Hiragana

JLPT N5 Japanese self-study　·　~15–20 min　·　46 characters — the phonetic alphabet of Japanese

Hiragana is the most important first step. Master these 46 characters and you can sound out any Japanese word.

What you'll learn

• Recognize and read all 46 hiragana
• Learn each character's sound and memory tips
• Sound out Japanese text when you see it
• Check your reading with a 10-question kana quiz

How to study “Hiragana”

“Hiragana” (46 characters — the phonetic alphabet of Japanese) is a JLPT N5 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 15–20 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.