Hiragana Complete Sheet

Download Your Free Hiragana Chart PDF

Introduction

Are you eager to start your Japanese language journey? Learning hiragana is the first step in mastering the Japanese writing system. To help you get started, we’ve prepared a free Hiragana Chart PDF that you can download and use as a reference. This guide will walk you through the importance of hiragana, how to use the chart effectively, and tips to speed up your learning process.

What is Hiragana?

Hiragana is one of the three scripts used in the Japanese language, alongside katakana and kanji. It is a phonetic alphabet that consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a specific syllable. Unlike kanji, which represents meanings, hiragana is purely phonetic, meaning each character corresponds to a specific sound rather than a concept.

Hiragana characters are a mix of consonants and vowels or just vowels on their own. The basic structure follows this pattern:

  • Vowel-only sounds: あ (a), い (i), う (u), え (e), お (o)

  • Consonant + vowel sounds: か (ka), き (ki), く (ku), け (ke), こ (ko), etc.

The characters are arranged in a grid called the gojūon (五十音) table, which organizes them systematically based on their phonetic order.

Hiragana is primarily used for native Japanese words, verb endings, and grammatical particles. It is also essential for young children and language learners since it is the first script taught before moving on to kanji. Many books for beginners and some official documents also include furigana (ふりがな)—small hiragana above or beside kanji—to assist with pronunciation.

For example:

  • "Ganbatte" (which means “Do your best!”) in hiragana is がんばって.

  • "Happy Birthday" in Japanese hiragana is おたんじょうびおめでとう (Otanjōbi Omedetou).

By mastering hiragana, you’ll be able to read and write basic Japanese sentences, paving the way for further learning.

Why Use a Hiragana Chart?

A hiragana chart PDF is a great tool for beginners because:

  • It visually organizes all the characters in one place.

  • It helps you associate the characters with their sounds.

  • You can print it out and keep it as a quick reference while practicing.

  • It includes stroke order guides to help you write neatly and correctly


Breaking Down Hiragana Characters

Hiragana characters are grouped based on their phonetic sounds. Let’s take a closer look at a few characters:

Hiragana Me (め)

The character め is pronounced as "me." It is commonly seen in words like:

  • 目 (め, me) – meaning "eye."

  • 梅 (うめ, ume) – meaning "plum."

Hiragana Mi (み)

The character み is pronounced as "mi" and appears in words such as:

  • 見る (みる, miru) – meaning "to see."

  • 耳 (みみ, mimi) – meaning "ear."

Hiragana Mo (も)

The character も is pronounced as "mo" and is used in words like:

  • 持つ (もつ, motsu) – meaning "to hold."

  • 桃 (もも, momo) – meaning "peach."

Learning these characters will help you build a strong foundation for recognizing Japanese words in everyday contexts.

How to Use the Hiragana Chart for Learning

1. Practice Writing Each Character

Use the stroke order guide in the hiragana chart PDF to practice writing each character. Writing helps reinforce memory and improves handwriting skills

2. Listen to Pronunciations

Find online resources or apps that provide audio pronunciation for each hiragana character. This helps in perfecting your pronunciation and improving listening skills.

3. Read Simple Japanese Texts

Start reading simple hiragana texts, children’s books, or beginner-level materials. Try recognizing words that contain hiragana me (め), hiragana mi (み), and hiragana mo (も) or other hiragana.

5. Write Words in Hiragana

Practice writing simple words and phrases in hiragana. For example:

  • Ganbatte がんばって (Do your best!)

  • Happy Birthday おたんじょうびおめでとう

6. Play Hiragana Games

Use online games and quizzes to make learning fun. Matching games and timed quizzes help improve recognition speed.

Common Hiragana Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mixing Up Similar Characters

Some hiragana characters look very similar, such as:

  • ぬ (nu) vs. め (me)

  • る (ru) vs. ろ (ro)

  • さ (sa) vs. ち (chi)

Pay close attention to the stroke order and unique shapes of each character.

2. Ignoring Stroke Order

Stroke order is important for writing fluently and neatly. Following the correct stroke order also helps with character recognition.

3. Relying Only on Romaji

While romaji (Latin script) can be helpful initially, relying on it too much can slow down your hiragana learning progress. Try to read and write in hiragana as much as possible.

What’s Next After Learning Hiragana?

Once you’ve mastered hiragana, you can move on to:

  • Katakana – Used for foreign words, names, and some onomatopoeia.

  • Kanji – Essential for reading and writing fluently in Japanese.

  • Grammar and Vocabulary – Learning how to construct sentences and communicate effectively.                                                                                                                                               If you want to find out more about the relationship of the three japanese writing systems (Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji), vocabulary or grammar, you can check out my "Basic Principles  of Japanese Language" workbook.

Conclusion

Learning hiragana is a fundamental step in mastering the Japanese language. By using our free Hiragana Chart PDF, you’ll have a handy reference to accelerate your learning.

Subscribe to my newsletter for your free copy today and start your journey toward Japanese fluency! If you want to learn Hiragana more indepth you can check out the Fundamental Japanese Writing Systems Hiragana course.

 


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