Introduction to Hiragana
Basics
Hiragana provides the foundation for learning to read and write in Japanese. For new students hiragana provides an introduction to the structured writing style of Japanese kanji (Chinese characters). Hiragana is also the primary phonetic alphabet in Japanese.
It is also used to write words in Japanese that do not have Kanji (Chinese characters).
Hiragana provides the foundation for learning to read and write in Japanese. For new students hiragana provides an introduction to the structured writing style of Japanese kanji (Chinese characters). Hiragana is also the primary phonetic alphabet in Japanese.
It is also used to write words in Japanese that do not have Kanji (Chinese characters).
Although there are more than 6000 Japanese kanji (the average person only needs about 2000 of these for daily life), hiragana acquisition requires memorization of only 46 symbols.
For this reason Hiragana is also used as a Japanese phonetic guide for Kanji. When Japanese is written like this it is called Furigana (the red symbols below).
For this reason Hiragana is also used as a Japanese phonetic guide for Kanji. When Japanese is written like this it is called Furigana (the red symbols below).
Additional Symbols/Pronunciation
Ten-Ten and Maru
The symbols dakuten or 'ten-ten' (figure 1)and handakuten or 'maru' (figure 2) are added to the upper -right hand corner of the letter and resemble quotation marks and a degree symbol, respectively. The 'ten-ten' symbol looks quotation marks place on the upper-right side of the letter. Both are used to change the sound of phonetic symbols within a specific consonant grouping.
Ten-Ten and Maru
The symbols dakuten or 'ten-ten' (figure 1)and handakuten or 'maru' (figure 2) are added to the upper -right hand corner of the letter and resemble quotation marks and a degree symbol, respectively. The 'ten-ten' symbol looks quotation marks place on the upper-right side of the letter. Both are used to change the sound of phonetic symbols within a specific consonant grouping.
For example if a 'ten-ten' is added to a symbol in the T consonantgroup (figures 3 and 4) then the consonant sound for those symbols changes to a D consonant sound (figures 5 and 6).
The 'maru' symbol is only used with symbols in the H consonant grouping (figures 7 and 8). Symbols followed by a 'maru' are changed to a P consonant sound (figures 9 and 10).
Figure 11 and 12 show how the consonant groupings change when the 'ten-ten' or 'maru' symbols are added (sound X becomes sound Y when the ten-ten or maru symbol are added)
Glides
In Japanese the glide is a combination of a consonant sound with an 'i' vowel sound and 'ya,' 'yu', or 'yo'. The sound that is produced should be a smooth glide between the 'i' vowel and the 'y' consonant.
The best example is the word Tokyo. Notice that the 'kyo' at the end of the word. Many people mispronounce this word as 'To-kee-yo,' adding a third syllable to the 'y'. The word should be pronounced as To-kyo with only two syllables.
To write a glide in Japanese (figure 13) the 'i' consonant (ki, shi, chi, ni, mi, hi, bi, pi, ri) is written first. Then a small (about half the normal script size) 'y' consonant written.
There are also words that have distinct syllables with the 'y' consonant. The word ukiyoe (woodblock printing) is a good example of this. Notice that the 'i' consonant (ki) is written separate from the 'y' consonant (yo). So this word has 4 syllables (u-ki-yo-e).
When writing glides with the English alphabet the 'i' consonant and 'y' consonant are always merged. ('ki' + 'ya' becomes 'kya')
For further information also check out the Japanese Phonetics page.
In Japanese the glide is a combination of a consonant sound with an 'i' vowel sound and 'ya,' 'yu', or 'yo'. The sound that is produced should be a smooth glide between the 'i' vowel and the 'y' consonant.
The best example is the word Tokyo. Notice that the 'kyo' at the end of the word. Many people mispronounce this word as 'To-kee-yo,' adding a third syllable to the 'y'. The word should be pronounced as To-kyo with only two syllables.
To write a glide in Japanese (figure 13) the 'i' consonant (ki, shi, chi, ni, mi, hi, bi, pi, ri) is written first. Then a small (about half the normal script size) 'y' consonant written.
There are also words that have distinct syllables with the 'y' consonant. The word ukiyoe (woodblock printing) is a good example of this. Notice that the 'i' consonant (ki) is written separate from the 'y' consonant (yo). So this word has 4 syllables (u-ki-yo-e).
When writing glides with the English alphabet the 'i' consonant and 'y' consonant are always merged. ('ki' + 'ya' becomes 'kya')
For further information also check out the Japanese Phonetics page.
Hard Consonants and Double Vowels
Hard consonant
Hard consonants and double vowels are common. When there is a hard/double consonsant sound the letter will have a small (half-text size) 'tsu' before it.
When writing in English text the word in figure 14 would be pronounced 'gakki'. There to emphasize further there is a split-second pause between the doubled consonant and the previous letter.
Double Vowel
Double vowels can usually be phonetically pronounced as written, sometimes; however, it may be necessary to hold the vowel sound for an extra beat.
In figure 15 the word could be prounounced as written ko-u-ko-u; however there would only be two syllables in the word since the 'u' is meant to extend the 'o' vowel in the first letter.
For further information also check out the Japanese Phonetics page.
Hard consonant
Hard consonants and double vowels are common. When there is a hard/double consonsant sound the letter will have a small (half-text size) 'tsu' before it.
When writing in English text the word in figure 14 would be pronounced 'gakki'. There to emphasize further there is a split-second pause between the doubled consonant and the previous letter.
Double Vowel
Double vowels can usually be phonetically pronounced as written, sometimes; however, it may be necessary to hold the vowel sound for an extra beat.
In figure 15 the word could be prounounced as written ko-u-ko-u; however there would only be two syllables in the word since the 'u' is meant to extend the 'o' vowel in the first letter.
For further information also check out the Japanese Phonetics page.