JLPT N5 Lesson 1: The Japanese Writing System

An introduction to the Japanese writing system: Hiragana and Katakana. Learn the foundational scripts required to begin your journey toward N5 proficiency.

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Introduction to Japanese Scripts

Japanese is unique among world languages for its use of three distinct writing systems: Hiragana (ひらがな), Katakana (カタカナ), and Kanji (漢字).

  • Hiragana: The foundational script. It is used for grammatical particles, verb endings, and native Japanese words.
  • Katakana: The angular script. It is primarily used for foreign loanwords, names of people from outside Japan, and onomatopoeia.
  • Kanji: Chinese characters used to represent concepts or words.

In this lesson, we will focus exclusively on mastering Hiragana and Katakana. Do not worry about Kanji yet; your first goal is to learn the 46 base characters of each syllabary.

Part 1: Hiragana (ひらがな)

Hiragana is phonetic, meaning each character represents a specific sound. There are 46 basic characters. They are always written as syllables (a consonant + a vowel, or just a vowel).

The Vowel Sounds

The foundation of the Japanese sound system is the five vowels:

  • あ (a), い (i), う (u), え (e), お (o)

The Consonant-Vowel Grid

Most characters follow a pattern. For example, the "K" row is:

  • か (ka), き (ki), く (ku), け (ke), こ (ko)

Note: The only character that does not follow a consonant-vowel pattern is ん (n), which is a standalone nasal sound.

Part 2: Katakana (カタカナ)

Katakana represents the exact same sounds as Hiragana. You will use these when you encounter words like "Coffee" or "Camera."

  • Hiragana: あ (a) → Katakana: ア (a)
  • Hiragana: か (ka) → Katakana: カ (ka)

While the shapes are different, the pronunciation remains identical.

Part 3: Sound Modifications

To express the full range of Japanese sounds, we modify the base characters using three specific rules:

1. Dakuten (゛) and Handakuten (゜)

  • Dakuten (゛): Two small dots added to the top right of a character turn unvoiced sounds into voiced ones.
    • Example: か (ka) + ゛ = が (ga)
    • Example: さ (sa) + ゛ = ざ (za)
  • Handakuten (゜): A small circle added to the top right of the "H" row characters turns them into "P" sounds.
    • Example: は (ha) + ゜ = ぱ (pa)

2. Yōon (Contracted Sounds)

When you combine a character ending in "i" (like き - ki) with a small ゃ (ya), ゅ (yu), or ょ (yo), you create a single blended syllable.

  • Example: き (ki) + ゃ (ya) = きゃ (kya)
  • Example: し (shi) + ゅ (yu) = しゅ (shu)

3. Small "tsu" (っ) and Long Vowels

  • Double Consonants (っ): A small "tsu" indicates a momentary pause (a "glottal stop"). It doubles the consonant that follows it.
    • Example: がっこう (ga-k-kou) = School.
  • Long Vowels: In Katakana, a long vowel is indicated by a dash (ー).
    • Example: コーヒー (kōhī) = Coffee.

Vocabulary List (Kana Focus)

These words are written in Hiragana or Katakana to help you practice your reading.

Japanese Romaji English
あい ai Love
いえ ie House
かさ kasa Umbrella
すし sushi Sushi
ねこ neko Cat
いぬ inu Dog
カメラ kamera Camera
コーヒー kōhī Coffee
テレビ terebi Television
パン pan Bread
バス basu Bus
テスト tesuto Test

Grammar: The Basics of Sentence Structure

Now that you understand the writing system, let's look at how these characters form simple sentences.

1. The Topic Marker: は (wa)

In Japanese, the particle は (written as 'ha' but pronounced 'wa') marks the topic of the sentence.

  • Structure: [Topic] + は + [Comment] + です。
  • Example: わたしはたなかです。(Watashi wa Tanaka desu.) — "As for me, I am Tanaka."

2. The Copula: です (desu)

です is a polite way to end a sentence. It functions similarly to the English verb "to be" (is/am/are).

  • Example: いぬです。(Inu desu.) — "It is a dog."

3. The Object Marker: を (o)

The particle を (pronounced 'o') marks the direct object of an action.

  • Structure: [Object] + を + [Verb]
  • Example: パンをたべます。(Pan o tabemasu.) — "I eat bread."

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Transliteration

Convert the following Romaji into Hiragana or Katakana:

  1. Neko (Cat)
  2. Sushi (Sushi)
  3. Kamera (Camera)
  4. Inu (Dog)
  5. Pan (Bread)

Exercise 2: Identify the Particle

Fill in the blank with the correct particle (は or を):

  1. わたし ____ たなかです。 (I am Tanaka.)
  2. コーヒー ____ ください。 (Coffee, please.)

Answer Key

Exercise 1:

  1. ねこ
  2. すし
  3. カメラ
  4. いぬ
  5. パン

Exercise 2:

  1. わたし は たなかです。
  2. コーヒー を ください。

Cultural Note: The Origins of Scripts

Hiragana was developed in the Heian period (794–1185) primarily by court women. Because it was used to write poetry and novels, it is known for its flowing, cursive, and elegant style. Katakana, however, was developed by Buddhist monks as a shorthand method for transcribing Chinese religious texts. Because it was used for technical, "foreign" information, it became the standard for loanwords today. Understanding this history helps explain why we use two different systems for the same sounds!