Table of Contents

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 ........................................................................... 3

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

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. ka, ma, 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

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

Rmaji uses the Latin alphabet, making it so that even people who havent learned hiragana, katakana, or kanji can read and write in Japanese.

However, only knowing rmaji can be very limiting. Rmaji can be helpful when you are first starting out, but since Japanese people dont really use it, it is important to learn how to read and write hiragana and katakana.

Furigana

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 childrens 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!

a as in Ah! Example: ame rain i as in Eek! Example: isu chair u as in Moo! Example: usagi rabbit e as in Hey! Example: enpitsu pencil o as in Oh! Example: ocha tea

Long Vowels

In this book, long vowels will be romanized in the following ways.

aa ii ee ei

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!!

Pronunciation Guide

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. Ganbatte!! Do your best! If you keep on trying you will remember! Have fun!!

a i u e o k s shi t chi tsu n h fu m y r w n n

a i u e og z ji d ji zu b p

Hiragana Chart

Hiragana Chart 2: Voiced Consonants

The following hiragana are simply modifications of the hiragana listed in the first two figures. They are pronounced as one syllable, and the , , or is written smaller than normal.Hiragana Chart 3: Modified Syllables

ya yu yok s sha shu shoc cha chu chon h m r g j ja ju job p

a ai

i irukadolphin

u umiocean

e eigamovie

o oyoguto swim

ka kasaumbrella

ki kinokomushroom

ku kumabear

ke keshigomueraser

ko kenpark

sa sakuracherry blossom

shi shimaisland

su sushisushi

se sekaiworld

so sorasky

ta takooctopus

chi chizumap

tsu tsurifishing

te tehand

to toratiger

na natsusummer

ni nijirainbow

nu nuriecoloring book

ne nezumimouse

no noriseaweed

ha hachibees

hi hiyokochick

fu fsenballoons

he heyaroom

ho hoshistars

ma mangacomic book

mi mimiears

mu mushibugs

me meganeglasses

mo moriforest

ya yasaivegetables

yu yukisnow

yo yorunight

ra rakudacamel

ri ringoapple

ru rusubanhouse-sitting

re reizkorefrigerator

ro rsokucandles

wa wagashiJapanese sweets

o (wo) te o arauto wash ones hands

n denshatrain

ga gakkschool

gi gynymilk

gu gunmilitary

ge geishageisha

go gomitrash

za zabutoncushion

ji jitenshabicycle

zu suzumesparrow

ze zenzen

zo zelephant

da dangodango

ji hanajinosebleed

zu tsuzukuto continue

de denwatelephone

do donguriacorns

ba bakudanbomb

bi byinhospital

bu budgrapes

be bentboxed lunch

bo bonsaibonsai

pa panbread

pi piyopiyotweet tweet

pu purinpudding

pe penkipaint

po pokettopocket

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.

akiFALL/AUTUMN

aiLOVE

ANTari ashi

FOOT/LEG

a

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.ishi

STONE

inuDOG

irukaDOLPHIN

isuCHAIR

i

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.ushiCOW

usagiRABBIT

umiOCEAN

umaHORSE

u

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.ebiSHRIMP

ePICTURE

esaPET FOOD

eigaMOVIE

e

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.oyoguTO SWIM

oniDEMON

ochaTEA

origamiORIGAMI

o

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.kaeruFROG

kaiSHELL

kasaUMBRELLA

gakkSCHOOL

ka

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.kitsuneFOX

kinokoMUSHROOM

ginkBANK

gyny

MILK

ki

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.kuruma

CAR

kumaBEAR

kumoSPIDER

gunMILITARY

ku

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.ken

SWORD

keshigomuERASER

keisatsuPOLICE

geishaGEISHA

ke

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.koiROMANTIC LOVE

gomiGARBAGE

gokiburiCOCKROACH

kenPARK

ko

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.sameSHARK

sakuraCHERRY BLOSSOM

zaisanFORTUNE

zabutonCUSHION

sa

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.shika

DEER

shimaISLAND

jishoDICTIONARY

jitenshaBICYCLE

shi

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.suzume

SPARROW

suikaWATERMELON

sumSUMO

sushiSUSHI

su

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.semiCICADA

zenZEN

zenzaiZENZAI

sekaiWORLD

se

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.soraSKY

sobaSOBA

zELEPHANT

zsuiZSUI

so

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.tako

OCTOPUS

taiyakiTAIYAKI

dangoDANGO

daikonDAIKON RADISH

ta

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.chizu

MAP

chchoBUTTERFLY

chikyEARTH

hanajiNOSEBLEED

chi

* both and are pronounced ji, but in most cases, is used. is only used in a few specific cases.

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.tsuri

FISHING

tsumikiBLOCKS

tsukueDESK

tsuzukuTO CONTINUE

tsu

* both and are pronounced zu, but in most cases, is used. is only used in a few specific cases.

1.2.Examples: 3.

4. denwaTELEPHONE

deguchiEXIT

teraTEMPLE

teHAND

te

1.2.Examples: 3.

4.tokeiCLOCK

toriBIRD

toraTIGER

donguriACORNS