平 仮 名(ひらがな)

ひらがな

noun

hiragana

1. hiragana

The cursive Japanese syllabary, used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements.

平仮名(ひらがな)で書(か)いてください。

Please write it in hiragana.

子供(こども)はまず平仮名(ひらがな)を習(なら)います。

Children first learn hiragana.

平仮名(ひらがな)は46文字(もじ)あります。

There are 46 hiragana characters.

この漢字(かんじ)の読(よ)み方(かた)を平仮名(ひらがな)で書(か)いてください。

Please write the reading of this kanji in hiragana.

日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)する時(とき)は、まず平仮名(ひらがな)から始(はじ)めるのが普通(ふつう)です。

When studying Japanese, it's normal to start with hiragana.

平仮名(ひらがな) is one of the three main Japanese writing systems. It is the first script most learners study and the foundation of Japanese literacy.

Etymology

平(ひら) (ordinary, simple) + 仮名(かな) (phonetic script). Developed from simplified cursive forms of 漢字(かんじ).

Related words

平仮名(ひらがな): cursive syllabary (46 basic characters)
片仮名(かたかな): angular syllabary (for loanwords, emphasis)
漢字(かんじ): Chinese characters (meaning-based)

Usage

Grammatical particles: は、が、を、に
Verb and adjective endings (送(おく)り仮名(がな))
Words without standard kanji
Furigana (reading aids above kanji)

Common expressions

平仮名(ひらがな)で書(か)く: to write in hiragana
平仮名(ひらがな)表(ひょう): hiragana chart

Related Words

Related: 片仮名(かたかな) (katakana)

Related: 字(じ) (letter, character)

Related: 漢字(かんじ) (Chinese characters)

Related: 文字(もじ) (letter, character)

basic

Added 2026.1.11 19:10 · Revised 2026.10.10 9:36

02500/02949_hiragana