Buzz
If you're keen on mastering both reading and writing Japanese, prioritizing the learning of hiragana is crucial. Hiragana serves as a syllabary, where each character represents a specific sound, either a vowel or a consonant-vowel combination. With 46 characters in total, corresponding to every sound in the Japanese language, mastering hiragana may seem daunting, but with focused effort, you can grasp them within a week or two. Keep reading to explore effective methods for learning hiragana and incorporating your newfound knowledge into practical reading and writing exercises in Japanese. がんばって！(Good luck!)
Procedures
Mastering Hiragana Pronunciation
Utilize a hiragana chart to structure your learning process. Various hiragana charts are available online for free download. Although their designs may differ, all charts adhere to the same fundamental format, as the process of learning hiragana remains consistent for everyone.
- Each hiragana character corresponds to a distinct sound in Japanese, enabling you to transcribe any spoken Japanese phrase into hiragana!
- Some charts also include stroke order guidelines for writing hiragana. If you're interested in refining your handwriting skills in hiragana, opting for one of these charts could be advantageous.
Mastering the 5 Hiragana Vowels
Expand on the Vowels with Consonant Sounds The remaining rows (or columns, depending on your chart's orientation) of the hiragana chart introduce consonant sounds to the vowel sounds you've just learned, with a few exceptions. There are different approaches to this—you can choose to learn all hiragana for one vowel sound first, then proceed to the next, or go through them consonant by consonant. Below is an overview of the rest of the chart and the corresponding sounds:
- か (ka), き (ki), く (ku), け (ke), こ (ko)
- さ (sa), し (shi), す (su), せ (se), そ (so)
- た (ta), ち (chi), つ (tsu), て (te), と (to)
- な (na), に (ni), ぬ (nu), ね (ne), の (no)
- は (ha), ひ (hi), ふ (fu), へ (he), ほ (ho)
- ま (ma), み (mi), む (mu), め (me), も (mo)
- や (ya), ゆ (yu), よ (yo)
- ら (ra), り (ri), る (ru), れ (re), ろ (ro)
- わ (wa), を (o), ん (simply the 'n' consonant sound without a vowel)
Perfecting the Japanese 'R' Sound The Japanese 'R' sound can be challenging for native English speakers. It's a blend of the English 'R' and 'L' sounds. To master it, try the following exercise:
- Repeat 'lah' several times, noting the position of your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
- Repeat 'dah' several times, again observing your tongue's position.
- Alternate between 'lah' and 'dah,' noticing how your tongue moves between two positions.
- To produce the Japanese 'R,' position your tongue between the 'lah' and 'dah' positions on the roof of your mouth. Practice until it becomes second nature.
Applying Dakuten and Handakuten to Alter Hiragana Sounds You might think that the hiragana you've learned don't cover
all the sounds in Japanese. Dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜ ) come into play to fill in the gaps. Here's how they work:
- 'H' becomes 'B': ば (ba), び (bi), ぶ (bu), べ (be), ぼ (bo)
- 'K' becomes 'G' (hard 'G' as in the English word 'goat'): が (ga), ぎ (gi), ぐ (gu), げ (ge), ご (go)
- 'S' becomes 'Z' (with 1 exception): ざ (za), じ (ji), ず (zu), ぜ (ze), ぞ (zo)
- 'T' becomes 'D' (with 2 exceptions): だ (da), ぢ (ji), づ (zu), で (de), ど (do)
- 'H' becomes 'P': ぱ (pa), ぴ (pi), ぷ (pu), ぺ (pe), ぽ (po)
Embedding Hiragana into Your Memory
Create memorable mnemonics. Numerous websites promise to expedite hiragana learning using mnemonics—but the effectiveness hinges on whether the mnemonics resonate with you. Crafting your own mnemonics is preferable, as your brain will more readily recall them than those devised by others.
- For instance, consider ん resembling a 'No' sign ( 🚫 ) or a fortune cookie—depending on your interpretation. Tailoring mnemonics to your perspective enhances retention.
- Another example: Visualize く as a mouth, associating it with the sound 'coo, coo' reminiscent of a dove's call.
Reinforce learning with flash cards and spaced repetition. Traditional hiragana flash cards present characters and their corresponding sounds, facilitating effective review. Organize cards based on proficiency, prioritizing challenging characters for frequent practice. Several mobile apps offer spaced repetition, simplifying the learning process.
Utilize language learning apps. Numerous language apps promise rapid and effortless language acquisition, often requiring costly subscriptions. However, several free apps facilitate hiragana and Japanese language proficiency:
- Duolingo offers a free Japanese course integrating hiragana exercises. Available on desktop and mobile platforms.
- Dr. Moku provides a free app for Android and iOS (with premium options) and manufactures physical flash cards for tactile learners.
- Hiragana Quest, developed in collaboration with Japanese language school Go! Go! Nihon, gamifies hiragana and katakana learning. Compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Mastering Hiragana for Reading and Writing
Practice stroke order using hiragana practice sheets. To develop hiragana writing proficiency, utilize practice sheets. These sheets, resembling those used for English handwriting, aid in learning stroke order, a valuable skill despite reduced emphasis in modern education.
- Stroke order practice enhances your ability to reproduce hiragana characters accurately.
Associate hiragana with familiar Japanese words. Leverage your existing knowledge of Japanese vocabulary, such as oyasumi (goodnight) and sayōnara (goodbye), to practice hiragana. Break down words into syllables and match each syllable to its corresponding hiragana character. This approach allows you to write in Japanese effortlessly.
- For instance, すし represents 'sushi,' with し resembling a fishhook.
- かわいい is 'kawaii.'
- さようなら spells out 'sayōnara.'
- おやすみ breaks down into o + ya + su + mi, forming 'oyasumi.'
Explore Japanese children's picture books. Dive into picture books designed for young Japanese learners to hone your hiragana skills. Many of these resources are accessible online for free, offering engaging content and cultural insights:
- Fuku Musume features a collection of over 500 traditional Japanese fairy tales, providing cultural immersion for both children and learners.
- EhonNavi offers a wide selection of Japanese children's picture books, available for free digital download.
- Fanta Jikan provides Japanese stories with subtitles, facilitating reading practice alongside engaging content.
- Children's Manga offers a variety of manga suitable for young readers.
Engage with Japanese shows featuring Japanese subtitles. Immerse yourself in Japanese-language content on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, selecting shows with Japanese subtitles. Start with children's programs for simplified language and gradually progress to more complex dialogue. Be mindful that subtitles may move quickly and include unfamiliar kanji.
- Children's shows typically use straightforward language, aiding comprehension.
- Note that subtitles may advance rapidly, posing challenges for beginners.
Switch your keyboard language to Japanese. Enhance your hiragana proficiency by typing in Japanese on your computer or mobile device. Initially, use a hiragana keyboard skin to assist with character placement until you develop muscle memory. Participate in online communities and forums to practice reading and typing hiragana.
- Tablets and smartphones automatically adjust keyboard layouts based on language settings.
- Join online communities to engage with hiragana content and verify comprehension through written exchanges.
- Typing hiragana on various platforms familiarizes you with different font styles.
Introduce furigana for preliminary kanji learning. Utilize furigana, which provides phonetic readings above kanji characters, facilitating pronunciation. Explore platforms like Nippon Talk, offering articles with toggleable furigana to aid in kanji comprehension.
- Children's books often incorporate furigana alongside kanji characters.
