Hiragana β the phonetic backbone
Japanese is written with three scripts at once: hiragana (the rounded one), katakana (the angular one, for foreign words), and kanji (Chinese characters). The good news: hiragana is purely phonetic. Once you can read its 46 characters, you can pronounce any Japanese word. Don't try to memorize the whole table today β meet the structure, learn a few words, and let the rest soak in.
Five vowels, always the same
Every Japanese syllable is built from the same five vowels: γ (a, like 'ah'), γ (i, 'ee'), γ (u, 'oo' but flatter than English), γ (e, 'eh'), γ (o, 'oh'). They never change β no long/short vowel mess. Read out loud: γγ (ai, love), γγ (ie, house), γγ (ue, above).
Consonant + vowel rows
After the vowels, hiragana stacks consonants onto the same five vowels. The k-row: γ (ka), γ (ki), γ (ku), γ (ke), γ (ko). The s-row: γ (sa), γ (shi β note: not 'si'), γ (su), γ (se), γ (so). The t-row: γ (ta), γ‘ (chi), γ€ (tsu), γ¦ (te), γ¨ (to). Each row follows this pattern β once you see it, the table almost teaches itself.
The lonely n: γ
γ is the only hiragana that's a consonant by itself. It tucks onto the end of a syllable as a nasal 'n' or 'm'. γ»γ (hon, book), γ«γ»γ (nihon, Japan), γγγͺ (onna, woman). Never starts a word.
Long vowels and double consonants
Hold a vowel for two beats by writing it twice β or by adding γ after γ or γ: γγγγγ (okaasan, mother), γγ¨γγγ (otousan, father, said 'otΕsan'), γγγγ (sensei, teacher, the 'ei' is a long 'e'). A small γ£ doubles the next consonant β a tiny pause before it: γγ£γγ (gakkΕ, school), γγ£γ¦ (kitte, stamp). Length and the small γ£ change meaning, so they matter.
Reading your first real words
γ―γ = yes. γγγ = no. γγ―γγ = good morning (casual). γγγ«γ‘γ― = hello / good afternoon β the γ― at the end is the topic particle, pronounced 'wa' here, not 'ha'. That's the only spelling exception worth flagging today. Sound them out from the kana and you've already read your first Japanese sentences.
The full hiragana chart
Here's every basic hiragana β copy this chart into your notebook and keep it in front of you. The coming lessons use all of these sounds. Tap any cell to hear it.
Voiced marks: γ and γ
Two small strokes (dakuten) voice a consonant; the little circle (handakuten) turns h into p:
Combo sounds with small γγ»γ γ»γ
A small γ, γ or γ glues onto an i-kana to make one blended syllable:
