Dakuten — が・ざ・だ・ば

The mark:

゛

is called dakuten.

It changes the sound of some Hiragana.

K → G

か → が
き → ぎ
く → ぐ
け → げ
こ → ご

が　ぎ　ぐ　げ　ご

ga　gi　gu　ge　go

Example:

がくせい
gakusei
student

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S → Z

さ → ざ
し → じ
す → ず
せ → ぜ
そ → ぞ

ざ　じ　ず　ぜ　ぞ

za　ji　zu　ze　zo

Example:

みず
mizu
water

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T → D

た → だ
ち → ぢ
つ → づ
て → で
と → ど

だ　ぢ　づ　で　ど

da　ji　zu　de　do

ぢ and づ are less common in modern Japanese.

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H → B

は → ば
ひ → び
ふ → ぶ
へ → べ
ほ → ぼ

ば　び　ぶ　べ　ぼ

ba　bi　bu　be　bo

Example:

ばんごう
bangou
number

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Handakuten — ぱ・ぴ・ぷ・ぺ・ぽ

The small circle:

゜

is called handakuten.

It changes the H row into P sounds.

は → ぱ
ひ → ぴ
ふ → ぷ
へ → ぺ
ほ → ぽ

ぱ　ぴ　ぷ　ぺ　ぽ

pa　pi　pu　pe　po

Example:

ぱん
pan
bread

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Small ゃ・ゅ・ょ

Small versions of:

ゃ　ゅ　ょ

combine with other Hiragana to create new sounds.

For example:

き + ゃ = きゃ — kya
き + ゅ = きゅ — kyu
き + ょ = きょ — kyo

Other common combinations include:

しゃ　しゅ　しょ
sha　shu　sho

ちゃ　ちゅ　ちょ
cha　chu　cho

にゃ　にゅ　にょ
nya　nyu　nyo

ひゃ　ひゅ　ひょ
hya　hyu　hyo

みゃ　みゅ　みょ
mya　myu　myo

りゃ　りゅ　りょ
rya　ryu　ryo

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Small っ

The small character:

っ

creates a short pause before the next consonant sound.

Compare:

きて
kite

and

きって
kitte
stamp

Another example:

がっこう
gakkou
school

When you see っ, pause very briefly before saying the next sound.

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Important Pronunciation Tips

し = shi

Not “si.”

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ち = chi

Not “ti.”

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つ = tsu

This sound may take a little practice.

Listen carefully and repeat it slowly.

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ふ = fu

The Japanese ふ is softer than the English “f” sound.

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ら・り・る・れ・ろ

Use a quick, light tap of your tongue.

Do not worry about making the sound perfect at first.

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Practice Quiz

Try these before checking the answers.

Question 1

Which character is a?

A. お
B. あ
C. う

Question 2

Which character is ki?

A. き
B. さ
C. け

Question 3

What is し?

A. su
B. shi
C. chi

Question 4

What is つ?

A. tsu
B. te
C. chi

Question 5

Which character is ne?

A. れ
B. ね
C. わ

Question 6

What is ふ?

A. hu
B. fu
C. bu

Question 7

Which character is yo?

A. や
B. ゆ
C. よ

Question 8

What is ん?

A. n
B. no
C. nu

Answers

1. B — あ
2. A — き
3. B — shi
4. A — tsu
5. B — ね
6. B — fu
7. C — よ
8. A — n

How many did you get right?

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Try Reading These Japanese Words

Can you read these without Romaji?

ねこ

いぬ

やま

うみ

すし

さくら

にほん

ありがとう

Now check the answers:

ねこ — neko — cat

いぬ — inu — dog

やま — yama — mountain

うみ — umi — sea

すし — sushi — sushi

さくら — sakura — cherry blossom

にほん — nihon — Japan

ありがとう — arigatou — thank you

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A Simple 10-Day Hiragana Study Plan

You do not need to memorize everything in one day.

Try this:

Day 1: あ・い・う・え・お
Day 2: か・き・く・け・こ
Day 3: さ・し・す・せ・そ
Day 4: た・ち・つ・て・と
Day 5: な・に・ぬ・ね・の
Day 6: は・ひ・ふ・へ・ほ
Day 7: ま・み・む・め・も
Day 8: や・ゆ・よ
Day 9: ら・り・る・れ・ろ
Day 10: わ・を・ん

After Day 10, review the entire chart again.

Then start learning Dakuten, Handakuten, and small Hiragana.

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Keep the Hiragana Chart Nearby

You do not need to memorize everything perfectly before moving forward.

When you forget a character, simply look at the chart again.

Every time you recognize a character, your Japanese is improving.

One character.

One word.

One step at a time.

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Continue Learning Hiragana

Use the individual lessons to practice each row more carefully:

Lesson 1 — あ・い・う・え・お
Lesson 2 — か・き・く・け・こ
Lesson 3 — さ・し・す・せ・そ
Lesson 4 — た・ち・つ・て・と
Lesson 5 — な・に・ぬ・ね・の
Lesson 6 — は・ひ・ふ・へ・ほ
Lesson 7 — ま・み・む・め・も
Lesson 8 — や・ゆ・よ
Lesson 9 — ら・り・る・れ・ろ
Lesson 10 — わ・を・ん

Each lesson can include pronunciation, example words, writing practice, and reading exercises.

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What's Next?

Once you are comfortable with Hiragana, start reading simple Japanese words and everyday expressions.

A good next step is:

Next Lesson: Basic Japanese Greetings

You will learn useful expressions such as:

おはようございます
Good morning

こんにちは
Hello

こんばんは
Good evening

ありがとうございます
Thank you

You do not need perfect Japanese to start communicating.

Start small.

Practice every day.

Little by little, your Japanese will grow.