________________
Gink (ginkou) e ittekimashita
I went to the bank.
is not always he
answers
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.
Tky (toukyou) e ikimasu.
I will go to Tokyo.
5.
Gink (ginkou) e ittekimashita.
I went to the bank.
vs.
The hiragana can be romanized as wo or o, but it is usually
pronounced o. Do not confuse (o) with (o). is only used as
a particle in modern Japanese. If you dont 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:
Ringo o tabemasu.
I will eat an apple.
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. _____________________________________
Sji (souji) o shimashita.
I did the cleaning.
5.
__________________________________________
Benky o shimashita.
I studied.
vs.
answers
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.
Sji (souji) o shimashita.
I did the cleaning.
5.
Benky o shimashita.
I studied.