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Japanese Hiragana Words

Build your Japanese vocabulary by learning simple words with hiragana. Explore 10 useful Japanese words for each basic hiragana character, with romaji, English meanings and audio pronunciation.

460 Hiragana Vocabulary Words

Learn Japanese vocabulary one hiragana at a time. Read the word, check the romaji and English meaning, then click the speak button to hear the Japanese pronunciation.

あ行 · A Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
あさ
asa
morning
あめ
ame
rain
あお
ao
blue
あか
aka
red
あき
aki
autumn
あに
ani
older brother
あね
ane
older sister
あし
ashi
foot / leg
あたま
atama
head
あさごはん
asagohan
breakfast

い行 · I Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
いえ
ie
house / home
いぬ
inu
dog
いす
isu
chair
いし
ishi
stone
いけ
ike
pond
いち
ichi
one
いちご
ichigo
strawberry
いみ
imi
meaning
いろ
iro
color
いもうと
imouto
younger sister

う行 · U Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
うえ
ue
above / up
うみ
umi
sea
うた
uta
song
うし
ushi
cow
うさぎ
usagi
rabbit
うで
ude
arm
うち
uchi
home / inside
うどん
udon
udon noodles
うま
uma
horse
うれしい
ureshii
happy

え行 · E Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
えき
eki
station
えんぴつ
enpitsu
pencil
えいが
eiga
movie
えほん
ehon
picture book
えがお
egao
smile
えび
ebi
shrimp
えん
en
yen
えだ
eda
branch
えんそく
ensoku
school trip
えらぶ
erabu
to choose

お行 · O Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
おちゃ
ocha
tea
おかね
okane
money
おとこ
otoko
man
おんな
onna
woman
おとうさん
otousan
father
おかあさん
okaasan
mother
おおきい
ookii
big
おいしい
oishii
delicious
おてら
otera
temple
おふろ
ofuro
bath

か行 · Ka Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
かさ
kasa
umbrella
かお
kao
face
かみ
kami
paper / hair
かばん
kaban
bag
かぎ
kagi
key
かぜ
kaze
wind / cold
かぞく
kazoku
family
かた
kata
person / shoulder
かわ
kawa
river
かえる
kaeru
frog / to return

き行 · Ki Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ki
tree
きた
kita
north
きく
kiku
to hear / ask
きもの
kimono
kimono
きょう
kyou
today
きのう
kinou
yesterday
きっさてん
kissaten
coffee shop
きいろ
kiiro
yellow
きせつ
kisetsu
season
きもち
kimochi
feeling

く行 · Ku Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
くるま
kuruma
car
くに
kuni
country
くつ
kutsu
shoes
くだもの
kudamono
fruit
くも
kumo
cloud / spider
くち
kuchi
mouth
くすり
kusuri
medicine
くうこう
kuukou
airport
くらい
kurai
dark
くろ
kuro
black

け行 · Ke Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
けさ
kesa
this morning
けいたい
keitai
mobile phone
けいさつ
keisatsu
police
けしごむ
keshigomu
eraser
けんこう
kenkou
health
けっこん
kekkon
marriage
けいかく
keikaku
plan
けいご
keigo
honorific language
けしき
keshiki
scenery
けんがく
kengaku
field trip / study visit

こ行 · Ko Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
こども
kodomo
child
ここ
koko
here
これ
kore
this
こうえん
kouen
park
こうこう
koukou
high school
ことば
kotoba
word / language
こえ
koe
voice
こころ
kokoro
heart / mind
こたえ
kotae
answer
こめ
kome
rice

さ行 · Sa Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
さかな
sakana
fish
さくら
sakura
cherry blossom
さとう
satou
sugar
さむい
samui
cold
さいふ
saifu
wallet
さようなら
sayounara
goodbye
さかなや
sakanaya
fish shop
さんぽ
sanpo
walk
さき
saki
ahead / previous
さがす
sagasu
to search

し行 · Shi Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
しお
shio
salt
しごと
shigoto
work / job
しろ
shiro
white
しんぶん
shinbun
newspaper
しんせつ
shinsetsu
kind
しずか
shizuka
quiet
しゃしん
shashin
photo
しつもん
shitsumon
question
じかん
jikan
time
しあわせ
shiawase
happiness

す行 · Su Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
すし
sushi
sushi
すいか
suika
watermelon
すき
suki
like / favorite
すこし
sukoshi
a little
すぐ
sugu
soon / immediately
すずしい
suzushii
cool
すな
suna
sand
すわる
suwaru
to sit
すみません
sumimasen
excuse me / sorry
すいようび
suiyoubi
Wednesday

せ行 · Se Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
せんせい
sensei
teacher
せかい
sekai
world
せんたく
sentaku
laundry / washing
せんげつ
sengetsu
last month
せんしゅう
senshuu
last week
せんえん
sen-en
one thousand yen
せまい
semai
narrow
せなか
senaka
back
せいかつ
seikatsu
life / living
せつめい
setsumei
explanation

そ行 · So Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
そら
sora
sky
そと
soto
outside
そば
soba
soba noodles / side
そうじ
souji
cleaning
そふ
sofu
grandfather
そぼ
sobo
grandmother
そくたつ
sokutatsu
express delivery
そで
sode
sleeve
それ
sore
that
そろそろ
sorosoro
soon / gradually

た行 · Ta Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
たべもの
tabemono
food
たまご
tamago
egg
たべる
taberu
to eat
たのしい
tanoshii
fun
たいよう
taiyou
sun
たてもの
tatemono
building
たんじょうび
tanjoubi
birthday
たび
tabi
trip
たからもの
takaramono
treasure
たかい
takai
high / expensive

ち行 · Chi Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ちいさい
chiisai
small
ちず
chizu
map
ちかい
chikai
near
ちち
chichi
my father
ちから
chikara
power / strength
ちかてつ
chikatetsu
subway
ちゅうごく
chuugoku
China
ちょうど
choudo
exactly
ちずう
chizuu
map-related
ちょっと
chotto
a little

つ行 · Tsu Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
つき
tsuki
moon / month
つくえ
tsukue
desk
つめたい
tsumetai
cold to touch
つよい
tsuyoi
strong
つかう
tsukau
to use
つくる
tsukuru
to make
つぎ
tsugi
next
つまらない
tsumaranai
boring
つり
tsuri
fishing
ついたち
tsuitachi
first day of month

て行 · Te Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
te
hand
てがみ
tegami
letter
てんき
tenki
weather
てんぷら
tenpura
tempura
てれび
terebi
television
てぶくろ
tebukuro
gloves
てつだう
tetsudau
to help
てんいん
ten-in
shop clerk
ていねい
teinei
polite
てんごく
tengoku
heaven

と行 · To Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
とけい
tokei
clock / watch
ともだち
tomodachi
friend
とり
tori
bird
とまと
tomato
tomato
としょかん
toshokan
library
ところ
tokoro
place
とおい
tooi
far
とても
totemo
very
とびら
tobira
door
とまる
tomaru
to stop / stay

な行 · Na Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
なまえ
namae
name
なつ
natsu
summer
なに
nani
what
なか
naka
inside
なべ
nabe
pot / hot pot
なまえ
namae
name
ながい
nagai
long
なやむ
nayamu
to worry
なれる
nareru
to get used to
なみだ
namida
tear

に行 · Ni Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
にく
niku
meat
にほん
nihon
Japan
にわ
niwa
garden
にちようび
nichiyoubi
Sunday
にんじん
ninjin
carrot
にほんご
nihongo
Japanese language
におい
nioi
smell
にぎやか
nigiyaka
lively
にゅうがく
nyuugaku
school admission
にんき
ninki
popularity

ぬ行 · Nu Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ぬの
nuno
cloth
ぬるい
nurui
lukewarm
ぬぐ
nugu
to take off
ぬる
nuru
to paint / apply
ぬすむ
nusumu
to steal
ぬれる
nureru
to get wet
ぬいぐるみ
nuigurumi
stuffed toy
ぬかす
nukasu
to omit
ぬま
numa
swamp
ぬまち
numachi
marsh area

ね行 · Ne Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ねこ
neko
cat
ねつ
netsu
fever / heat
ねる
neru
to sleep
ねだん
nedan
price
ねんれい
nenrei
age
ねんまつ
nenmatsu
year-end
ねんがじょう
nengajou
New Year card
ねずみ
nezumi
mouse
ねがう
negau
to wish
ねっこ
nekko
root

の行 · No Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
のみもの
nomimono
drink
のりもの
norimono
vehicle
のむ
nomu
to drink
のる
noru
to ride
のど
nodo
throat
のうりょく
nouryoku
ability
のこる
nokoru
to remain
のばす
nobasu
to stretch
のぞむ
nozomu
to wish / desire
のり
nori
seaweed / glue

は行 · Ha Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
はな
hana
flower / nose
はし
hashi
chopsticks / bridge
はる
haru
spring
はやい
hayai
early / fast
はたらく
hataraku
to work
はじめる
hajimeru
to begin
はなし
hanashi
story / talk
はさみ
hasami
scissors
はこ
hako
box
はがき
hagaki
postcard

ひ行 · Hi Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ひと
hito
person
ひる
hiru
noon
ひこうき
hikouki
airplane
ひだり
hidari
left
ひるごはん
hirugohan
lunch
ひとつ
hitotsu
one thing
ひろい
hiroi
wide / spacious
ひかり
hikari
light
ひみつ
himitsu
secret
ひつよう
hitsuyou
necessary

ふ行 · Fu Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ふゆ
fuyu
winter
ふね
fune
ship
ふく
fuku
clothes
ふたつ
futatsu
two things
ふるい
furui
old
ふとい
futoi
thick / fat
ふうせん
fuusen
balloon
ふたり
futari
two people
ふべん
fuben
inconvenient
ふじさん
fujisan
Mount Fuji

へ行 · He Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
へや
heya
room
へた
heta
unskilled
へいわ
heiwa
peace
へん
hen
strange / area
へんじ
henji
reply
へる
heru
to decrease
へそ
heso
navel
へいじつ
heijitsu
weekday
へんこう
henkou
change / modification
へいき
heiki
okay / fine

ほ行 · Ho Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ほん
hon
book
ほし
hoshi
star
ほしい
hoshii
want
ほうほう
houhou
method
ほんとう
hontou
really / truth
ほうき
houki
broom
ほてる
hoteru
hotel
ほか
hoka
other
ほそい
hosoi
thin
ほめる
homeru
to praise

ま行 · Ma Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
まち
machi
town / city
まど
mado
window
まえ
mae
front / before
まいにち
mainichi
every day
まいあさ
maiasa
every morning
まつ
matsu
to wait / pine tree
まるい
marui
round
まんが
manga
comic
まじめ
majime
serious
まんなか
mannaka
middle

み行 · Mi Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
みず
mizu
water
みみ
mimi
ear
みせ
mise
shop
みち
michi
road
みどり
midori
green
みんな
minna
everyone
みかん
mikan
mandarin orange
みぎ
migi
right
みらい
mirai
future
みる
miru
to see / watch

む行 · Mu Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
むし
mushi
insect
むすこ
musuko
son
むすめ
musume
daughter
むら
mura
village
むずかしい
muzukashii
difficult
むこう
mukou
opposite / over there
むかし
mukashi
long ago
むり
muri
impossible
むね
mune
chest
むかえる
mukaeru
to welcome / pick up

め行 · Me Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
me
eye
めがね
megane
glasses
めずらしい
mezurashii
rare / unusual
めいし
meishi
business card / noun
めし
meshi
meal
めんせつ
mensetsu
interview
めんどう
mendou
troublesome
めざまし
mezamashi
alarm clock
めだつ
medatsu
to stand out
めちゃくちゃ
mechakucha
messy / extremely

も行 · Mo Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
もの
mono
thing
もり
mori
forest
もも
momo
peach
もんだい
mondai
problem / question
もっと
motto
more
もちろん
mochiron
of course
もらう
morau
to receive
もち
mochi
rice cake
もくようび
mokuyoubi
Thursday
もしもし
moshimoshi
hello on phone

や行 · Ya Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
やま
yama
mountain
やさい
yasai
vegetable
やすい
yasui
cheap / inexpensive
やすむ
yasumu
to rest
やくそく
yakusoku
promise / appointment
やきゅう
yakyuu
baseball
やおや
yaoya
vegetable shop
やさしい
yasashii
kind / easy
やっぱり
yappari
as expected
やかん
yakan
kettle

ゆ行 · Yu Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ゆき
yuki
snow
ゆめ
yume
dream
ゆび
yubi
finger
ゆうびんきょく
yuubinkyoku
post office
ゆうがた
yuugata
evening
ゆっくり
yukkuri
slowly
ゆうめい
yuumei
famous
ゆうはん
yuuhan
dinner
ゆか
yuka
floor
ゆせん
yusen
hot-water bath

よ行 · Yo Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
よる
yoru
night
よこ
yoko
side
よい
yoi
good
よむ
yomu
to read
よやく
yoyaku
reservation
ようふく
youfuku
Western clothes
ようび
youbi
day of the week
よてい
yotei
plan / schedule
よく
yoku
often / well
よろこぶ
yorokobu
to be pleased

ら行 · Ra Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
らいげつ
raigetsu
next month
らいしゅう
raishuu
next week
らいねん
rainen
next year
らく
raku
easy / comfortable
らーめん
raamen
ramen
らくだ
rakuda
camel
らんち
ranchi
lunch
らっぱ
rappa
trumpet
らいにち
rainichi
coming to Japan
らいじょう
raijou
attendance

り行 · Ri Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
りんご
ringo
apple
りょうり
ryouri
cooking / cuisine
りょこう
ryokou
travel
りゆう
riyuu
reason
りっぱ
rippa
splendid
りかい
rikai
understanding
りれきしょ
rirekisho
resume
りょうしん
ryoushin
parents
りょうほう
ryouhou
both / both methods
りす
risu
squirrel

る行 · Ru Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
るす
rusu
absence
るすばん
rusuban
house-sitting
るい
rui
kind / category
るり
ruri
lapis lazuli
るーる
ruuru
rule
るすばんでんわ
rusubandenwa
answering machine
るいじ
ruiji
similarity
るいせき
ruiseki
accumulation
るいけい
ruikei
type / category
るすばんちゅう
rusubanchuu
while away from home

れ行 · Re Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
れいぞうこ
reizouko
refrigerator
れんしゅう
renshuu
practice
れきし
rekishi
history
れんらく
renraku
contact
れいぶん
reibun
example sentence
れんきゅう
renkyuu
consecutive holidays
れんこん
renkon
lotus root
れいぎ
reigi
manners
れい
rei
example / bow
れっしゃ
ressha
train

ろ行 · Ro Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
ろうか
rouka
hallway
ろうじん
roujin
elderly person
ろく
roku
six
ろくおん
rokuon
recording
ろくが
rokuga
recording / video recording
ろうそく
rousoku
candle
ろてんぶろ
rotenburo
outdoor bath
ろば
roba
donkey
ろうかく
roukaku
tower / pavilion
ろじ
roji
alley

わ行 · Wa Row

10 Japanese words
10 words
わたし
watashi
I / me
わかる
wakaru
to understand
わすれる
wasureru
to forget
わるい
warui
bad
わらう
warau
to laugh
わに
wani
crocodile
わしつ
washitsu
Japanese-style room
わふく
wafuku
Japanese clothing
わたる
wataru
to cross
わりあい
wariai
ratio / proportion

を · Wo

10 Japanese words
10 words
wo
object particle
をとおる
wotooru
to pass through
をみる
womiru
to watch / see
をたべる
wotaberu
to eat
をのむ
wonomu
to drink
をよむ
woyomu
to read
をかく
wokaku
to write
をきく
wokiku
to listen / ask
をつかう
wotsukau
to use
をまつ
womatsu
to wait

ん · N

10 Japanese words
10 words
ほん
hon
book
ごはん
gohan
meal / rice
にほん
nihon
Japan
せんせい
sensei
teacher
でんわ
denwa
telephone
てんき
tenki
weather
えんぴつ
enpitsu
pencil
みんな
minna
everyone
かんじ
kanji
kanji
しんぶん
shinbun
newspaper

How to Learn Japanese Words with Hiragana

Start with one hiragana group at a time. Read each Japanese word, say the pronunciation aloud and listen to the audio. Then try to remember the English meaning without looking at the translation.

Once you know the basic characters, practise these words alongside our Hiragana Chart and test your recognition with the Hiragana Quiz.

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