If you are beginning your journey in learning Japanese, one of the first and most essential steps is mastering Hiragana. Hiragana is a fundamental component of the Japanese writing system and forms the foundation for reading, writing, and speaking in Japanese. Whether you want to pursue Japanese for travel, business, or cultural appreciation, understanding Hiragana is crucial.
At TLS – The Japanese Language School, we specialize in helping beginners master Japanese efficiently and confidently. With experienced instructors, personalized guidance, and structured courses, learning Hiragana and beyond becomes enjoyable and practical.
Hiragana (ひらがな) is the heart of the Japanese writing system and one of its three main scripts, alongside Katakana (カタカナ) and Kanji (漢字). Comprising 46 basic characters, Hiragana is primarily used for native Japanese words, grammar particles, and sentence endings.
Unlike Kanji, which can be intricate and symbolic, Hiragana is entirely phonetic—each character corresponds to a specific sound. This simplicity makes it the perfect starting point for beginners eager to read, write, and speak Japanese. You’ll often see Hiragana in children’s books, manga, and beginner learning materials, where it guides learners to pronounce words correctly and understand the language naturally.
Learning Hiragana is more than memorizing symbols—it’s your first step into the rhythm and flow of Japanese, allowing you to form sentences, understand grammar, and gradually build confidence in the language.
Hiragana traces its roots back to the Heian period (794–1185), when it emerged as a simplified, flowing version of Kanji. At first, it was often called “onnade” (女手), or “women’s hand,” because it was primarily used by women, while men relied on Kanji for official documents and scholarly writing.
Over time, Hiragana broke free from this gendered association and became a core part of Japanese writing. Its simplicity and elegance made it ideal for everyday communication, literature, poetry, and education. Today, Hiragana is indispensable—from reading children’s books to composing sentences and expressing grammatical nuances.
Learning Hiragana isn’t just about memorizing characters—it’s a journey into the rich history and culture of Japan, connecting you with centuries of literature, art, and daily life.
Mastering Hiragana is the first and most important step in your Japanese learning journey. Starting with Hiragana before diving into Katakana or Kanji comes with several key advantages:
Each Hiragana character represents a distinct sound, helping you pronounce Japanese words accurately from the very beginning
Essential grammatical elements like particles (は, を, に) are written in Hiragana, making it easier to form and understand sentences.
Many beginner textbooks, children’s books, and simple stories rely almost entirely on Hiragana, giving learners practical reading experience.
Once you know Hiragana, reading the phonetic guides (furigana) above Kanji becomes effortless, making complex characters less intimidating.
At TLS – The Japanese Language School, our beginner courses start with Hiragana, ensuring every student builds a solid foundation. With structured lessons, interactive exercises, and expert guidance, learning Hiragana becomes fun, intuitive, and rewarding—setting you up for success in all areas of Japanese language learning.
Complete Hiragana chart with English equivalents, diacritics, and Yōon combinations.
| Basic Hiragana | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
A あ | I い | U う | E え | O お |
KA か | KI き | KU く | KE け | KO こ |
SA さ | SHI し | SU す | SE せ | SO そ |
TA た | CHI ち | TSU つ | TE て | TO と |
NA な | NI に | NU ぬ | NE ね | NO の |
HA は | HI ひ | FU ふ | HE へ | HO ほ |
MA ま | MI み | MU む | ME め | MO も |
YA や | - - | YU ゆ | - - | YO よ |
RA ら | RI り | RU る | RE れ | RO ろ |
WA わ | - - | - - | - - | WO を |
N ん | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Hiragana with Diacritics (Voiced Sounds) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
GA が | GI ぎ | GU ぐ | GE げ | GO ご |
ZA ざ | JI じ | ZU ず | ZE ぜ | ZO ぞ |
DA だ | JI ぢ | ZU づ | DE で | DO ど |
BA ば | BI び | BU ぶ | BE べ | BO ぼ |
PA ぱ | PI ぴ | PU ぷ | PE ぺ | PO ぽ |
| Hiragana Combinations (Yōon) | ||
|---|---|---|
KI + YA きゃ | KI + YU きゅ | KI + YO きょ |
SHI + YA しゃ | SHI + YU しゅ | SHI + YO しょ |
CHI + YA ちゃ | CHI + YU ちゅ | CHI + YO ちょ |
NI + YA にゃ | NI + YU にゅ | NI + YO にょ |
HI + YA ひゃ | HI + YU ひゅ | HI + YO ひょ |
MI + YA みゃ | MI + YU みゅ | MI + YO みょ |
RI + YA りゃ | RI + YU りゅ | RI + YO りょ |
Note: ん is used to represent the syllabic "n".
Mastering Hiragana is all about consistent practice and smart learning strategies. Here are some proven tips to help you learn faster and retain more:
Write the Hiragana character on one side and its pronunciation on the other. Quick, regular review helps your brain memorize them naturally.
Reinforce your memory and stroke order by writing each character repeatedly. Writing also helps you connect the visual shape with its sound.
Dive into children’s books, manga, or beginner textbooks. Reading Hiragana in context strengthens recognition and builds confidence.
Pair your reading practice with audio resources. Listening to native pronunciation helps you internalize sounds and speak more naturally.
Even 10–15 minutes a day can make a huge difference. Short, focused sessions are more effective than long, sporadic ones.
At TLS – The Japanese Language School, we integrate these techniques into our beginner courses. Our structured Hiragana reading and writing exercises ensure students not only recognize characters but also pronounce them correctly. Learning Hiragana with TLS is fun, interactive, and highly effective, giving you a strong foundation to advance in Japanese with confidence.
Hiragana isn’t just something you learn in textbooks—it’s all around you in everyday Japanese life. From street signs and menus to packaging and children’s books, Hiragana works alongside Kanji to make reading and communication accessible. Here are a few common examples you’ll encounter:
Arigatou – Thank you
Konnichiwa – Hello
Sayounara – Goodbye
By mastering Hiragana, you gain the ability to read menus, follow simple instructions, and even understand text messages in Japanese. This skill gives you independence, confidence, and a direct connection to Japanese culture, making everyday interactions much easier and more enjoyable.
At TLS – The Japanese Language School, we focus on teaching Hiragana through real-life examples and practical exercises, so students can immediately apply what they learn in daily life.
At TLS – The Japanese Language School, we make learning Hiragana fun, practical, and effective. Here’s how we help beginners master the foundation of Japanese:
Engage in writing, speaking, and listening exercises that make learning Hiragana hands-on and memorable.
Our skilled teachers guide you step-by-step, ensuring you grasp each character and its pronunciation with confidence.
We begin with Hiragana and gradually introduce Katakana, basic Kanji, and conversational Japanese, providing a smooth and logical learning path.
Choose between online or in-person classes, so you can learn at your own pace and convenience.
At TLS, we believe that learning Hiragana should never be boring. That’s why our courses include games, quizzes, and real-life exercises, turning your language journey into an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Hiragana (ひらがな) is one of the three Japanese writing systems, along with Katakana and Kanji. It consists of 46 basic characters and is primarily used for native Japanese words, grammatical elements, and sentence endings. Learning Hiragana is essential for beginners because it provides a strong foundation for reading, writing, and pronunciation. Without mastering Hiragana, progressing to Katakana, Kanji, or conversational Japanese becomes much more challenging.
The time varies depending on practice and study routine. With consistent daily practice—about 10–15 minutes per day—most learners can recognize and write all 46 basic Hiragana characters within 2–4 weeks. At TLS, our structured courses and guided exercises can help learners master Hiragana even faster.
Absolutely! Hiragana is designed for beginners and does not require prior knowledge of Kanji. Most Japanese children learn Hiragana first before learning Kanji. Hiragana allows learners to read, write, and construct simple sentences independently.
Definitely! Hiragana is crucial for reading furigana, the small Hiragana characters written above or beside Kanji to indicate pronunciation. By mastering Hiragana first, you can read Japanese texts more easily, even when Kanji appears.
Yes! Learning proper stroke order is important for writing clearly and efficiently. Correct stroke order improves readability and helps you write faster. At TLS, we teach Hiragana stroke order through guided exercises and interactive writing practice.
Yes! Hiragana is simple and accessible. Both children and adult beginners can learn it effectively. At TLS, lessons are tailored for all ages with games, quizzes, and practical exercises, making learning engaging and enjoyable.
TLS – The Japanese Language School
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Email: tls@teamlanguages.com
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