This comprehensive hiragana chart is your complete reference guide for mastering all 46 basic characters plus their modifications. Whether you're a complete beginner or need a quick refresher, this guide provides detailed pronunciation instructions, common example words, and practical tips for perfect Japanese pronunciation.

Basic Hiragana Chart (46 Characters)

Vowel Row (五十音図 - Gojūon)

The foundation of hiragana starts with five pure vowel sounds. Master these first, as every other character builds on them.

あ (a) - Like "ah" in "father"

Pronunciation: Open your mouth wide and say "ah" naturally. Don't round your lips.

Common Words:

• あい (ai) - love
• あお (ao) - blue
• あさ (asa) - morning
• あめ (ame) - rain/candy

い (i) - Like "ee" in "see"

Pronunciation: Spread your lips slightly in a smile position. The sound should be shorter and crisper than English "ee."

Common Words:

• いえ (ie) - house
• いぬ (inu) - dog
• いし (ishi) - stone
• いろ (iro) - color

Tip: Don't make this sound too long. It's more like "ih" than "eee."

う (u) - Like "oo" in "food"

Pronunciation: Similar to "oo" but with lips less rounded. The Japanese う is more relaxed than the English "oo."

Common Words:

• うえ (ue) - above
• うし (ushi) - cow
• うみ (umi) - sea
• うた (uta) - song

え (e) - Like "eh" in "bed"

Pronunciation: Open your mouth as if saying "bed" but keep it shorter and clearer.

Common Words:

• え (e) - picture
• えき (eki) - train station
• えん (en) - yen/circle
• えいが (eiga) - movie

お (o) - Like "oh" in "go"

Pronunciation: Round your lips slightly and say "oh." Keep it pure without the "w" glide that English speakers often add.

Common Words:

• おと (oto) - sound
• おかし (okashi) - sweets
• おんな (onna) - woman
• おとこ (otoko) - man

K-Row (か行 - Ka-gyō)

か (ka) - Like "ca" in "cat"

Common Words:

• かき (kaki) - persimmon
• かさ (kasa) - umbrella
• かぞく (kazoku) - family
• かいしゃ (kaisha) - company

き (ki) - Like "key"

Common Words:

• きのう (kinou) - yesterday
• きれい (kirei) - beautiful/clean
• きもの (kimono) - traditional clothing
• きく (kiku) - to hear/listen

く (ku) - Like "coo"

Common Words:

• くち (kuchi) - mouth
• くつ (kutsu) - shoes
• くるま (kuruma) - car
• くも (kumo) - cloud/spider

け (ke) - Like "keh"

Common Words:

• けさ (kesa) - this morning
• けっこん (kekkon) - marriage
• けいさつ (keisatsu) - police
• けが (kega) - injury

こ (ko) - Like "co" in "cold"

Common Words:

• こども (kodomo) - child
• ここ (koko) - here
• こえ (koe) - voice
• こい (koi) - love/carp

S-Row (さ行 - Sa-gyō)

さ (sa) - Like "sa" in "saw"

Common Words:

• さかな (sakana) - fish
• さくら (sakura) - cherry blossom
• さけ (sake) - alcohol/salmon
• さとう (satou) - sugar

し (shi) - Like "she"

Pronunciation: NOT "si" - This is always pronounced "shi" like "sheep."

Common Words:

• しお (shio) - salt
• しごと (shigoto) - work/job
• しんぶん (shinbun) - newspaper
• しろ (shiro) - white

す (su) - Like "sue"

Common Words:

• すし (sushi) - sushi
• すき (suki) - like/love
• すいか (suika) - watermelon
• すごい (sugoi) - amazing

せ (se) - Like "seh"

Common Words:

• せかい (sekai) - world
• せんせい (sensei) - teacher
• せつめい (setsumei) - explanation
• せなか (senaka) - back (body)

そ (so) - Like "so"

Common Words:

• そら (sora) - sky
• そと (soto) - outside
• そば (soba) - near/buckwheat noodles
• そふ (sofu) - grandfather

T-Row (た行 - Ta-gyō)

た (ta) - Like "ta"

Common Words:

• たべる (taberu) - to eat
• たかい (takai) - expensive/high
• たまご (tamago) - egg
• たのしい (tanoshii) - fun

ち (chi) - Like "chee"

Pronunciation: NOT "ti" - Always pronounced "chi" like "cheese."

Common Words:

• ちいさい (chiisai) - small
• ちず (chizu) - map
• ちち (chichi) - father (formal)
• ちかい (chikai) - near

つ (tsu) - Like "tsu"

Pronunciation: NOT "tu" - This is a unique sound. Put your tongue behind your front teeth and say "tsu" quickly.

Common Words:

• つき (tsuki) - moon
• つくえ (tsukue) - desk
• つめたい (tsumetai) - cold (to touch)
• つま (tsuma) - wife

て (te) - Like "teh"

Common Words:

• て (te) - hand
• てがみ (tegami) - letter
• てんき (tenki) - weather
• てら (tera) - temple

と (to) - Like "toe"

Common Words:

• とき (toki) - time
• とり (tori) - bird
• とても (totemo) - very
• ともだち (tomodachi) - friend

N-Row (な行 - Na-gyō)

な (na) - Like "nah"

Common Words:

• なまえ (namae) - name
• なつ (natsu) - summer
• なに (nani) - what
• なく (naku) - to cry

に (ni) - Like "nee"

Common Words:

• にく (niku) - meat
• にほん (nihon) - Japan
• にわ (niwa) - garden
• にじ (niji) - rainbow

ぬ (nu) - Like "new"

Common Words:

• ぬの (nuno) - cloth
• ぬく (nuku) - to remove
• ぬるい (nurui) - lukewarm
• ぬれる (nureru) - to get wet

ね (ne) - Like "neh"

Common Words:

• ねこ (neko) - cat
• ねる (neru) - to sleep
• ねつ (netsu) - fever
• ねだん (nedan) - price

の (no) - Like "no"

Common Words:

• のむ (nomu) - to drink
• のど (nodo) - throat
• のる (noru) - to ride
• のり (nori) - seaweed/glue

H-Row (は行 - Ha-gyō)

は (ha) - Like "ha"

Note: When used as a particle, は is pronounced "wa"

Common Words:

• はな (hana) - flower/nose
• はは (haha) - mother
• はし (hashi) - chopsticks/bridge
• はやい (hayai) - fast/early

ひ (hi) - Like "he"

Common Words:

• ひ (hi) - fire/sun/day
• ひと (hito) - person
• ひだり (hidari) - left
• ひる (hiru) - noon

ふ (fu) - Like "foo"

Pronunciation: NOT a strong "f" - This is softer, made by gently blowing air through slightly pursed lips.

Common Words:

• ふゆ (fuyu) - winter
• ふね (fune) - ship
• ふく (fuku) - to wipe/clothing
• ふとん (futon) - Japanese bedding

へ (he) - Like "heh"

Note: When used as a particle, へ is pronounced "e"

Common Words:

• へや (heya) - room
• へた (heta) - unskillful
• へび (hebi) - snake
• へん (hen) - strange

ほ (ho) - Like "hoe"

Common Words:

• ほん (hon) - book
• ほし (hoshi) - star
• ほそい (hosoi) - thin
• ほんとう (hontou) - true

M-Row (ま行 - Ma-gyō)

ま (ma) - Like "ma"

Common Words:

• まち (machi) - town
• まど (mado) - window
• まいにち (mainichi) - every day
• まえ (mae) - front/before

み (mi) - Like "me"

Common Words:

• みず (mizu) - water
• みせ (mise) - shop
• みち (michi) - road
• みる (miru) - to see

む (mu) - Like "moo"

Common Words:

• むし (mushi) - insect
• むすこ (musuko) - son
• むかし (mukashi) - old times
• むずかしい (muzukashii) - difficult

め (me) - Like "meh"

Common Words:

• め (me) - eye
• めし (meshi) - meal/cooked rice
• めがね (megane) - glasses
• めいし (meishi) - business card

も (mo) - Like "moe"

Common Words:

• もの (mono) - thing
• もり (mori) - forest
• もも (momo) - peach/thigh
• もんだい (mondai) - problem

Y-Row (や行 - Ya-gyō)

The Y-row only has three characters (no "yi" or "ye" sounds in modern Japanese).

や (ya) - Like "ya"

Common Words:

• やま (yama) - mountain
• やすい (yasui) - cheap
• やさい (yasai) - vegetables
• やすむ (yasumu) - to rest

ゆ (yu) - Like "you"

Common Words:

• ゆき (yuki) - snow
• ゆび (yubi) - finger
• ゆめ (yume) - dream
• ゆっくり (yukkuri) - slowly

よ (yo) - Like "yo"

Common Words:

• よる (yoru) - night
• よむ (yomu) - to read
• よい (yoi) - good
• よん (yon) - four

R-Row (ら行 - Ra-gyō)

ら (ra) - Between "ra" and "la"

Pronunciation: The Japanese "r" is unique - it's made by tapping your tongue once against the ridge behind your front teeth, like a very soft "r" or "l."

Common Words:

• らいねん (rainen) - next year
• らく (raku) - comfortable
• らくだ (rakuda) - camel

り (ri) - Between "ree" and "lee"

Common Words:

• りんご (ringo) - apple
• りゆう (riyuu) - reason
• りょうり (ryouri) - cooking
• りょこう (ryokou) - travel

る (ru) - Between "roo" and "loo"

Common Words:

• るす (rusu) - absence from home
• るいじ (ruiji) - similar

れ (re) - Between "reh" and "leh"

Common Words:

• れい (rei) - zero/example
• れきし (rekishi) - history
• れんしゅう (renshuu) - practice
• れいぞうこ (reizouko) - refrigerator

ろ (ro) - Between "ro" and "lo"

Common Words:

• ろく (roku) - six
• ろうじん (roujin) - elderly person
• ろうそく (rousoku) - candle

W-Row (わ行 - Wa-gyō)

わ (wa) - Like "wa"

Common Words:

• わたし (watashi) - I/me
• わかる (wakaru) - to understand
• わるい (warui) - bad
• わすれる (wasureru) - to forget

を (wo) - Pronounced "o"

Usage: Only used as the direct object particle, never in regular words.

Examples:

• ほんをよむ (hon wo yomu) - to read a book
• みずをのむ (mizu wo nomu) - to drink water

Standalone N

ん (n) - Like "n", "m", or "ng"

Pronunciation: Changes based on the following sound:

• Before "p", "b", "m": sounds like "m" (さんぽ = sampo)
• Before "k", "g": sounds like "ng" (さんがつ = sanggatsu)
• Otherwise: sounds like "n" (せんせい = sensei)

Common Words:

• さん (san) - Mr./Mrs./Ms.
• せんせい (sensei) - teacher
• にほん (nihon) - Japan
• ほん (hon) - book

Modified Characters: Dakuten (゛)

Dakuten (voiced marks) change unvoiced consonants to voiced ones:

G-Row (が行) - From K-row

Character	Romaji	Example Word
が	ga	がっこう (gakkou - school)
ぎ	gi	ぎゅうにゅう (gyuunyuu - milk)
ぐ	gu	ぐあい (guai - condition)
げ	ge	げつようび (getsuyoubi - Monday)
ご	go	ごはん (gohan - rice/meal)

Z-Row (ざ行) - From S-row

Character	Romaji	Example Word
ざ	za	ざっし (zasshi - magazine)
じ	ji	じかん (jikan - time)
ず	zu	ずつう (zutsuu - headache)
ぜ	ze	ぜんぶ (zenbu - all)
ぞ	zo	ぞう (zou - elephant)

Note: じ and ぢ are both pronounced "ji", but じ is more common.

D-Row (だ行) - From T-row

Character	Romaji	Example Word
だ	da	だれ (dare - who)
ぢ	ji	ちぢむ (chijimu - to shrink)
づ	zu	つづく (tsuduku - to continue)
で	de	でんわ (denwa - telephone)
ど	do	どこ (doko - where)

Note: ず and づ are both pronounced "zu", but ず is more common.

B-Row (ば行) - From H-row

Character	Romaji	Example Word
ば	ba	ばんごはん (bangohan - dinner)
び	bi	びじゅつ (bijutsu - art)
ぶ	bu	ぶた (buta - pig)
べ	be	べんきょう (benkyou - study)
ぼ	bo	ぼうし (boushi - hat)

Modified Characters: Handakuten (゜)

Handakuten (semi-voiced marks) only apply to the H-row, changing it to P:

P-Row (ぱ行)

Character	Romaji	Example Word
ぱ	pa	ぱん (pan - bread)
ぴ	pi	ぴあの (piano - piano)
ぷ	pu	ぷーる (puuru - pool)
ぺ	pe	ぺん (pen - pen)
ぽ	po	ぽすと (posuto - post/mailbox)

Combination Sounds: Yōon (拗音)

Yōon combines certain characters with small や, ゆ, or よ to create contracted sounds:

Ki-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
きゃ	kya	きゃく (kyaku - guest)
きゅ	kyu	きゅう (kyuu - nine)
きょ	kyo	きょう (kyou - today)

Shi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
しゃ	sha	しゃしん (shashin - photo)
しゅ	shu	しゅくだい (shukudai - homework)
しょ	sho	しょくじ (shokuji - meal)

Chi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
ちゃ	cha	ちゃいろ (chairo - brown)
ちゅ	chu	ちゅうがっこう (chuugakkou - middle school)
ちょ	cho	ちょっと (chotto - a little)

Ni-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
にゃ	nya	にゃー (nyaa - meow)
にゅ	nyu	にゅうがく (nyuugaku - school entrance)
にょ	nyo	にょうぼう (nyoubou - wife, humorous)

Hi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
ひゃ	hya	ひゃく (hyaku - hundred)
ひゅ	hyu	ひゅーず (hyuuzu - fuse)
ひょ	hyo	ひょう (hyou - hail)

Mi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
みゃ	mya	みゃく (myaku - pulse)
みゅ	myu	みゅーじっく (myuujikku - music)
みょ	myo	みょう (myou - strange)

Ri-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
りゃ	rya	りゃく (ryaku - abbreviation)
りゅ	ryu	りゅう (ryuu - dragon)
りょ	ryo	りょうり (ryouri - cooking)

Gi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
ぎゃ	gya	ぎゃく (gyaku - opposite)
ぎゅ	gyu	ぎゅうにく (gyuuniku - beef)
ぎょ	gyo	ぎょうざ (gyouza - dumplings)

Ji-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
じゃ	ja	じゃあ (jaa - well then)
じゅ	ju	じゅぎょう (jugyou - lesson)
じょ	jo	じょうず (jouzu - skillful)

Bi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
びゃ	bya	びゃくや (byakuya - white night)
びゅ	byu	びゅーてぃー (byuutii - beauty)
びょ	byo	びょういん (byouin - hospital)

Pi-column Combinations

Combination	Romaji	Example
ぴゃ	pya	ぴゃあ (pyaa - exclamation)
ぴゅ	pyu	ぴゅーと (pyuuto - pure)
ぴょ	pyo	ぴょんぴょん (pyonpyon - hopping)

Special Characters

Small tsu (っ)

The small っ (chiisai tsu or sokuon) creates a pause or doubles the following consonant:

Examples:

• がっこう (gakkou) - school (pause before "ko")
• きって (kitte) - stamp (doubled "t")
• ざっし (zasshi) - magazine (doubled "s")
• いっぱい (ippai) - full (doubled "p")

Pronunciation tip: Hold the consonant sound for one beat before releasing it.

Long Vowels

Long vowels are created by adding the corresponding vowel character:

Type	Method	Example
Long あ	Add あ	おかあさん (okaasan - mother)
Long い	Add い	おにいさん (oniisan - older brother)
Long う	Add う	くうき (kuuki - air)
Long え	Add い	せんせい (sensei - teacher)
Long お	Add う	おおきい (ookii - big)

Pronunciation Tips for English Speakers

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. 01

   Diphthongs: Don't glide vowels. Japanese vowels are pure.

   • ❌ "oh-oo" → ✅ "o"
   • ❌ "ay-ee" → ✅ "e"
2. 02

   R vs L: The Japanese r/l is neither - it's a tap.

   • Practice: Say "butter" quickly - that "tt" sound is close!
3. 03

   Double consonants: Actually pause/hold the sound.

   • がっこう (gakkou) = ga-k-kou (hold the k)
4. 04

   Vowel devoicing: う and い often become whispered at the end of words.

   • です (desu) → sounds like "des"
   • します (shimasu) → sounds like "shimas"

Accent and Pitch

Japanese uses pitch accent, not stress accent like English:

• High-Low: はし (hashi - chopsticks)
• Low-High: はし (hashi - bridge)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Vowel Purity

Practice saying these words with pure vowels (no gliding):

1. 01あおい (aoi - blue)
2. 02いえ (ie - house)
3. 03うえ (ue - above)
4. 04おおい (ooi - many)

Exercise 2: Tricky Sounds

Focus on the irregular pronunciations:

1. 01しお (shio - salt) - NOT "sio"
2. 02ちず (chizu - map) - NOT "tizu"
3. 03つき (tsuki - moon) - NOT "tuki"
4. 04ふゆ (fuyu - winter) - soft "f"

Exercise 3: Double Consonants

Practice the pause created by small っ:

1. 01がっこう (gakkou - school)
2. 02きっぷ (kippu - ticket)
3. 03さっき (sakki - earlier)
4. 04ずっと (zutto - all the time)

Exercise 4: Combination Sounds

Practice yōon combinations:

1. 01きょう (kyou - today)
2. 02しゅくだい (shukudai - homework)
3. 03ちゃいろ (chairo - brown)
4. 04りょうり (ryouri - cooking)

Quick Reference Summary

Character Count

• Basic hiragana: 46
• Dakuten characters: 25
• Handakuten characters: 5
• Yōon combinations: 33
• Total possible combinations: 109+

Most Common Characters

Based on frequency in written Japanese:

1. 01の (no) - possessive particle
2. 02に (ni) - location/time particle
3. 03は (ha/wa) - topic particle
4. 04を (wo/o) - object particle
5. 05で (de) - location/method particle
6. 06と (to) - and/with particle
7. 07が (ga) - subject particle
8. 08て (te) - connecting particle
9. 09た (ta) - past tense marker
10. 10し (shi) - and (formal)

Downloadable Resources

Practice materials to support your learning:

Practice Sheets

• Blank hiragana grid for writing practice
• Stroke order diagrams
• Word lists organized by character
• Combination sound practice sheets

Study Tools

• KanaDojo Interactive Trainer - Gamified learning
• Printable flashcards (PDF)
• Pronunciation audio files
• Quiz yourself mode

Next Steps

Now that you have this complete reference:

1. 01Week 1: Learn all 46 basic characters
2. 02Week 2: Master dakuten and handakuten
3. 03Week 3: Learn yōon combinations
4. 04Week 4: Practice reading real texts

Conclusion

This complete hiragana chart with pronunciation guide covers everything you need to master the Japanese hiragana writing system. Remember that consistent practice is key - even 10-15 minutes daily will yield remarkable results within a few weeks.

Start practicing today with KanaDojo's interactive training modes and track your progress as you master each character group!

がんばってください！(Ganbatte kudasai - Do your best!)

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• How to Learn Hiragana in 3 Days
• Hiragana 101: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide
• Katakana vs Hiragana: Complete Comparison
• Dakuten and Handakuten Guide