< Japanese < Kana < Lessons < Katakana

Hiragana: [ a ] [ ka ] [ sa ] [ ta ] [ na ] [ ha ] [ ma ] [ ya ] [ ra ] [ wa, wo, n ] [ ゐ and ゑ (ancient hiragana in disuse) ]
Katakana: [ a ] [ ka ] [ sa ] [ ta ] [ na ] [ ha ] [ ma ] [ ya ] [ ra ] [ wa, wo, n ] [ ヰ and ヱ (ancient katakana in disuse) ]

This page introduces "ハ", "ヒ", "フ", "ヘ" and "ホ". Adding two short lines, the dakuten ((だく)(てん)) or, more informally, tenten (点々(てんてん)) meaning "two marks", to create "バ", "ビ", ""ブ", "ベ" and "ボ" changes clear sounds to voiced ones. Adding a small circle called a (>はん)(だく)(てん) handakuten, but commonly referred to as maru ((まる)) meaning "circle", written "パ", "ピ", "プ", "ペ" and "ポ" changes clear sounds plosive sound.

Brush Stroke:
Sound:

ha

ba pa
Mnemonic:
    • A step in French is called a pas! Just take a few steps under the moon!
    Example:
    • ハンガリー (hanngali-) Hungary
    • ハンバーガー (hannba-ga-) hamburger
    • バナナ banana
    • パーティー Party
    Brush Stroke:
    Sound:

    hi

    bi pi
    Mnemonic:
    • Heel - The heel of a shoe
    Example:
    • ヒーター Heater
    • ビタミン vitamin
    • ピレネー Pyrenees
    • ピザ pizza
    Brush Stroke:
    Sound:

    fu

    bu pu
    Mnemonic:
    • Food - It's half a bowl of food.
    • Fruit Salad. No handles, spoons, chopsticks, noodles, or cats, just use your hands.
    Example:
    • フランス (furansu) France
    • ファン (fan) fan
    • ブドウ (budo-) grape
    • プレゼント (purezento) Present, Gift
    Brush Stroke:
    Sound:

    he

    be pe
    Mnemonic:
    • Hehe - It's the same funny (Hehe) mustache from Hiragana!
    • Pointing towards Heaven
    Example:
    • ヘルシー Healthy
    • ベルギー Belgium
    • ペット pet
    • ペン pen
    Brush Stroke:
    Sound:

    ho

    bo po
    Mnemonic:
    • Hot - It is very hot, and you are standing with your arms outstretched at your sides and sweat is pouring from your armpits.
    • Holy - Someone holding a span holy cross with both hands.
    Example:
    • ホテル (hoteru) hotel
    • ボトル Bottle
    • ポルトガル Portugal
    • ポンプ pump
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