Welcome to Day 4 of your 100-day challenge to conquer JLPT N5!

By now, you’ve tackled the Hiragana vowels and the K-line, laying a solid foundation for reading and writing Japanese.

Today, we’re zooming in on the S-line—さ (sa), し (shi), す (su), せ (se), and そ (so)—a set of sounds that pop up in everyday words like “sushi” and “sayonara.” Mastering these characters is a key step toward reading simple Japanese texts and acing your JLPT N5 prep.

Main Lesson: Mastering the Hiragana S-Line Step-by-Step

The S-line consists of five characters, each combining the consonant “s” (or “sh” for し) with a vowel sound. These characters are phonetic, meaning what you see is what you say—no silent letters or tricky exceptions.

Pronunciation Guide

Japanese pronunciation is clear and consistent, a relief for English speakers. Here’s how to say the S-line characters:

• さ (sa): Like “sah” in “saw.” Keep it short and crisp.
• し (shi): Pronounced “shee,” not “see.” The “sh” is soft, like in “sheep.”
• す (su): Sounds like “sue,” but shorter, with lips less rounded than in English.
• せ (se): Like “seh” in “set.” Keep the vowel brief.
• そ (so): Pronounced “soh,” like “so” in “soap.”

Step-by-Step Learning

1. Trace and Write: Start by tracing each character 10 times, following the stroke order. For example, さ starts with a short downward stroke, then a curved loop.
2. Pronounce Aloud: Say each character slowly: さ (sa), し (shi), す (su), せ (se), そ (so). Record yourself and compare to native audio.

3. Learn Words with S-Line:
   • すし (sushi) – The iconic dish. Often written in Katakana, but Hiragana is valid for practice.
   • さけ (sake) – alcohol; sake; salmon (different Kanji)
   • しお (shio) – Salt. Used in cooking terms like しおやき (shioyaki, salt-grilled fish).
4. Remember Extra Terms: Add dakuten (゛) to get voiced sounds:
   • さ (sa) → ざ (za, like “zah” in “zoo”).
   • し (shi) → じ (ji, like “jee” in “jeep”).
   • す (su) → ず (zu, like “zoo”).
   • せ (se) → ぜ (ze, like “zen”).
   • そ (so) → ぞ (zo, like “zone”).

Practice Section: Typing Game – the S-Line

Type and remember the S-line fun and interactive!

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

English speakers often trip up on these:

• Mispronouncing し (shi): It’s “shee,” not “see” or “sigh.” Practice with native audio to nail the soft “sh.”
• Confusing さ (sa) and そ (so): さ has a closed loop, while そ has an open, flowing shape. Check stroke order videos.

• Forgetting Dakuten: Missing ゛ turns す (su) into ず (zu), changing meanings (e.g., すき suki, like vs. ずき zuki, pain). Always double-check.

Conclusion: Wrap-Up and Next Steps

Today, you’ve mastered the Hiragana S-line—さ, し, す, せ, そ—unlocking words like sushi and sensei. These characters are your stepping stones to reading and writing for JLPT N5 prep. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon read Japanese with ease!

Tomorrow’s lesson: “Day 5: Hiragana T-Line: Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To.” Stay consistent to hit that 100-day goal! Subscribe for daily updates or share this post to inspire a friend on their learn Japanese for beginners journey. Let’s keep the momentum going!