Lesson 1: あ い う え お

Writing

How to Write

[a]

Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3

Look closely how lines are crossed.

Line 2 is slightly curved.

Start Line 3 at the right place.

 
Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3 Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3
Not so good Bad [me]

[i]

Hiragana i Hiragana i - line 1 Hiragana i - line 2  

Lines are parallel and are tilted.

Lines are very slightly curved.

Line 1 is a little longer.

A little extension of the end of Line 1 is naturally drawn when you write quickly. You don't have to draw it intentionally.
 
Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3 Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3
Not so good Bad [ri]

[u]

Hiragana u Hiragana u - line 1 Hiragana u - line 2  

The whole shape is vertically long.

Tilt Line 1 properly.

Look closely how Line 2 is curved.

 
Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3 Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3
Not so good Bad [ra]

[e]

Hiragana e Hiragana e - line 1 Hiragana e - line 2  

Tilt Line 1 properly.

Line 2 ends at near the bottom (not going up).

 
Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3 Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3
Not so good Bad

[o]

Hiragana o Hiragana o - line 1 Hiragana o - line 2 Hiragana o - line 3

The vertical part of Line 2 is not on the center (shifted towards left).

Place Line 3 on the right position.

 
Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3 Hiragana a Hiragana a - line 1 Hiragana a - line 2 Hiragana a - line 3
Not so good Bad [mu]

It is important to write in correct stroke order. It is natural and efficient.

Wrong stroke order often results improper shape of the character.

The tilt angle of lines should be correct. Do not write in Italic.

 

Writing Practice

Nowadays, there aren't so much opportunities for handwriting. But the writing practice improves your character recognition ability.

We recommend to do some handwriting practice. You can download and print the writing practice sheet (pdf) at Hiragana Writing Practice page.

Quiz

How to Do

  1. Have a pen and a paper. (Blank Writing Practice Sheet can be used.)
  2. Listen to audio and write it down in Hiragana.
  3. You are good enough if you can write correctly the last 10 questions.

Click "YouTube" button below to subscribe our official channel. You can get information on new uploads.

Go to the Typing section.

References

YouTube

Hiragana Course

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11