Japanese alphabet
Below is the Japanese writing system (Hiragana) — 46 hiragana. Each card shows the glyph, its traditional name, an English-friendly pronunciation hint, and a short example word with translation. Tap any glyph to copy it to your clipboard.
- あ
- Name:
- a
- Sound:
- ah
- Example:
- あさ — morning
- い
- Name:
- i
- Sound:
- ee
- Example:
- いえ — house
- う
- Name:
- u
- Sound:
- oo
- Example:
- うみ — sea
- え
- Name:
- e
- Sound:
- eh
- Example:
- えき — station
- お
- Name:
- o
- Sound:
- oh
- Example:
- おちゃ — tea
- か
- Name:
- ka
- Sound:
- kah
- Example:
- かみ — paper
- き
- Name:
- ki
- Sound:
- kee
- Example:
- きた — north
- く
- Name:
- ku
- Sound:
- koo
- Example:
- くち — mouth
- け
- Name:
- ke
- Sound:
- keh
- Example:
- けさ — this morning
- こ
- Name:
- ko
- Sound:
- koh
- Example:
- こども — child
- さ
- Name:
- sa
- Sound:
- sah
- Example:
- さくら — cherry blossom
- し
- Name:
- shi
- Sound:
- shee
- Example:
- しろ — white
- す
- Name:
- su
- Sound:
- soo
- Example:
- すし — sushi
- せ
- Name:
- se
- Sound:
- seh
- Example:
- せかい — world
- そ
- Name:
- so
- Sound:
- soh
- Example:
- そら — sky
- た
- Name:
- ta
- Sound:
- tah
- Example:
- たべる — to eat
- ち
- Name:
- chi
- Sound:
- chee
- Example:
- ちず — map
- つ
- Name:
- tsu
- Sound:
- tsoo
- Example:
- つき — moon
- て
- Name:
- te
- Sound:
- teh
- Example:
- て — hand
- と
- Name:
- to
- Sound:
- toh
- Example:
- とり — bird
- な
- Name:
- na
- Sound:
- nah
- Example:
- なつ — summer
- に
- Name:
- ni
- Sound:
- nee
- Example:
- にく — meat
- ぬ
- Name:
- nu
- Sound:
- noo
- Example:
- ぬの — cloth
- ね
- Name:
- ne
- Sound:
- neh
- Example:
- ねこ — cat
- の
- Name:
- no
- Sound:
- noh
- Example:
- のむ — to drink
- は
- Name:
- ha
- Sound:
- hah
- Example:
- はな — flower
- ひ
- Name:
- hi
- Sound:
- hee
- Example:
- ひと — person
- ふ
- Name:
- fu
- Sound:
- foo
- Example:
- ふゆ — winter
- へ
- Name:
- he
- Sound:
- heh
- Example:
- へや — room
- ほ
- Name:
- ho
- Sound:
- hoh
- Example:
- ほし — star
- ま
- Name:
- ma
- Sound:
- mah
- Example:
- まち — town
- み
- Name:
- mi
- Sound:
- mee
- Example:
- みず — water
- む
- Name:
- mu
- Sound:
- moo
- Example:
- むし — insect
- め
- Name:
- me
- Sound:
- meh
- Example:
- め — eye
- も
- Name:
- mo
- Sound:
- moh
- Example:
- もり — forest
- や
- Name:
- ya
- Sound:
- yah
- Example:
- やま — mountain
- ゆ
- Name:
- yu
- Sound:
- yoo
- Example:
- ゆき — snow
- よ
- Name:
- yo
- Sound:
- yoh
- Example:
- よる — night
- ら
- Name:
- ra
- Sound:
- rah
- Example:
- らく — comfortable
- り
- Name:
- ri
- Sound:
- ree
- Example:
- りんご — apple
- る
- Name:
- ru
- Sound:
- roo
- Example:
- るす — absent
- れ
- Name:
- re
- Sound:
- reh
- Example:
- れきし — history
- ろ
- Name:
- ro
- Sound:
- roh
- Example:
- ろうそく — candle
- わ
- Name:
- wa
- Sound:
- wah
- Example:
- わたし — I
- を
- Name:
- wo
- Sound:
- oh (object)
- Example:
- 本を読む — to read a book
- ん
- Name:
- n
- Sound:
- n
- Example:
- ほん — book
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the Japanese alphabet?
The Japanese writing system shown here uses 46 hiragana. Some are core, others are diacritic variants or extended forms used in modern usage.
Are the pronunciation hints accurate?
Sounds are described for English speakers as a starting point. They're guides, not strict IPA — listen to a native speaker once you know the basic shape of each letter.
Can I type Japanese after learning these letters?
Yes — combine this chart with our Japanese keyboard to type real words. Letters connect, change form or stack depending on the script's rules.
Why do some letters look different in the example word?
Many scripts (Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic cursive, Hangul blocks) shape letters by position or combine them into syllables. The chart shows the standalone form; examples show contextual forms.