Complete reference with all 46 base characters, voiced and semi-voiced variants, and combination characters. Hover any cell to see an example word.
Also see: Katakana Chart →The gojuuon (五十音, "fifty sounds") is the traditional arrangement of hiragana. Hover any character to see an example word.
Dakuten (゛) turns unvoiced consonants into voiced ones (k→g, s→z, t→d, h→b). Handakuten (゜) only applies to は行, turning h→p.
が行
ざ行
だ行
ば行
ぱ行 (handakuten)
Yōon (拗音) are formed by combining an い-column character with a small や、ゆ、or よ. The small kana is written at half-size and the two characters form a single syllable.
Base き
Base し
Base ち
Base に
Base ひ
Base み
Base り
Base ぎ
Base じ
Base び
Base ぴ
Most learners memorise all 46 characters in 1–2 weeks with the right approach.
Both scripts represent the same set of syllables but serve different purposes in Japanese text.
| Feature | Hiragana (ひらがな) | Katakana (カタカナ) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Curved, rounded strokes | Angular, sharp strokes |
| Primary use | Native Japanese words, grammar particles, verb endings | Foreign loanwords (コーヒー = coffee), foreign names |
| Example | たべる (to eat) | テレビ (TV) |
| Other uses | Furigana (reading aid over kanji) | Onomatopoeia, scientific terms, emphasis |
| Character count | 46 base + variants | 46 base + variants (same sounds) |
What is hiragana?
Hiragana (ひらがな) is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It is a syllabic alphabet where each character represents a syllable (like "ka", "mi", "su"). Hiragana is used to write native Japanese words, grammatical particles, verb endings, and words where kanji is either too complex or unavailable.
How many hiragana characters are there?
There are 46 base hiragana characters in the modern Japanese alphabet. When you add dakuten (voiced marks) and handakuten (semi-voiced marks), the total rises to 71. Adding the 33 combination characters (拗音, yōon) brings the full system to around 104 distinct sounds.
How long does it take to learn hiragana?
Most learners can memorise all 46 base hiragana characters in 1–2 weeks with daily practice of 20–30 minutes. The key is consistent review using flashcards and active writing practice. Focus on one row at a time (あ行, か行, etc.) and review previous rows daily.
Should I learn hiragana or romaji first?
You should learn hiragana first, not romaji. Romaji is a crutch that slows learning and gives a misleading sense of Japanese pronunciation — for example, the Japanese "r" is nothing like the English "r". Learning hiragana from day one forces correct pronunciation and is the foundation for reading real Japanese text.
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