Japanese Alphabet
Learning the Japanese language alphabet is a fascinating and vital part of mastering Japanese, a language spoken predominantly in Japan. Unlike English, Japanese uses three different scripts in its writing system: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Understanding these scripts is crucial for reading, writing, and speaking in Japanese. Here’s a detailed lesson to guide you through the Japanese alphabet:
Overview of the Japanese Writing System
- Scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji
- Hiragana: Used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements.
- Katakana: Used for foreign words, names, and loanwords.
- Kanji: Chinese characters used in Japanese writing.
Hiragana
Hiragana is a syllabary where each character represents a syllable.
あ (a)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “father.”
- Example: あさ (asa) – “morning”
い (i)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ee’ in “see.”
- Example: いし (ishi) – “stone”
う (u)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “food.”
- Example: うみ (umi) – “sea”
え (e)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘e’ in “bet.”
- Example: えき (eki) – “station”
お (o)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “or.”
- Example: おか (oka) – “hill”
か (ka)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ca’ in “car.”
- Example: かさ (kasa) – “umbrella”
き (ki)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘key.’
- Example: きた (kita) – “north”
く (ku)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘koo’ in “kook.”
- Example: くるま (kuruma) – “car”
け (ke)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ke’ in “kettle.”
- Example: けしゴム (keshigomu) – “eraser”
こ (ko)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘co’ in “cold.”
- Example: こども (kodomo) – “child”
さ (sa)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘saw.’
- Example: さかな (sakana) – “fish”
し (shi)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘she.’
- Example: しろい (shiroi) – “white”
す (su)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘soo’ in “soon.”
- Example: すし (sushi) – “sushi”
せ (se)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘se’ in “set.”
- Example: せんせい (sensei) – “teacher”
そ (so)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘sow.’
- Example: そら (sora) – “sky”
た (ta)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ta’ in “talk.”
- Example: たべる (taberu) – “to eat”
ち (chi)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘chee’ in “cheese.”
- Example: ちず (chizu) – “map”
つ (tsu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘tsu’ in “tsunami.”
- Example: つき (tsuki) – “moon”
て (te)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘te’ in “ten.”
- Example: てがみ (tegami) – “letter”
と (to)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘to’ in “torn.”
- Example: とり (tori) – “bird”
な (na)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘no’ in “not.”
- Example: なまえ (namae) – “name”
に (ni)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘knee.’
- Example: にほん (nihon) – “Japan”
ぬ (nu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘noo’ in “noodle.”
- Example: ぬの (nuno) – “cloth”
ね (ne)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ne’ in “net.”
- Example: ねこ (neko) – “cat”
の (no)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘know.’
- Example: のみもの (nomimono) – “beverage”
は (ha)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ha’ in “hall.”
- Example: はな (hana) – “flower”
ひ (hi)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘he.’
- Example: ひと (hito) – “person”
ふ (fu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘foo’ in “food.”
- Example: ふじさん (Fuji-san) – “Mt. Fuji”
へ (he)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘he’ in “hen.”
- Example: へや (heya) – “room”
ほ (ho)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ho’ in “hope.”
- Example: ほし (hoshi) – “star”
ま (ma)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ma’ in “mama.”
- Example: まど (mado) – “window”
み (mi)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘me.’
- Example: みず (mizu) – “water”
む (mu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘moo’ in “mood.”
- Example: むし (mushi) – “insect”
め (me)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘me’ in “met.”
- Example: めがね (megane) – “glasses”
も (mo)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘mo’ in “more.”
- Example: もも (momo) – “peach”
や (ya)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ya’ in “yard.”
- Example: やま (yama) – “mountain”
ゆ (yu)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘you.’
- Example: ゆき (yuki) – “snow”
よ (yo)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘yo’ in “yogurt.”
- Example: よる (yoru) – “night”
ら (ra)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘raw’, but softer.
- Example: らくがき (rakugaki) – “graffiti”
り (ri)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ree’ in “reed,” but softer.
- Example: りんご (ringo) – “apple”
る (ru)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘roo’ in “room,” but softer.
- Example: るすばん (rusuban) – “house-sitting”
れ (re)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘re’ in “rent,” but softer.
- Example: れいぞうこ (reizouko) – “refrigerator”
ろ (ro)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ro’ in “road,” but softer.
- Example: ロボット (robotto) – “robot”
わ (wa)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘wa’ in “water.”
- Example: わたし (watashi) – “I”
を (wo)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “or.” (Used as a particle, pronounced as “o.”)
- Example: を (wo) – (Direct object particle)
ん (n)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “fun.”
- Example: にほん (Nihon) – “Japan”
Additional Notes
- Diacritics: Hiragana characters can be altered with diacritical marks, known as dakuten and handakuten, to indicate a change in pronunciation (e.g., か [ka] becomes が [ga]).
- Double Consonants: Small っ is used to indicate a geminate consonant (double consonant).
- Long Vowels: In Hiragana, long vowels are formed by adding a vowel character, like おう for “ō.”
Katakana
Katakana represents the same set of syllables as Hiragana but is used for different purposes.
ア (a)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “father.”
- Example: アメリカ (Amerika) – “America”
イ (i)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ee’ in “see.”
- Example: イギリス (Igirisu) – “England”
ウ (u)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “food.”
- Example: ウクライナ (Ukuraina) – “Ukraine”
エ (e)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘e’ in “bet.”
- Example: エスカレーター (Esukarētā) – “Escalator”
オ (o)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “or.”
- Example: オーストラリア (Ōsutoraria) – “Australia”
カ (ka)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ca’ in “car.”
- Example: カナダ (Kanada) – “Canada”
キ (ki)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘key.’
- Example: キロ (Kiro) – “Kilo”
ク (ku)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘koo’ in “kook.”
- Example: クラス (Kurasu) – “Class”
ケ (ke)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ke’ in “kettle.”
- Example: ケーキ (Kēki) – “Cake”
コ (ko)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘co’ in “cold.”
- Example: コーヒー (Kōhī) – “Coffee”
サ (sa)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘saw.’
- Example: サッカー (Sakkā) – “Soccer”
シ (shi)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘she.’
- Example: シャツ (Shatsu) – “Shirt”
ス (su)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘soo’ in “soon.”
- Example: スーパー (Sūpā) – “Supermarket”
セ (se)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘se’ in “set.”
- Example: セーター (Sētā) – “Sweater”
ソ (so)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘sow.’
- Example: ソファ (Sofa) – “Sofa”
タ (ta)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ta’ in “talk.”
- Example: タクシー (Takushī) – “Taxi”
チ (chi)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘chee’ in “cheese.”
- Example: チョコレート (Chokorēto) – “Chocolate”
ツ (tsu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘tsu’ in “tsunami.”
- Example: ツアー (Tsūā) – “Tour”
テ (te)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘te’ in “ten.”
- Example: テニス (Tenisu) – “Tennis”
ト (to)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘to’ in “torn.”
- Example: トマト (Tomato) – “Tomato”
ナ (na)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘no’ in “not.”
- Example: ナイフ (Naifu) – “Knife”
ニ (ni)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘knee.’
- Example: ニュース (Nyūsu) – “News”
ヌ (nu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘noo’ in “noodle.”
- Example: ヌードル (Nūdoru) – “Noodle”
ネ (ne)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ne’ in “net.”
- Example: ネクタイ (Nekutai) – “Necktie”
ノ (no)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘know.’
- Example: ノート (Nōto) – “Notebook”
ハ (ha)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ha’ in “hall.”
- Example: ハンバーガー (Hanbāgā) – “Hamburger”
ヒ (hi)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘he.’
- Example: ヒーロー (Hīrō) – “Hero”
フ (fu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘foo’ in “food.”
- Example: フィルム (Firumu) – “Film”
ヘ (he)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘he’ in “hen.”
- Example: ヘリコプター (Herikoputā) – “Helicopter”
ホ (ho)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ho’ in “hope.”
- Example: ホテル (Hoteru) – “Hotel”
マ (ma)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ma’ in “mama.”
- Example: マフラー (Mafurā) – “Muffler”
ミ (mi)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘me.’
- Example: ミルク (Miruku) – “Milk”
ム (mu)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘moo’ in “mood.”
- Example: ムード (Mūdo) – “Mood”
メ (me)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘me’ in “met.”
- Example: メロン (Meron) – “Melon”
モ (mo)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘mo’ in “more.”
- Example: モデル (Moderu) – “Model”
ヤ (ya)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ya’ in “yard.”
- Example: ヤフー (Yafū) – “Yahoo”
ユ (yu)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘you.’
- Example: ユーモア (Yūmoa) – “Humor”
ヨ (yo)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘yo’ in “yogurt.”
- Example: ヨーグルト (Yōguruto) – “Yogurt”
ラ (ra)
- Pronunciation: Like the word ‘raw’, but softer.
- Example: ラジオ (Rajio) – “Radio”
リ (ri)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ree’ in “reed,” but softer.
- Example: リンゴ (Ringo) – “Apple”
ル (ru)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘roo’ in “room,” but softer.
- Example: ルール (Rūru) – “Rule”
レ (re)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘re’ in “rent,” but softer.
- Example: レストラン (Resutoran) – “Restaurant”
ロ (ro)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ro’ in “road,” but softer.
- Example: ロボット (Robotto) – “Robot”
ワ (wa)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘wa’ in “water.”
- Example: ワイン (Wain) – “Wine”
ヲ (wo)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “or.” (Rarely used, primarily as a particle.)
- Example: ヲ (Wo) – (Direct object particle, archaic)
ン (n)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “fun.”
- Example: ペン (Pen) – “Pen”
Additional Notes
- Diacritics: Katakana can be altered with diacritical marks (dakuten and handakuten) to indicate voiced or semi-voiced sounds.
- Long Vowels: In Katakana, long vowels are often indicated with a dash-like symbol called a chōonpu (ー).
- Loanwords and Foreign Names: Katakana is typically used for transcription of foreign words and names into Japanese.
Kanji
- Origin: Derived from Chinese characters.
- Usage: Used to write nouns, stems of adjectives and verbs, and Japanese names.
- Number: There are thousands of Kanji, but about 2,000 are commonly used (Jōyō Kanji).
Basic Structure of Kanji
Radicals: Kanji are composed of radicals, which are the building blocks of the characters. Each radical has its meaning and contributes to the overall meaning of the Kanji.
Stroke Order: Writing Kanji involves a specific stroke order, which is crucial for legibility and memorization.
Readings: Kanji have two types of readings – On’yomi (Sino-Japanese reading) and Kun’yomi (native Japanese reading).
- On’yomi: Derived from the original Chinese pronunciation. Used mostly in compound words.
- Kun’yomi: The Japanese reading, used for standalone characters or with Okurigana (Hiragana following the Kanji).
Learning Strategy for Kanji
Start with Basic Kanji: Begin with simple and frequently used Kanji characters. For example:
- 日 (nichi/jitsu): Sun, day – 日曜日 (nichiyōbi) – Sunday
- 月 (getsu/gatsu): Moon, month – 月曜日 (getsuyōbi) – Monday
- 山 (san/yama): Mountain – 富士山 (Fuji-san) – Mt. Fuji
Learn Radicals: Understanding radicals can help in memorizing and deciphering Kanji.
Practice Writing: Regularly practice writing Kanji to understand stroke order and structure.
Use in Context: Learn Kanji in the context of sentences or phrases to understand their usage.
Mnemonic Techniques: Create stories or associations to remember the shape and meaning of each Kanji.
Regular Review: Regularly review learned Kanji to ensure retention.
Pronunciation Tips
- Syllables: Japanese is a syllabic language where each character corresponds to a syllable (except for ん [n]).
- Vowel Length: Pay attention to vowel lengths as they can change the meaning of words.
- Pitch Accent: Japanese has a pitch accent system that can change the meaning of words.
Practice Exercises
- Listening and Speaking: Practice saying words and phrases out loud. Listening to native speakers is crucial.
- Writing Practice: Practice writing Hiragana and Katakana characters. Begin to recognize and write basic Kanji characters.
- Reading Practice: Start with children’s books or simple texts in Japanese. Practice reading both Hiragana and Katakana.
Additional Resources
- Language Learning Apps: Apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or Tandem can be helpful.
- Online Tutorials: Websites and YouTube channels dedicated to Japanese language learning.
- Language Exchange: Engage with native speakers for practical language experience.
Conclusion
Mastering the Japanese alphabet, including Hiragana, Katakana, and basic Kanji, is the first step towards fluency in the language. Regular practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing is essential for effective learning. 頑張ってください! (Ganbatte kudasai – Good luck!)