ひらがな
The Japanese writing system consists of kana and kanji. What is a kana? Kana are syllabaries and there are two types — hiragana and katakana, each containing 46 basic characters. Hiragana is primarily used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements.
Learn hiragana with food vocabulary.
あ (a)
sweet red bean bun
あんぱん (anpan)
い (i)
grilled squid
いかやき (ikayaki)
う (u)
sour plum
うめぼし (umeboshi)
え (e)
young soybean
えだまめ (edamame)
お (o)
Japanese savory pancake
おこのみやき (okonomiyaki)
か (ka)
shaved ice
かきごおり (kakigōri)
き (ki)
cucumber
きゅうり (kyūri)
く (ku)
chestnut
くり (kuri)
け (ke)
hairy crab
けがに (kegani)
こ (ko)
yam cake
こんにゃく (konnyaku)
さ (sa)
cherry
さくらんぼ (sakuranbo)
し (shi)
shiitake mushroom
しいたけ (shiitake)
す (su)
sweet and sour pork
すぶた (subuta)
せ (se)
rice cracker
せいべい (senbei)
そ (so)
buckwheat noodles
そば (soba)
た (ta)
octopus balls
たこやき (takoyaki)
ち (chi)
bok choy
ちんげんさい (chingensai)
つ (tsu)
pickles
つけもの (tsukemono)
て (te)
chicken wings
てばさき (tebasaki)
と (to)
pork cutlet
とんかつ (tonkatsu)
な (na)
eggplant
なす (nasu)
に (ni)
sake
にほんしゅ (nihonshu)
ぬ (nu)
rice bran pickles
ぬかづけ (nukazuke)
ね (ne)
chicken and leek skewer
ねぎま (negima)
の (no)
dried seaweed
のり (nori)
は (ha)
spring roll
はるまき (harumaki)
ひ (hi)
cold ramen
ひやしちゅうか (hiyashichūka)
ふ (fu)
rice seasoning
ふりかけ (furikake)
へ (he)
sponge gourd
へちま (hechima)
ほ (ho)
scallop
ほたて (hotate)
ま (ma)
hen-of-the-wood
まいたけ (maitake)
み (mi)
clementine
みかん (mikan)
む (mu)
steamed cake
むしぱん (mushipan)
め (me)
sunny side up
めだまやき (medamayaki)
も (mo)
rice cake
もち (mochi)
や (ya)
baked sweet potato
やきいも (yakiimo)
ゆ (yu)
yuzu
ゆず (yuzu)
よ (yo)
thick red bean jelly
ようかん (yōkan)
ら (ra)
pickled Japanese shallot
らっきょう (rakkyou)
り (ri)
green tea
りょくちゃ (ryokucha)
る (ru)
miso soup
みそしる (misoshiru)
れ (re)
lotus root
れんこん (renkon)
ろ (ro)
fatty tuna
とろ (toro)
わ (wa)
wasabi
わさび (wasabi)
を (wo)
eat rice
ごはんをたべる
ん (n)
udon
うどん (udon)
おつかれさまでした!
Review the hiragana chart and listen to the pronunciations here.
Unwind and fall asleep to hiragana and katakana sounds here.
Ready for practice?
Here are some helpful workbooks that will teach you the stroke order for each kana.
Shop Hiragana Chart Goods
Hang the chart in front of your desk, carry the chart with you wherever you go. Have a cup of tea and guess what the missing letters are. Can you name all the items?
