Hiragana Chart: All 46 Characters with Romaji
Hiragana — a complete table with each character's reading — consists of 46 basic syllables plus derivatives: 20 voiced (が, ざ, だ, ば), 5 semi-voiced (ぱ), and 33 contracted (きゃ, しゅ, ちょ). A character has no 'translation': it conveys a sound, not a meaning, so the table shows readings, not meanings.
The first Japanese alphabet can be mastered in three to five days if you take it in batches and immediately write by hand. Let's break down the table's composition and the rows where people most often stumble.
What the Hiragana Table Consists Of
| Row | Characters | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Vowels | あ い う え お | a, i, u, e, o |
| K | か き く け こ | ka, ki, ku, ke, ko |
| S | さ し す せ そ | sa, shi, su, se, so |
| T | た ち つ て と | ta, chi, tsu, te, to |
| N | な に ぬ ね の | na, ni, nu, ne, no |
| H | は ひ ふ へ ほ | ha, hi, fu, he, ho |
| M | ま み む め も | ma, mi, mu, me, mo |
| Y | や ゆ よ | ya, yu, yo |
| R | ら り る れ ろ | ra, ri, ru, re, ro |
| W and N | わ を ん | wa, wo (o), n |
Characters That Break the Pattern
Four syllables do not follow the pattern of their row: し is 'shi' (not 'si'), ち is 'chi' (not 'ti'), つ is 'tsu' (not 'tu'), and ふ is closer to 'fu' than 'hu' — a sound between 'f' and 'h'. The table uses standard Hepburn romanization, which spells what you actually hear.
Voiced and Contracted Syllables
| What We Add | How It Looks | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two small strokes (dakuten) | か → が | が, ざ, だ, ば — ga, za, da, ba |
| Small circle (handakuten) | は → ぱ | ぱ, ぴ, ぷ, ぺ, ぽ |
| Small や ゆ よ | き + ゃ = きゃ | きゃ, しゅ, ちょ — kya, shu, cho |
| Small っ | doubling of consonant | きって (kitte — stamp) |
How to Learn Within a Week
In batches of 10–15 characters: learn a row, then immediately write it by hand and read a dozen words with it. Passively staring at the table doesn't work, but writing reinforces the form in one go. Voiced and contracted syllables don't need separate study — they derive from the basic ones.
FAQ
How many characters are in hiragana?
46 basic, plus 20 voiced, 5 semi-voiced, and 33 contracted — but the derivatives are derived from the basic ones.
Do hiragana characters have a translation?
No: a character conveys a sound, not a meaning. The table shows readings, not meanings.
How long does it take to learn hiragana?
Three to five days if you work in batches of 10–15 characters with mandatory handwriting.
Which characters are read irregularly?
Four: し is read 'shi' (not 'si'), ち 'chi' (not 'ti'), つ 'tsu' (not 'tu'), and ふ 'fu' — a sound between 'f' and 'h'.
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