GHS Japanese Club
Workbook 1: Hiragana
名前: _____________________
Introduction to Hiragana:
Hiragana is the basic Japanese script. It is phonetic, meaning it represents every sound in the
language. Japanese is a syllabic language, so every sound has a character. Hiragana is used to write native
Japanese words for which there are no kanji. Because of this, it is often the first of the three writing
systems people learn.
There are several parts that make up the current gojuon hiragana chart, and we will look at each
of them. However, you will notice some blanks in the chart. That is because over time, some sounds have
faded away and are no longer, or rarely, used in Japanese. They are often represented by using katakana
instead of hiragana.
Systems of Writing
System
Hiragana
Usage
Japanese words
Katakana
Kanji
English/foreign words
Adopted Chinese
words/characters
Parts
Basic (K, S, T, N, H, M, R, Y
and vowels)
Dakuon (G, Z, D)
Handakuon (B, P)
Yoon (い-column +Y)
Sokuon (っ)
~not important right now~
Sounds:
Every hiragana character can be represented by a Romanized character. In most translations,
these romaji are more likely to represent the sound made rather than the consonant-vowel pairing
suggested by the chart. The Romanized letters that appear in romaji do not always make the sounds we
think they will as first-language English speakers. The changes mainly take places with the vowels, and
consonants will sound the same or relatively similar.
Vowel (in Hiragana order)
A
I
U
E
O
Sound
“ah”
“ee”
“oo”
“eh”
“oh”
Activity 1:
Try saying the following syllables: KI, ZU, BO, TA, SE, NI, MU, PE, YO, HA
Romaji:
Romaji is the use of Romanized letters instead of hiragana, katakana, or kanji. If you look in the
“system” and “parts” sections in one of the charts above, you will see romaji. Since we are studying the
writing systems first, we won’t use romaji very often.
Activity 2:
Practice writing vowels in hiragana with the following words.
1. Aoi
6. Ai
2. Ie
7. Iu
3. Ue
8. Oi
4. Iie
9. Ae
5. Au
10. Ii
Activity 3:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Kuukou
6. Kiku
2. Kai
7. Koukou
3. Ooki
8. Eki
4. Koko
9. Kao
5. Akai
10. Ake
Activity 4:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 5:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 6:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Sekai
6. Kesu
2. Soko
7. Ushi
3. Asa
8. Kaesu
4. Sushi
9. Sokei
5. Uso
10. Kuse
Activity 7:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Kutsu
6. Tsukue
2. Chiisai
7. Takai
3. Tokei
8. Atatakai
4. Taisetsu
9. Utsusu
5. Te
10. Oshiete
Activity 8:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 9:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 10:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Ano
6. Neko
2. Niku
7. Tanoshii
3. Sakana
8. Inu
4. Shinu
9. Okane
5. Natsu
10. Nichi
Activity 11:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Hana su
6. Hashi
2. Hiku
7. Hito
3. Fuete
8. Hosu
4. Fuku
9. Saki he
5. Hoshii
10. Heichou
Activity 12:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 13:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 14:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Totemo
6. Momo
2. Michi
7. Iimasu
3. Misasete
8. Nemu
4. Nomu
9. Ume
5. Namae
10. Meishi
Activity 15:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Yasashii
6. Yume
2. Fuyu
7. Yoku
3. Yasumi
8. Heya
4. Youkoso
9. Yuki
5. Yomu
10. Oyasumi
Activity 16:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 17:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 18:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Watashi
6. Rekishi
2. Kuruma
7.Sensei
3. Kaeru
8. Murasaki
4. Kiiro
9. Hikari
5. Hontou
10. Yoru
Activity 19:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 20:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 21:
Practice writing hiragana using the phrases below and translate them.
1. Shitsureshimasu.
2. Sumimasen.
3. Wakarimasen.
4. Tsukue ni suwaru.
5. Irusu.
Activity 20:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Onegai
6. Eigo
2. Ageru
7. Sugi
3. Guai
8. Genki
4. Gaikoku
9. Sugu
5. Hirugohan
10. Gimu
Activity 21:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Jikan
6. Chizu
2. Muzukashii
7. Gozen
3. Zakuro
8. Zou
4. Zokushin
9. Zenzen
5. Zawameku
10. Sojisuru
Activity 23:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Desu
6. Tadaima
2. Kudasai
7. Dekiru
3. Douzo
8. Dare
4. Denwa
9. Dochira
5. Doushite
10. Dokidoki
Activity 24:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 25:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 26:
Practice writing hiragana using the phrases below and translate them.
1. Ohayou gozaimasu.
2. Kiite kudasai.
3. Ogenki desu ka?
4. Gaikokujin desu ka?
5. Nandemo ga suki ja nai.
6. Itadakimasu.
7. Shigoto he ikimasu
8. Undou o suru
9. Nihongo o hanasemasu ka?
Activity 27:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Obaasan
6. Chibi
2. Asobu
7. Bentou
3. Boshi
8. Kaburu
4. Beikoku
9.Baiu
5. Bijutsu
10. Bunraku
Activity 28:
Practice writing hiragana using the following words.
1. Enpitsu
6. Pikapika
2. Chinpira
7. Chinpunkanpun
3. Danpan
8. Funpatsu suru
4. Hanpa
9. Honpou
5. Kanpai
10. Senpai
Activity 29:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 30:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
Activity 31:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Kyou
6. Byouki
2. Gyuunyuu
7. Hyaku
3. Ryou
8.Chugoku
4. Shashin
9. Myou
5. Jounetsu
10. Kyuukitsu
Activity 32:
Practice writing hiragana with the following words.
1. Motto
6. Kippu
2. Yappari
7. Appare
3. Gakkou
8. Zasshi
4. Minna
9. Zekkyou
5. Kissaten
10. Mattaku
Activity 29:
Write down the translations to the above words. Repeat the words after the teacher reads them.
Activity 30:
When the teacher asks “Nihongo de, __________ to iimasu ka” (how do you say _______ in Japanese),
respond with the correct word from the list above.
History Lesson: いろは
The poem いろは was written in the late Heian period in Japan’s history. It was a famous poem
when it was written because of its prose, but has remained popular because it contains each character of
the existing syllabary only once. For a while, it served as the ordering system for the syllabary because of
its usage of each character.
Activity 31:
Translate lines of いろは into hiragana or romaji as specified.
Romaji
Iro ha nihoheto
Hiragana
Translation
Colors are fragrant but
They will eventually scatter,
Who in our world
Is unchanging?
The mountains of vanity
Will be crossed today;
And we shall not see superficial
dreams,
Nor be deluded.
ちりぬるを
わかよたれそ
Tsune naramu
Ui ni okuyama
けふこえて
あさきゆめみし
Ehi mo sesu
Activity 32:
Listen to the speaker. Write down the words you hear in hiragana.
1.
8.
2.
9.
3.
10.
4.
11.
5.
12.
6.
13.
7.
14.
Activity 33:
Translate the following song lyrics from romaji to hiragana.
Koda Kumi—Ai no Uta
Hiragana
Romaji
Moshi kimi ni
Hitotsu dake
Negai ga kanau toshitara
Ima kimi ha
Nani wo negai no
Sotto kimi ga
Kono koi wo
Eien to yobenakute mo
Ima dake ha
Uso wo tsuite
Awai kotoba de
Shinjisasete mite
Ai no uta
Hibiki ha nareba
Haiiro no yozora ni
Hikari ga sasuyo
Hito tsuzutsu
Hikari wo tsunaide
Tooku no kimi motto he to
Todoke you
Moshi watashi
Hitotsu dake
Negai ga kanau toshitara
Yume no naka demo ii kara to
Aitai to negau
Moshi watashi
Kono koi ga
Owari mukaeta toshitara
Karasu no you
Kudake mou
Modoretaku naru dakedo aishiteru
Aimaina kankei de mo ii
Itsumo to kawarazu yasashiku shite ite
Hontou no koto ha iwanaide
Aenaku naru nante mou
Uketomerarenai
Ashita mata
Itsumo no you ni
Modoreruki ga shite
Sora wo miaketeta
Sayonara ha
Iwanaide ite
Konya mo yume no naka he
Ochite yuku
Activity 34:
Translate the following song lyrics from hiragana to romaji.
GACKT—Suddenly
Hiragana
とつぜんにとどいたあなたのてがみに
ただおどろきをかくせずなみだがあふれて
きた
つずられたことばはいまもいとしくて
もうおとずれることのないみらいはざんこ
くだね
きまぐれなあのころとおなじように
そばでねむるあなたがいそうで
みみもとをくすぐるあまいことばならべて
ききなれたせりふはあなたのくちぐせだね
やさしさにおちあふれたことばから
わらってるあなたがみえた
いとしいこえを
やさしいこえを
あなたのこえをきかせて
いますぐだいて
そのてでだいて
わたしをはなさないでいて
だれにもけせない
けせはしないあなたへのおもいはせて
いとしいこえを
やさしいこえを
あなたのこえをきかせて
いますぐだいて
そのてでだいて
わたしをはなさないでいて
きまぐれなあなたのそら（てんごく）から
の
おくりもの
さよなら
Romaji
Activity 35:
Translate the following song lyrics from romaji to hiragana.
Ayumi Hamasaki—Connected
Hiragana
Romaji
Mikakete mistukete misademete iru
Mitsumete midarete mitasarete iru demo
Miagete mikakete mikurabete iru hora
Mikubiru mitoreru mihanasarete ru
Sou bokura ha arayuru subete no basho
De tsunagatte iru kara
Kono kotoba nit suite kangaeru kimi to
Datte mou sude ni
AA bokura ga itsu ka eien no nemuri ni
Tsuku koro made ni
Totteoki no kotoba wo hatashite ikutsu
Kawaseru no darou?
Mikakete mitsukete misadamete iru
Mitsumete mitorete mitasarete iru demo
Miagete mikakete mikurabete iru hora
Mikubiru mitoreru mihanasarete ru
Sou bokura ha arayuru subete no basho
De tsunagatte iru kara
Kono kotoba ni suite kangaeru kimi to
Datte mou sude ni