Hiragana

The following is the base Hiragana in a chart. Each vowel is paired with 5 consonants. It takes a long time to learn these letters, but once you do you will be able to write most of the words you learn.

In order to hear these Hiragana, listen to the following song which goes through the entire basic chart.

Since this is only the basic hiragana chart we also need to learn the extended one. Here if i wanted to say Boshi which is hat we wouldn't be able to because we only know "shi".
There is the Basic Hiragana, which you have just gone over, the Hiragana with tentens which make G,J,Z,D, and B sounds.
Tentens are two dashes on the right hand side. There is also a type of Tenten which makes a circle on the right hand side, this makes only P sounds.
Finally are the combined Hiragana which take the hiraganas and add them with either YO YOU or YA. The produces sounds like Kya and Jyo and Byou.
Here is the chart of all of the Hiragana click on this chart for a larger view. It might seem intimidating, but once you take some time to really look at this chart you will begin to see the patterns.

Now that you see the chart, let's practice with some of the Hiragana with Tentens

Lets say you wanted to ask how someone was doing. You now will be able to write in Romanji and with a little practice, Hiragana too.

Soon you will also be able to write this in Katakana and eventually Kanji!

Now, taking your own paper i want you to translate some of the following Romanji into Hiragana.
Look at the chart, slowly go over the sounds and then write them as they are on the chart. Even if it looks wierd, it is ok.
The first word is:Konnichiwa, pronounced KOHNEECHEEWAH. This word means "Hello".
Now, look at this word and separate the sounds out. There is a KO a N a NI a CHI and a WA. This will help you put them together. Write this word three times and scroll down to see if our answers match...























Ok, if you did not get it right, try to see where it is wrong.
Let's try another word: Tabemasu, pronounced TAHBEHMAHS, this is the word "To Eat".
This word has a Tenten in it so be careful. Look at the charts, remember "H" sounds with the two dashes makes "B" sounds.
Break this word down too. Ta Be Ma Su. Write this three times in Hiragana and check with my answers....































Ok, again if you did not get it right thats ok! See where yours is different and try to change it for next time.
We will practice this more a little later, lets move on to the next writing system, Katakana.