Learn Hiragana: Chart, Sounds and a Practice Plan

Why start with hiragana

Beginner materials use hiragana for grammar endings, particles and reading support. Katakana is another kana script, while kanji also appear in Japanese text. Learning hiragana gives you a way to read those kana spellings; it does not give you every kanji reading or the meaning of every word.

Pair the written form with audio as you study Japanese pronunciation. A kana chart is a starting point, not a complete pronunciation guide.

The 46-character chart

The chart shows the 46 basic hiragana in row order. Start with a, i, u, e, o, then continue through the consonant rows.

Tap a cell to hear it. That sound is your browser's Japanese text-to-speech, so quality depends on the device. Hide romaji when you want to test recognition. The same interactive grid also lives on the hiragana chart tool. After a first pass, check recall with the kana quiz, including lookalike pairs.

The basic chart does not show every spelling pattern. Particles and long vowels need additional attention. For more reference on each character, see the hiragana topic hub.

The order to learn them in

This guide uses the chart order: a, ka, sa, ta, na and the remaining rows. Use it to keep track of the set you are reviewing. Repeat or reorder a stage when your course needs it.

Use a different order if your course needs it. Keep track of which kana you can recall without the chart, rather than treating the row order as a rule about how everyone must learn.

A flexible three-part practice plan

Each part can take more than one session. Continue when you can recognize its characters in a shuffled set; repeat it when you need more practice. These are practice stages, not a three-day guarantee.

Part 1: the first 21 characters

Introduce the a, ka, sa and ta rows plus ん (n): 21 characters. Compare each shape with the chart and audio. If you want to write, copy a numbered model and then try recalling it without looking.

Part 2: the next 15

Review the first set, then add the na, ha and ma rows: 15 new characters and 36 in total. Shuffle the set and note the misses.

Part 3: the last 10

Add the ya row (three characters), ra row (five), and わ (wa) and を (usually pronounced o as a particle). That adds ten, for 46 in total. Review the full set and compare the lookalikes in lookalike quiz mode.

Continue with words and review

Revisit the kana you miss and read short examples from your course. If you use an app, follow its actual review prompts; this manual plan is not a claim about a particular app schedule. Start learning if you want to try Inku for practice.

Using mnemonics

A mnemonic is an optional memory cue for a shape. The images below are suggestions, not explanations of character origins or English pronunciation equivalents. Check the reading with audio.

Try an image that helps you recall the written shape and its reading. Use Japanese audio for the sound, then check whether the image helps you recognize the kana later.

The vowel row (aiueo)

• あ (a): try a crossed-antlers image.
• い (i): try two figures of different heights.
• う (u): try a bowing figure.
• え (e): try a bird with a long feather.
• お (o): try a pitcher with a handle.

The k-row (ka ki ku ke ko)

• か (ka) - a sword stabbing into wood. "Ka-chunk."
• き (ki) - an old-fashioned key shape.
• く (ku) - a bird's beak opening. "Koo-koo."
• け (ke) - a keg on a stand.
• こ (ko) - two horizontal lines, a stubby cocoon.

The s-row (sa shi su se so)

• さ (sa) - a boxing sword (the vertical with a hook). "Sah!"
• し (shi) - a fishhook hanging down. "She is hooked."
• す (su) - a loop like a lasso. "Swoop."
• せ (se) - a seatbelt clipping across.
• そ (so) - a zig-zag like a needle threading. "So-so stitching."

Try a few cues at a time. Cover the chart, recall the reading, and check it. Replace a cue if it repeatedly leads to a wrong reading or shape.

Dakuten, handakuten, and yōon

After the basic chart, practice the marked and combined forms. The official modern kana guidance distinguishes these spelling patterns.

Dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜)

Dakuten adds two small marks: か (ka) becomes が (ga), さ (sa) becomes ざ (za), た (ta) becomes だ (da), and は (ha) becomes ば (ba). Handakuten is the small circle used for the p-row, such as は (ha) becoming ぱ (pa). These examples name kana sounds; check each row with the chart and audio.

Yōon: combinations with small kana

Use small ゃ, ゅ, ょ (ya, yu, yo) in these combinations. き (ki) plus small ゃ makes きゃ (kya); し (shi) plus small ゅ makes しゅ (shu). Compare the small forms with full-size や, ゆ, よ. For example, きょう (kyō, today) and しゃしん (shashin, photograph) use small kana.

Stroke order, briefly

Follow the numbered model for each character rather than assuming one direction rule covers the whole script. The NHK kana chart gives character-specific stroke numbers. Compare your copy with the model, then cover it and try again.

Gotchas most guides skip

Confusable pairs

Compare the following sets and practice the ones you confuse. Use a checked model rather than relying only on a shape nickname.

• し (shi) looks like a fishhook hanging down. つ (tsu) looks like a fishhook lying on its side. Write them next to each other ten times.
• ね (ne), れ (re), and わ (wa) share the same left side. The right side is what distinguishes them. Practice the difference in pairs: ね vs れ, then れ vs わ.
• ぬ (nu) and め (me). The ぬ has an extra loop.
• ろ (ro) and る (ru). The る has a loop at the bottom.
• は (ha), ほ (ho), and ま (ma). Three cousins. Drill them as a triplet until the small visual differences feel loud.

When you are ready to test the contrast, open the lookalike quiz. Review the pair you missed, then try it again.

Long vowels

Vowel length can distinguish words: おばさん (obasan, aunt) and おばあさん (obāsan, grandmother) are different. The spelling is not always a repeated identical vowel. Compare おかあさん (okāsan, mother) and おとうさん (otōsan, father). Learn the written form with each word. The official guidance also lists o-row words written with お and e-row words written with い; a spelling pattern alone does not settle every pronunciation.

Small っ

Small っ is called sokuon. Compare きっぷ (kippu, ticket) and まって (matte, wait). Keep the extra timing in the model audio. Do not treat it as the ordinary reading of full-size つ (tsu) or use one mouth-closing gesture for every following consonant.

The を particle

As an object-marking particle, を is normally pronounced o. Kana charts often romanize the character as wo. The particle keeps its を spelling; learn its use in a sentence rather than assuming every kana spelling maps to one romanized sound.

Practice after the chart

Continue with short words and sentences after practicing the chart. Use these tasks as options and check what you can recall.

Read and check one short item

Choose one short menu item or course example with a reliable reading and meaning. Read it first, then check both. Note the kana you missed and try the same item again after reviewing them.

Choose a review format you can use

Use a phone, paper cards or a course exercise according to your goal. Review the items you miss and check them against the chart. The format alone does not guarantee that you will keep the habit.

Write one word a day on paper

Pick one word with a checked reading and meaning each day. Write it three times, then try once from memory. Seven different words in a week gives you 21 copied versions, not 21 new words.

Try a short text with reading support

Choose a short beginner text whose vocabulary and reading support fit your level. Some books use mostly kana; others give furigana readings beside kanji. Preview a page before treating the whole book as suitable for your current reading level.

Common questions

What to do next

Hear the chart on this page, then the hiragana chart tool if you want the same grid on its own, then the kana quiz. Use lookalike mode on the pairs above. Once hiragana feels comfortable, the obvious next step is katakana. Continue reviewing hiragana as you add katakana. Then start building vocabulary with the JLPT N5 deck and a proper spaced-repetition routine. If you are picking a tool, our comparison pages on Duolingo, Anki, and WaniKani can help you compare the options.