Japanese Hiragana Mnemonics Index
Timothy Stout, Illustrations by Alexis Cowan
あ
い
う
え
お
か
き
く
け
こ
A: “Open your mouth
and say ‘Ahh,’” says the
dentist.
I: The two “I’s” in
Hawaii
U
Ew! There’s a bug on
your ear!
E
An elf hanging
ornaments on a
Christmas tree.
O
Oh! A hole in one!
KA
“Kah” a crow cries as it
flies to a tree on the top
of a cliff.
KI
A key.
KU
A cuckoo’s beak.
KE
Kendo is a traditional
Japanese sport using
wooden swords.
KO
A koala climbing a tree.
さ
し
す
せ
そ
た
ち
つ
て
と
SA
He saw something
that made him smile.
SHI
She has a ponytail.
SU
It’s another perfect
dive by Super Diver.
SE
Mother sets Baby on
her lap.
SO
Fix the rip by sewing
a zigzag stitch.
TA
“t” and “a” spell “ta”
CHI
A cheerleader.
TSU
Tsunami waves can
be very destructive.
TE
The shape of “TE” is
in the palm of your
right hand, and the
word for “hand” in
Japanese is “TE.”
TO
Ouch! There’s a
thorn in my toe!
な
に
ぬ
ね
の
は
ひ
ふ
へ
ほ
ま
み
む
NA
A beaver gnawing on a
tree
NI
A knee
NU
A new bicycle
NE
A nest in a tree
NO
“No Parking”
HA
A hockey player
HI
He has a big smile on
his face.
FU*
Mount Fuji is a dormant
volcano.
HE
An arrow pointing to
heaven
HO
Holding the hockey
stick with two hands he
is ready to play!
MA
He will mop the floor.
MI
Who is number 21?
Me!
MU
Moo!
め
も
や
ゆ
よ
ら
り
る
れ
ろ
わ
を
ん
*Pronounce “FU” without your teeth and lips touching.
ME
This bicycle needs a
mechanic.
MO
You can catch more
fish with more bait.
YA
100% wool yarn (and
two knitting needles)
YU
You stabbed the fish!
YO
A Yo-yo
RA
The fan cheered:
Rah! Rah! Rah!
RI
A ring on your
finger.
RU
Three (3) rubies
RE
The radio tower was
struck by lightning.
RO
The three (3) rubies
rolled away!
WA
A waterfall rushing
past a tree
O* (sometimes WO
“Whoa!” calls the
cowboy to his horse.
N
It sounds a bit like
the letter “n.”