Episode 6 – Hiragana & Katakana Master Guide

2025年12月25日 2025年12月25日

MAEDA

Hiragana and Katakana are the two basic Japanese writing systems.
If you can read them, you can understand menus, signs, names, and JLPT N5 materials.

This episode will help complete beginners learn hiragana & katakana quickly and effectively.

1. What Are Hiragana & Katakana?

Hiragana（ひらがな）

Used for Japanese words
Used for grammar endings (です・ます・を・が etc.)
Soft and round shape
You will use it EVERY DAY

Katakana（カタカナ）

Used for foreign words (coffee → コーヒー, taxi → タクシー)
Used for names, sound effects, emphasis
Sharp and angular shape

Both represent the same 46 basic sounds.
If you can learn hiragana, katakana will be easy.

2. The Japanese Sound System (Very Simple)

Japanese uses a syllable system, not an alphabet.

One hiragana = one sound.

Examples:

あ (a)
か (ka)
さ (sa)
た (ta)

No difficult combinations like in English.

Only one special sound stands alone: ん (n).

3. Hiragana Chart (with pronunciation)

A-row (vowels):
あ (a)　い (i)　う (u)　え (e)　お (o)

K-row:
か (ka)　き (ki)　く (ku)　け (ke)　こ (ko)

S-row:
さ (sa)　し (shi)　す (su)　せ (se)　そ (so)

T-row:
た (ta)　ち (chi)　つ (tsu)　て (te)　と (to)

N-row:
な (na)　に (ni)　ぬ (nu)　ね (ne)　の (no)

H-row:
は (ha)　ひ (hi)　ふ (fu)　へ (he)　ほ (ho)

M-row:
ま (ma)　み (mi)　む (mu)　め (me)　も (mo)

Y-row:
や (ya)　ゆ (yu)　よ (yo)

R-row:
ら (ra)　り (ri)　る (ru)　れ (re)　ろ (ro)

W-row:
わ (wa)　を (o / “wo”, used as a particle)

Special:
ん (n)

That’s all — only 46!

4. Katakana Chart (same sounds)

A-row:
ア　イ　ウ　エ　オ

K-row:
カ　キ　ク　ケ　コ

S-row:
サ　シ　ス　セ　ソ

T-row:
タ　チ　ツ　テ　ト

N-row:
ナ　ニ　ヌ　ネ　ノ

H-row:
ハ　ヒ　フ　ヘ　ホ

M-row:
マ　ミ　ム　メ　モ

Y-row:
ヤ　ユ　ヨ

R-row:
ラ　リ　ル　レ　ロ

W-row:
ワ　ヲ

Special:
ン

5. Dakuten (゛) & Handakuten (゜)

Add two dots (゛) → makes the sound voiced
Add small circle (゜) → “p” sound

Examples:

Base	Dakuten	Sound
か	が	ka → ga
さ	ざ	sa → za
た	だ	ta → da
は	ば / ぱ	ha → ba / pa

Very important for reading.

6. Small Characters (ゃ・ゅ・ょ)

Combine characters to make new sounds:

き + ゃ = きゃ (kya)
し + ゅ = しゅ (shu)
に + ょ = にょ (nyo)

Katakana is the same:
キャ, シュ, ニョ

7. Katakana for Foreign Words (super useful)

English → Japanese style

Coffee → コーヒー
Taxi → タクシー
Ice cream → アイスクリーム
Hotel → ホテル
Chocolate → チョコレート
Pizza → ピザ

If you know katakana, traveling in Japan becomes VERY easy.

8. How to Learn Hiragana & Katakana FAST (My best method)

✔ Step 1: Learn 5 sounds per day

Day 1: a–i–u–e–o
Day 2: ka–ki–ku–ke–ko
→ In about 10 days, you finish all.

✔ Step 2: Write each character 5 times

Writing helps memory.

✔ Step 3: Read simple words

Hiragana:

ねこ (cat)
いぬ (dog)
すし (sushi)
あめ (rain / candy)

Katakana:

コーラ (cola)
テレビ (TV)
パソコン (PC)
スマホ (smartphone)

✔ Step 4: Practice with flashcards

Apps: Anki, Quizlet, Duolingo, LingoDeer

✔ Step 5: Read children’s books or menus

Simple, repetitive, easy to learn.

9. Common Mistakes Beginners Make

❌ Mixing similar shapes

つ vs し
ソ vs ン
シ vs ツ

❌ Learning katakana last

Better to learn both at the same time.

❌ Memorizing without reading

Reading is more important than writing.

10. When Will You Master Them?

If you practice 10–15 minutes a day:

1 week → basic recognition
2 weeks → comfortable reading
1 month → full mastery

Consistency is the key.

Conclusion

Hiragana and Katakana are the foundation of Japanese.
Once you master them, you can read signs, restaurants, textbooks, and start real conversations.

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MAEDA