{"id":1098,"date":"2009-11-01T17:21:51","date_gmt":"2009-11-01T19:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/?p=1098"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:54:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T22:54:53","slug":"alphabet-japanese-hiragana-and-katakana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/alfabeto-japones-hiragana-e-katakana\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese alphabet: hiragana and katakana chart"},"content":{"rendered":"

The so-called Japanese alphabet<\/strong> includes two sets of phonetic signs: the hiragana<\/strong> it's the katakana<\/strong>. The two generally represent the same sounds, but are used in different contexts. This page brings together the basic tables, romanization, and the main reading rules for kana.<\/p>\n\n

In a technical sense, hiragana and katakana are not alphabets like the Latin one. They are kana<\/em>systems: each sign typically represents a mora, a rhythmic unit of Japanese. The term \u201cJapanese alphabet\u201d remains useful as a search expression and as an initial explanation, as long as this difference is clear.<\/p>\n\n

If you don't yet know how kana and kanji appear together, start with the overview of the Japanese writing systems<\/a>. Here, the focus is on consulting and understanding hiragana and katakana side by side.<\/p>\n\n

To learn about the historical context, read the origin of japanese alphabet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

What is the difference between hiragana and katakana?<\/h2>\n\n

O hiragana<\/strong> appears in particles, grammatical endings, words often written without kanji, and supporting readings called furigana<\/em>. The katakana<\/strong> is common in loanwords from other languages, foreign names, onomatopoeia, technical terms, and emphasis effects.<\/p>\n\n

To consult each set separately, see the Complete Hiragana Chart<\/a> and the complete katakana table<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Basic hiragana and katakana table<\/h2>\n\n

The traditional order follows the vowels a, i, u, e, o<\/em>. Then come the rows formed by combining these vowels with consonants. The spaces in the table indicate sounds that are not part of the modern basic set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Row<\/th>Romanization<\/th>hiragana<\/th>Katakana<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Vowels<\/td>a, i, u, e, o<\/td>\u3042 \u3044 \u3046 \u3048 \u304a<\/td>\u30a2 \u30a4 \u30a6 \u30a8 \u30aa<\/td><\/tr>\n
K<\/td>ka, ki, ku, ke, ko<\/td>\u304b \u304d \u304f \u3051 \u3053<\/td>\u30ab \u30ad \u30af \u30b1 \u30b3<\/td><\/tr>\n
s<\/td>sa, shi, su, se, so<\/td>\u3055 \u3057 \u3059 \u305b \u305d<\/td>Sa, Shi, Su, Se, So<\/td><\/tr>\n
T<\/td>ta, chi, tsu, te, to<\/td>Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To<\/td>Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To<\/td><\/tr>\n
N<\/td>na, ni, nu, ne, no<\/td>Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No<\/td>Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No<\/td><\/tr>\n
H<\/td>ha, hi, fu, he, ho<\/td>Ha, Hi, Fu, He, Ho<\/td>Ha, Hi, Fu, He, Ho<\/td><\/tr>\n
M<\/td>ma, mi, mu, me, mo<\/td>Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo<\/td>Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo<\/td><\/tr>\n
Y<\/td>ya, yu, yo<\/td>Ya, Yu, Yo<\/td>Ya, Yu, Yo<\/td><\/tr>\n
R<\/td>ra, ri, ru, re, ro<\/td>Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro<\/td>Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro<\/td><\/tr>\n
W<\/td>wa, o<\/td>Wa, O<\/td>Wa, O<\/td><\/tr>\n
Final N<\/td>no<\/td>\u3093<\/td>\u30f3<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

There is no modern basic kana corresponding to \u201cwu\u201d. The historical forms \u3090\/\u30f0 (wi<\/em>) and \u3091\/\u30f1 (we<\/em>) are also not part of the current everyday usage table. \u3092\/\u30f2 is romanized as wo<\/em> in some input methods, but in contemporary Japanese, it is usually pronounced O<\/em> when it functions as a particle.<\/p>\n\n

How to pronounce the kana<\/h2>\n\n

Romanization helps at the beginning, but it doesn't reproduce the pronunciation. Use audio and real words to associate each character with its sound. Four readings deserve attention: \u3057 is shi<\/em>, \u3061 is chi<\/em>, \u3064 is tsu<\/em> and \u3075 is fu<\/em>, with a softer friction than the common \u201cf\u201d in Portuguese.<\/p>\n\n

The R row \u2014 \u3089, \u308a, \u308b, \u308c, \u308d \u2014 uses a quick tap of the tongue, different from the strong R and the L in Portuguese. The sound of \u3093 varies depending on the following sound; learn it in words.<\/p>\n\n

THE official kana table from Irodori, by the Japan Foundation<\/a>, brings together the basic characters, combinations, and examples with long vowels and geminate consonants. It was used to check the forms and romanization on this page.<\/p>\n\n

Dakuten and handakuten: modified sounds<\/h2>\n\n

The mark \u309b is called dakuten<\/strong> and modifies some rows. The small circle \u309c is the handakuten<\/strong> and creates the P row. They are not graphic accents like those in Portuguese; they are marks that change the sound value of the kana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Transformation<\/th>Romanization<\/th>hiragana<\/th>Katakana<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
K \u2192 G<\/td>ga, gi, gu, ge, go<\/td>\u304c \u304e \u3050 \u3052 \u3054<\/td>\u30ac \u30ae \u30b0 \u30b2 \u30b4<\/td><\/tr>\n
S \u2192 Z<\/td>za, ji, zu, ze, zo<\/td>\u3056 \u3058 \u305a \u305c \u305e<\/td>\u30b6 \u30b8 \u30ba \u30bc \u30be<\/td><\/tr>\n
T \u2192 D<\/td>da, ji, zu, de, do<\/td>\u3060 \u3062 \u3065 \u3067 \u3069<\/td>\u30c0 \u30c2 \u30c5 \u30c7 \u30c9<\/td><\/tr>\n
H \u2192 B<\/td>ba, bi, bu, be, bo<\/td>\u3070 \u3073 \u3076 \u3079 \u307c<\/td>\u30d0 \u30d3 \u30d6 \u30d9 \u30dc<\/td><\/tr>\n
H \u2192 P<\/td>pa, pi, pu, pe, po<\/td>\u3071 \u3074 \u3077 \u307a \u307d<\/td>\u30d1 \u30d4 \u30d7 \u30da \u30dd<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

In the current standard pronunciation, \u3058 and \u3062 usually sound like ji<\/em>, while \u305a and \u3065 usually sound like zu<\/em>. This does not make the spellings interchangeable: each word preserves its writing. The forms with \u3062 and \u3065 are less frequent and appear in specific words and in certain morphological combinations.<\/p>\n\n

Y\u014don: combinations with small \u3083, \u3085 and \u3087<\/h2>\n\n

O y\u014don<\/strong> combines a kana from the I column with small \u3083, \u3085 or \u3087. The reading forms a single sequence, not two separate syllables. Compare \u304d\u3084 (kiya<\/em>) with \u304d\u3083 (kya<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Group<\/th>hiragana<\/th>Katakana<\/th>Romanization<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
K<\/td>kya kyu kyo<\/td>kya kyu kyo<\/td>kya, kyu, kyo<\/td><\/tr>\n
s<\/td>sha shu sho<\/td>sha shu sho<\/td>sha, shu, sho<\/td><\/tr>\n
T<\/td>cha chu cho<\/td>cha chu cho<\/td>cha, chu, cho<\/td><\/tr>\n
N<\/td>nya nyu nyo<\/td>nya nyu nyo<\/td>nya, nyu, nyo<\/td><\/tr>\n
H<\/td>hya hyu hyo<\/td>hya hyu hyo<\/td>hya, hyu, hyo<\/td><\/tr>\n
M<\/td>mya myu myo<\/td>mya myu myo<\/td>mya, myu, myo<\/td><\/tr>\n
R<\/td>rya ryu ryo<\/td>rya ryu ryo<\/td>rya, ryu, ryo<\/td><\/tr>\n
G<\/td>gya gyu gyo<\/td>gya gyu gyo<\/td>gya, gyu, gyo<\/td><\/tr>\n
J<\/td>ja ju jo<\/td>\u30b8\u30e3 \u30b8\u30e5 \u30b8\u30e7<\/td>ja, ju, jo<\/td><\/tr>\n
B<\/td>\u3073\u3083 \u3073\u3085 \u3073\u3087<\/td>\u30d3\u30e3 \u30d3\u30e5 \u30d3\u30e7<\/td>bya, byu, byo<\/td><\/tr>\n
FOR<\/td>\u3074\u3083 \u3074\u3085 \u3074\u3087<\/td>\u30d4\u30e3 \u30d4\u30e5 \u30d4\u30e7<\/td>pya, pyu, pyo<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Small \u3063, \u30c3 and geminate consonants<\/h2>\n\n

The small \u3063 or \u30c3 indicates a brief pause before the following consonant. In romanization, this consonant is usually doubled. Thus, \u304d\u3063\u3066 is kitte<\/em> (\u201cstamp\u201d) and \u30ab\u30c3\u30d7 is kappu<\/em> (\u201ccup\u201d). The small sign must be distinguished from \u3064\/\u30c4 in normal size.<\/p>\n\n

How to represent long vowels<\/h2>\n\n

In hiragana, the long vowel can be written in different ways depending on the word. Long E sounds often appear with \u3044, and long O sounds often with \u3046, but there are exceptions that need to be learned with the spelling of the word. For example, \u305b\u3093\u305b\u3044 (Sensei<\/em>) contains a long E and \u304c\u3063\u3053\u3046 (gakk\u014d<\/em>) contains a long O.<\/p>\n\n

In katakana, the dash \u30fc is often used: \u30b3\u30fc\u30d2\u30fc (k\u014dh\u012b<\/em>, \u201ccoffee\u201d) and \u30b1\u30fc\u30ad (k\u0113ki<\/em>, \u201ccake\u201d). Do not ignore the length: a short and a long vowel can distinguish words.<\/p>\n\n

In what order should you study hiragana and katakana?<\/h2>\n\n

Courses present hiragana first, but this is not a rule. The Marugoto<\/a> states that the order between hiragana and katakana can vary and recommends relating writing, speech, and known vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. Learn the five vowels and recognize the rhythm of each mora.<\/li>\n
  2. Study one row at a time, reading and writing short words.<\/li>\n
  3. Practice hiragana and katakana without relying only on romaji.<\/li>\n
  4. Add dakuten, handakuten, y\u014don, \u3063\/\u30c3, and long vowels.<\/li>\n
  5. Review with audio, reading, and typing in real sentences.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    O hiragana and katakana study guide<\/a> organizes the detailed lessons. Then, use the free Japanese course for beginners<\/a> to integrate reading, vocabulary, grammar, and practice.<\/p>\n\n

    Common mistakes when starting<\/h2>\n\n