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Japanese Hiragana and Katakana Guide

This document provides worksheets and exercises on learning hiragana and katakana, the phonetic syllabaries of the Japanese language. It includes charts of the hiragana and katakana characters, quizzes to practice writing words in hiragana and katakana, explanations of rules for long vowels and double consonants in hiragana, and examples of using particles like wa and o in hiragana. The document aims to help students learn and practice the basic components of reading and writing in Japanese.

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Md Mosharof Hossain
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© All Rights Reserved
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85 views29 pages

Japanese Hiragana and Katakana Guide

This document provides worksheets and exercises on learning hiragana and katakana, the phonetic syllabaries of the Japanese language. It includes charts of the hiragana and katakana characters, quizzes to practice writing words in hiragana and katakana, explanations of rules for long vowels and double consonants in hiragana, and examples of using particles like wa and o in hiragana. The document aims to help students learn and practice the basic components of reading and writing in Japanese.

Uploaded by

Md Mosharof Hossain
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Hiragana and katakana worksheets

ひらがな カタカナ

1. Three types of letters …………………………………… 1


2. Hiragana Worksheets and quizzes ………………….... 2-16
3. The rules in hiragana …………………………………… 16
4. The rules in katakana …………………………………… 17
5. Katakana worksheets and quizzes ……………………. 17-28

名前 (Name) :

Created by _Monirul Islam


Japanese Language & Culture

There are three types of letters in Japanese.

1. Hiragana (phonetic sounds) are basically used for particles, words and parts of
words .
2. Katakana (phonetic sounds) are basically used for foreign / loan words .
3. Kanji (Chinese characters) are used for the stem of words and convey the
meaning as well as sound .

“I am an engineer.”

Watashi wa Enjinia desu

私 は エンジニア です。

KANJI HIRAGANA KATAKANA

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Aআ あ

Iই い

Uউ う

Eএ え

Oও お

ka か

ki き

ku く

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ke け

ko こ

QUIZ

Write the following words in hiragana.


1. Akai (red)
あかい 5. Ie (house)

6. Kaki (oyster)
2. Aoi (blue)
7. okii (big)

o
3. Aki (autumn)
8. Ue (on top)
4. Eki (station)

Yourself-introduction ( jiko shoukai ( じこしょうかい ))


1. Hajimemashite,(はじめまして)
2. Watashi wa ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿to mō shimasu.（わたしは＿＿ともうしま
す。）
3. Banguradeshu kara kimashita バングラデシュからきました。
4. Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. （どうぞよろしくおねがいします。）

1. Nice to meet you


2. I am ______________
3. I'm from Bangladesh
4. Thank you very much

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জাপািনেজ গণনাঃ(১ +থেক ১০ পয01 ।)

Ichi এক।
Ni দুই।
San িতন।
Shi / yon চার।
Go প1াচ।
Roku ছয়।
Shichi / nana সাত।
Hachi আট।
Kyuu / ku নয়।
Juu / ju দশ।

জাপািনেজ স4ােহর নামঃ


Getsu youbi 7সামবার।
Ka youbi ম:লবার।
Sui youbi ব< ধবার।
Moku youbi ব>হ@িতবার।
Kin youbi ABবার।
Do youbi শিনবার।
Nichi youbi রিববার।

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sa さ

shi し

su す

se せ

so そ

QUIZ

1. asa (morning) 3. osushi (o-sushi)

2. shio (salt) 4. osake (sake)

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ta た

chi ち

tsu つ

te て

to と

QUIZ
1. ashita (tomorrow) 3. chikatetsu (subway)

2. tokei (watch) 4. kutsu (shoes)

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❖ Japanese Counting
Ichi = Roku =
Ni = Shichi/nana =
San = Hachi =
Shi/yon = kyu/ku =
Go = ju/juu =

na な

ni に

nu ぬ

ne ね

no の

QUIZ

1. kono neko (this cat) 3. nani (what)

_________________ ___________

2. sono inu (that dog) 4. niku (meat)

_________________ ___________

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ha は

hi ひ

fu ふ

he へ

ho ほ

❖ Note that the particle WA is represented by は, the E is represented by へ.

QUIZ

1. fune (ship) 3. hoshi (star)

___________ __________

2. hito (people) 4. hako (box)

___________ ___________

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ma ま

mi み

mu む

me め

mo も

QUIZ

1. ame (rain) 3. namae (name)

____________ ____________

2. mushi (insect) 4. Moshi moshi (Hello)

____________ ____________

ya や

yu ゆ

yo よ

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QUIZ

1. yasumi (day off)


____________

2. fuyu(winter)
____________

3. yuki (snow)
____________

★ Note that u And o are represented by adding う.

1. yuumei (famous)

____________

2. kinou (yesterday)

____________

3. youfuku (Western clothes)

____________

4. kuukou(airport)

____________

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ra ら

ri り

ru る

re れ

ro ろ

わ
wa

O
(particle )
を

n,m よ

❖ Note that the particle O is represented by を, not お.

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QUIZ
1. kore (this) 2. Sayou nara (Goodbye)
________________ ________________
3. kuro (black) 4. watashi (I)
________________ ________________
5. sore (that) 6. hon (book)

________________ ________________
7. kuruma (car) 8. Sumimasen (I’m sorry.)
________________ ________________

ga が za ざ

gi ぎ ji じ

gu ぐ zu ず

ge げ ze ぜ

go ご zo ぞ

da だ ba ば

dzi じ bi び

dzu づ bu ぶ

de で be べ

do ど bo ぼ

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pa ぱ 1. mado (window) ________
2. mada (not yet) ________
3. sugoi (great ) ________
pi ぴ
4. Arigat ou gozaimasu. (Thank you. )
________ ________ ________
pu ぷ
5. denwa (telephone) ________
6. Komban wa(particle) ________
pe 7. shimbun (newspaper)________
ぺ
8. tomodachi (friend) ________
9. gink ou (bank) ________
10. chizu (map) ________
po ぽ

kya きゃ gya ぎゃ sha しゃ

kyu きゅ gyu ぎゅ shu しゅ

kyo きょ gyo ぎょ sho しょ

ja じゃ cha ちゃ nya にゃ

ju じゅ chu ちゅ nyu にゅ

jo じょ cho ちょ nyo にょ

hya ひゃ bya びゃ mya みゃ

hyu ひゅ byu びゅ myu みゅ

hyo ひょ byo びょ myo みょ

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pya ぴゃ rya りゃ

pyu ぴゅ ryu りゅ

pyo ぴょ ryo りょ

QUIZ
1. Toukyou 2. shuumatsu (weekend) 3. juusho (address)

_________ ____________________ _____________________


4. shashin (photo) 5. Ja, mata. (See you.) 6. shukudai (homework)

_________ ____________________ _____________________

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The rules in Hiragana
(1) Long vowels

① ā is represented by adding あ.
Okāsan (mother) おかあさん、māmā (so-so)________________
② ii and ī are represented by adding い.
Oniisan (older brother) おにいさん、ojiisan/おじいさん（grandfather）
____________
③ Ū is represented by adding う.
yūgata (early evening) ゆうがた、 chūgoku (China) ____________
taifū(typhoon)____________

④ ē is represented by adding え in the words of Japanese origin.


onēsan (older sister) おねえさん
⑤ ei is written in えい in the words of Chinese origin.
Eigo (English) えいご、 yūmei (famous)____________
sensei (teacher) ____________gakusei (student)____________

⑥ ō is represented by adding う.
sayōnara さようなら、 byōin (hospital) 、____________ kyō(today)
____________Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu. ________________________

⑦ in some words it is traditionally written in お.


Ōkiii おおきい、 tō(ten) 、____________ tōri (street)____________

(2) Double consonants

Double consonants (kk, pp, ss, and tt) are represented by small っ. As small っ indicates a one-
syllable pause, the mouth prepares for the pronunciation of the next syllable.

gakkō(school) がっこう、 kippu (ticket) 、____________ kitte (stamp) ____________


Chotto matte kudasai. (Just moment, please.) ________________________________
Gambatte kudasai. (Go for it. Good luck.)____________________________________

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(3) ji and zu are usually written in じ and ず. In few cases, they are traditionally written in ぢ
and づ.
sanji (3:00) 、____________ jisho (dictionary)____________

chizu (map) 、____________ mizu (water)____________

(4) “wa” using as a particle is written in は, not わ.


Kyō“wa” doyōbi desu. (Today is Saturday.) きょうは どようびです。
Watashi “wa” nihonjin desu. (I’m Japanese.)____________ ____________
Watashi “wa” nihonjin dewa arimasen. (I’m not Japanese.)____________
____________ ____________ .

(5) o using as a particle is written in を, not お.

Osake o nomimasu. (I drink sake.) おさけを のみます。


Sore o misete kudasai. (Please show me that.)
____________ ____________ ____________
Kore o kudasai. (Please give me this one.)
____________ ____________ ____________

(6) e using as a particle is written in へ, not え.


Shibuya e ikimasu. (I’m going to Shibuya.) しぶやへ いきます。
Doko e ikimasuka. (Where are you going?)
____________ ____________ ____________

Kyōto e ikimasu. (I’m going to Kyōto.)


____________ ____________ ____________

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Katakana in used in the following ways

(1) For words of foreign origin


(2) For onomatopoeia ex. ワンワン wanwan (bowbow)
(3) For the names of some animals and insects
(4) For the emphasis of some words ex. それはダメです。

The rules in Katakana

(1) Long vowels are represented by a dash, “―.”


(2) Double consonants (kk, pp, ss, tt etc.) are represented by small tsu, ッ.

a ア

i イ

u ウ

e エ

o オ

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ka カ

ki キ

ku ク

ke ケ

ko コ

ガ
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ga ガ

ギ
gi ギ

グ
gu グ

ゲ
ge

ゴ
go

[QUIZ]

1. kukkī(cookie) 3. kōku (coke)

_____________ _____________

2. kikku (kick)
4. kēki (cake)
_____________ ____________

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sa サ

shi シ

su ス

se セ

so ソ

za
ザ ザ
zi
ゾ ゾ
zu
ズ ズ
ze
ゼ ゼ
zo
ゾ ゾ

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[QUIZ]

1. sukī (ski) 4. sakkā(soccer)

_______________ _______________

2. gasu (gas) 5. sōsu (sauce)

_______________ _______________

3. sōsēji (sausage) 6. kuizu (quiz)

_______________ _______________

ta タ

chi チ

tsu ッ

te テ

to ト

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da
ダ ダ
dzi
ヂ ゾ
zu
ヅ ヅ
de
デ デ
do
ド ド
■ ji and zu are usually written in ヂ and ヅ .

■ An aid to the シ (shi) and ッ (tsu), remembrance and distinction．

Hiragana Katakana

shi し シ シ

tsu つ ッ ッ

Keep in mind the equivalent hiragana, し(shi) and つ(tsu).

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[QUIZ]
1. tekisuto (textbook) 4. takushī(taxi)

_________________ _________________

2. chīzu(cheese) 5. dezāto (dessert)

_________________ _________________

3. sutēki (steak) 6. shītsu(sheet)

_________________ _________________

na ナ

ni ニ

nu ヌ

ne ネ

no ノ

[QUIZ]
1. tenisu (tennis) 3. nekutai (necktie)
___________________ ___________________

2. no ＿ to (notebook) 4. tsuna (tuna


___________________ ________________

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ha ハ

hi ヒ

fu フ

he へ

ho ホ

ba pa パ
バ バ
bi pi ピ
ビ ビ
bu pu プ
ブ ブ
be pe ぺ
べ べ
bo po ポ
ボ ボ

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[QUIZ]
1. pasupōto (passport) 5. kopī(copy)

__________________ __________________
2. hītā(heater) 6. sutoppu (stop)

__________________ __________________
3. pasuta (pasta) 7. supīdo (speed)

__________________ __________________
4. basu (bus) 8. sābisu (service)

__________________ __________________

ma マ

mi
ミ

mu
ム

me
メ

mo
モ

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[QUIZ]

1. hamu (ham) ________________


6. tomato (tomato)
________________
2. mōtā(motor) ________________
7. maiku (mike)
________________
3. memo (memo) ________________
8. chimu (team)
________________
4. messejī (message) ________________
9. shisutemu (system)
________________
5. gamu (gum) ________________

ya ヤ

yu ユ

yo ヨ

[QUIZ]
1. yotto (yacht)

__________________
2. yu ＿ za ＿ (user)

__________________

3. taiya (tire)
________________

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ra ラ

ri リ

ru ル

re レ

ro ロ

[QUIZ]
1. ru ＿ ru (rule) 6. esukare ＿ ta ＿ (escalator)

______________________ _______________________
2. taoru (towel) 7. ga ＿ rikku (garlic)

______________________ _______________________
3. toire (toilet, bathroom) 8. kare ＿ raisu (curry rice)
______________________ _______________________
4. erebe ＿ ta ＿ (elevator) 9. me ＿ ruadoresu (e-mail address)
_______________________ _______________________
5. kurisumasu (Christmas) 10. makudonarudo (McDonald’s)

_______________________ _______________________

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Wa ワ

Wo ヲ

n,m ン

[QUIZ]
1. resutoran (restaurant) 4. hamba ＿ gu (hamburg steak)
2. ressun (lesson) 5. so ＿ su (sauce)
3. ranchi (lunch) 6. wain (wine)

[QUIZ]
1. sukeju ＿ ru (schedule) 2. chokore ＿ to (chocolate)
3. menyu ＿ (menu) 4. dizuni ＿ rando (Disneyland)

5. remonti ＿ (lemon tea) 6. chekku (check)


7. kompyu ＿ ta (computer) 8. orenjiju ＿ su (orange juice)
9. infome ＿ shon (information) 10. shampu ＿ (shampoo)

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Common questions

Powered by AI

Double consonants in Hiragana are represented by a small 'っ', and in Katakana by a small 'ッ'. This small character indicates a one-syllable pause before the similar consonant, effectively doubling its phonetic impact .

In Hiragana, long vowels are represented by adding specific characters such as あ for 'ā', い for 'ii/ī', う for 'ū', and え for 'ē' in native Japanese words. In contrast, Katakana uses a dash, 'ー', to indicate long vowels .

Foreign-origin words in Japanese are typically written in Katakana, emphasizing their distinction from native words written in Hiragana and Kanji. This differentiation helps in identifying the foreign influence and maintaining linguistic clarity .

In written Japanese, the particle 'o' is represented by を rather than お, clarifying its role as an object marker within sentences. This distinction prevents confusion with the phonetic uses of 'o', thereby aiding in more precise sentence comprehension .

For non-native learners, the small っ in Hiragana represents a one-syllable pause, signaling a double consonant. This can be challenging as it requires training to correctly pause and restart pronunciation, impacting fluency and comprehension of spoken Japanese .

Katakana is used in Japanese to convey onomatopoeic expressions like ワンワン (wanwan), mimicking sounds, and for emphasizing certain words within text. This usage sets these expressions apart, highlighting their distinct role in communication .

Particles in Japanese denote grammatical relationships between words in a sentence. The particle 'wa' is represented by は instead of its phonetic 'wa'. The particle 'o' is written as を, and 'e' as へ, which differentiates them from the typical phonetic readouts of these Hiragana characters .

Kanji is used for word stems in Japanese due to its ability to convey meanings alongside sounds, allowing for nuanced and compact expression. This usage enhances the communicative efficiency and depth of Japanese sentences by combining semantic and phonetic information .

The Hiragana characters for 'shi' (し) and 'tsu' (つ) can be easily confused due to their visual similarity, which is echoed in Katakana as 'シ' and 'ッ'. This distinction is crucial as they represent different sounds, impacting pronunciation and meaning significantly .

Hiragana is primarily used for particles, native Japanese words, and parts of words. Katakana is used mainly for foreign loan words and onomatopoeia. Kanji is employed for the roots of words as it provides both meaning and sound .

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