Welcome to Day 1 of your 100-day challenge to reach JLPT N5 level! If you’re an English speaker dipping your toes into learning Japanese for beginners, you’re in the right place.
Imagine unlocking the door to a vibrant culture—savoring sushi recipes in their original language, binge-watching anime without subtitles, or even chatting with locals on a future trip to Tokyo.
Start your learning journey with Hiragana
That’s the magic of mastering the basics, and it all starts with Hiragana, the foundational script of Japanese writing.
Why does this matter? Japanese isn’t like English; it uses three scripts: Hiragana for everyday native words and grammar, Katakana for foreign loanwords, and Kanji for more complex ideas.
Without Hiragana, you’d be lost in a sea of symbols. In our JLPT N5 prep journey, Days 1-11 are dedicated to mastering Hiragana because it’s the quickest way to start reading and writing simple sentences.
Think of it as building your language muscles—strong foundations lead to faster progress. As a busy adult, you don’t have time for fluff; this challenge is designed for consistent, bite-sized wins that fit into your schedule.
By Day 100, you’ll be ready for basic conversations and that N5 certification. Let’s dive in and make Japanese accessible and fun!
Main Lesson: Understanding Hiragana Step-by-Step
Hiragana is a phonetic script with 46 characters, each representing a syllable like “ka” or “mi.” Its curvy, flowing shapes make it the “cursive” of Japanese, used for grammar particles (e.g., “wa” for topics), verb endings, and words without Kanji. It’s the first script you’ll master for JLPT N5 prep because it’s purely phonetic—what you see is what you say.
Why Learn Hiragana First?
- Beginner-Friendly: Simpler than Kanji, it’s your gateway to reading and writing.
- Essential for N5: You’ll need it for vocabulary, grammar, and basic texts.
- Cultural Note: Hiragana, developed in the 9th century from simplified Kanji, was historically used by women for poetry and diaries. Today, it’s everywhere—children’s books, handwritten notes, and even ramen shop menus written in hiragana for clarity.
Pronunciation Basics
Japanese pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers—no silent letters or tricky diphthongs. Use Romaji (Romanized Japanese) as a guide, but aim to wean off it quickly. Vowels are key:
- A: Like “ah” in “father.”
- I: Like “ee” in “see.”
- U: Like “oo” in “book,” but shorter.
- E: Like “eh” in “bed.”
- O: Like “oh” in “go.”
Consonants are similar to English, but “R” is a soft flap, like a quick “d” in “ladder.” Double consonants (like “kk”) mean a slight pause.
The Hiragana Chart
Here’s a basic chart of the 46 characters, grouped by vowel sounds. Practice tracing them—stroke order matters for neat writing!
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A- | あ (a) | い (i) | う (u) | え (e) | お (o) |
| K- | か (ka) | き (ki) | く (ku) | け (ke) | こ (ko) |
| S- | さ (sa) | し (shi) | す (su) | せ (se) | そ (so) |
| T- | た (ta) | ち (chi) | つ (tsu) | て (te) | と (to) |
| N- | な (na) | に (ni) | ぬ (nu) | ね (ne) | の (no) |
| H- | は (ha) | ひ (hi) | ふ (fu) | へ (he) | ほ (ho) |
| M- | ま (ma) | み (mi) | む (mu) | め (me) | も (mo) |
| Y- | や (ya) | ゆ (yu) | よ (yo) | ||
| R- | ら (ra) | り (ri) | る (ru) | れ (re) | ろ (ro) |
| W- | わ (wa) | を (wo) | |||
| N | ん (n) |
Step-by-Step Learning
- Start with Vowels: Memorize あいうえお (a-i-u-e-o). Say them out loud: “Ah-ee-oo-eh-oh.” Write each 10 times.
- Add Consonants: Tackle one row at a time. For “K” sounds: かきくけこ (ka-ki-ku-ke-ko). Pronounce: “Kah-kee-koo-keh-koh.”
- Remember Simple Words: Combine characters, e.g., すし (sushi) or わたし (watashi, I/me).
- Diacritics for More Sounds: Add dakuten (゛) for voiced sounds, e.g., か (ka) becomes が (ga). Handakuten (゜) for “P” sounds, like は (ha) to ぱ (pa).
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K + ゛= G | が (ga) | ぎ (gi) | ぐ (gu) | げ (ge) | ご (go) |
| S + ゛ = Z/J | ざ (za) | じ (ji) | ず (zu) | ぜ (ze) | ぞ (zo) |
| T + ゛ = D | だ (da) | ぢ (di) | づ (du) | で (de) | ど (do) |
| H + ゛= B | ば (ba) | び (bi) | ぶ (bu) | べ (be) | ぼ (bo) |
| H + ゜= P | ぱ (pa) | ぴ (pi) | ぷ (pu) | ぺ (pe) | ぽ (po) |
- Examples in Action:
- Hello: こんにちは (konnichiwa) – Uses Hiragana for the whole word in casual writing.
- Thank you: ありがとう (arigatou) – Pure Hiragana example.
- Mini-Practice in Lesson: Write “watashi” (I/me) in Hiragana: わたし. Pronounce: “wah-tah-shee.”
This step-by-step approach makes learning Japanese for beginners feel achievable. By the end of Days 1-11, you’ll read Hiragana fluently!
Practice Section: Get Hands-On with Hiragana
Time to interact! These exercises reinforce what you’ve learned. Grab a notebook or use a digital tool.
Fill-in-the-Blanks: Complete these Romaji to Hiragana:
- Thank you: arigatou → あ__が__う
- Yes: Hai → __い
- No: Iie → ___え
- Thank you: arigatou → ありがとう
- Yes: Hai → はい
- No: Iie → いいえ
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
English speakers often stumble here:
- Confusing Similar Shapes: き (ki) vs. さ (sa)—ki has a loop, sa is straighter. Tip: Practice stroke order videos on YouTube.
- Pronunciation Pitfalls: “Shi” (し) is “shee,” not “sigh.” Avoid elongating vowels; Japanese is rhythmic and even.
- Over-Reliance on Romaji: It doesn’t capture nuances like pitch accent. Switch to Hiragana-only reading ASAP.
- Ignoring Diacritics: Missing ゛ turns “ka” to “ga”—changes meaning (e.g., kami = hair/paper/god vs. gami variations). Double-check!
Pro tip: Record yourself reading and compare to native audio to self-correct.
Homework: Your Daily Task
Spend 15-20 minutes tracing the vowel row (あいうえお) and “K” consonants (かきくけこ) 20 times each. Read them aloud.
Bonus: Remember 5 household items in Hiragana (e.g., つくえ for desk). This builds muscle memory for learning Japanese for beginners.
| Household Item (English) | ひらがな (Hiragana) | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | いす | isu |
| Window | まど | mado |
| Book | ほん | hon |
| Desk | つくえ | tsukue |
| Floor | ゆか | yuka |
Conclusion: Wrap-Up and Next Steps
Today, you’ve unlocked the basics of Hiragana—the gateway to reading Japanese. Key takeaways: It’s phonetic, has 46 characters, and is crucial for JLPT N5 prep. With consistent practice, you’ll be zipping through scripts in no time.
Tomorrow’s lesson: “Day 2: Hiragana Vowels and Simple Words – Building Your First Vocabulary.” Don’t miss it—consistency is key to hitting that 100-day goal!
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