[Japanese] Let’s Master Hiragana! — Basics for 1st Graders —
Hello everyone! Today, let’s start learning "Hiragana." Hiragana is the "most important foundation" for reading and writing in Japanese. You will be learning many kanji and sentences from here on out, and hiragana is the base for all of them. You might find it hard to write them neatly at first, but don't worry. Once you get the hang of it, anyone can write beautiful, correct hiragana. Let’s have fun learning together!
1. The Basics of Hiragana: The "Gojūon" (50 Sounds)
Hiragana is mainly made up of 46 basic characters. These are called the "Gojūon" (the 50-sound chart).
A, I, U, E, O (Vowels)
These are the 5 sounds that form the basis of all others. It’s important to be conscious of your mouth shape:
・A: Open your mouth wide.
・I: Spread your mouth horizontally.
・U: Pucker your lips and push them forward.
・E: Pull your mouth slightly to the sides to form the Japanese "e" shape.
・O: Make your mouth round.
Pro Tip: Hiragana is organized into vertical columns ("rows") like "a-ka-sa-ta-na..." and horizontal rows ("lines") like "a-i-u-e-o." Keeping this table in mind will make your future learning much easier.
2. The "3 Pieces of Magic" for Beautiful Handwriting
To write beautiful hiragana, focus on how you move your pencil. Just by keeping these 3 things in mind, your writing will improve dramatically:
1. Tome (Stop): Stopping the pencil firmly at the end (e.g., the end of "ku" or "ko").
2. Hane (Hook/Flick): Flicking the pencil upward with a quick motion (e.g., the first stroke of "i" or "ke").
3. Harai (Sweep): Sweeping the pencil out smoothly while lifting the pressure (e.g., the end of "a" or "no").
Advice: Imagine you are a master calligrapher and move your pencil slowly. The shortcut to improvement is to focus on "tome, hane, and harai" for every single stroke rather than rushing.
3. Tricky Characters: Hiragana That Look Alike
There are several pairs of hiragana that look very similar and are easy to mix up. Let’s find the differences between them.
Pairs That Require Attention
・"a" and "me": The one with a "loop" (the curly bit) at the end is "a." The one without it is "me."
・"i" and "ri": In "i," the first and second strokes are about the same length; in "ri," the second stroke is longer.
・"ne," "re," and "wa": The one that loops into a circle at the very end is "ne"; the one that flicks outward is "re"; and the one that simply stops is "wa."
Pro Tip: Try associating them with pictures! For example: think of the "ne" in "neko" (cat) as a tail curled up, and the "wa" in "wani" (crocodile) as a big belly.
Fun Fact: Were Hiragana Originally Kanji?
Actually, hiragana were created a long time ago by people "simplifying" kanji so they could write them more easily. For example, "a" was created from the kanji "安" (an). Don't you think the shapes look similar?
4. The Magic of Dots and Circles (Dakuten and Handakuten)
Adding "dots" (") or a "small circle" (°) to the top right of a character changes its sound.
・Dakuten (Voiced sound): Add a (") to the top right. "ka" becomes "ga," and "sa" becomes "za." It’s a "muddy" sound made by vibrating your throat.
・Handakuten (Semi-voiced sound): Add a (°) to the top right. This is a magic trick only used for the "ha" row—"ha" becomes "pa."
Common Mistake: If you forget to write the dots, the word becomes something completely different (e.g., mado [window] vs. mato [target]). Always double-check your writing once you finish!
5. Rules for Small Characters (Yōon and Sokuon)
There are characters written in a small size, like "ゃ, ゅ, ょ" and "っ."
っ (Sokuon: Small "tsu")
Used in words like "kitte" (stamp) or "gakkō" (school), this signifies a tiny pause. It helps to imagine you are "taking a small jump" in your mind while reading it.
ゃ・ゅ・ょ (Yōon: Small "ya, yu, yo")
These combine two sounds into one, like "kyo" or "sha." Examples: jishaku (magnet), omocha (toy)
Writing Tip: When writing these small characters, place them toward the "bottom-right (if writing vertically)" or "bottom-left (if writing horizontally)" of the square to keep them balanced.
Summary: Your Path to Mastering Hiragana
・Follow the correct stroke order: Following the order naturally helps the shape look balanced.
・Say it out loud while writing: Learn the sound and the shape as a set.
・Practice a little every day: It’s better to write three characters carefully every day than to do a lot all at once.
It might feel difficult at first, but you’ll be fine! As you use them every day, you’ll be writing your own name and the names of your favorite foods in no time. I’m rooting for you!