Hiragana: Complete Table with Russian Reading
Hiragana — a complete table with each character's Russian reading — consists of 46 basic syllables plus derivatives: 25 voiced (が, ざ, だ, ば), 5 semi-voiced (ぱ), and 33 contracted (きゃ, しゅ, ちょ). A character has no 'translation': it conveys a sound, not a meaning, so the table shows readings, not meanings.
The first Japanese alphabet can be mastered in three to five days if you take it in batches and immediately write by hand. Let's break down the table's composition and the rows where people most often stumble.
What the Hiragana Table Consists Of
| Row | Characters | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Vowels | あ い う え お | a, i, u, e, o |
| K | か き く け こ | ka, ki, ku, ke, ko |
| S | さ し す せ そ | sa, shi, su, se, so |
| T | た ち つ て と | ta, chi, tsu, te, to |
| N | な に ぬ ね の | na, ni, nu, ne, no |
| H | は ひ ふ へ ほ | ha, hi, fu, he, ho |
| M | ま み む め も | ma, mi, mu, me, mo |
| Y | や ゆ よ | ya, yu, yo |
| R | ら り る れ ろ | ra, ri, ru, re, ro |
| W and N | わ を ん | wa, o, n |
Characters That Break the Pattern
Three syllables are not read according to the pattern: し is 'shi', not 'si', ち is 'chi', つ is 'tsu', ふ is somewhere between 'fu' and 'hu'. It's easier to memorize them as exceptions right away than to derive them each time by rule.
Voiced and Contracted Syllables
| What We Add | How It Looks | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two small strokes (dakuten) | か → が | が, ざ, だ, ば — ga, za, da, ba |
| Small circle (handakuten) | は → ぱ | ぱ, ぴ, ぷ, ぺ, ぽ |
| Small や ゆ よ | き + ゃ = きゃ | きゃ, しゅ, ちょ — kya, shu, cho |
| Small っ | doubling of consonant | きって (kitte — stamp) |
How to Learn Within a Week
In batches of 10–15 characters: learn a row, then immediately write it by hand and read a dozen words with it. Passively staring at the table doesn't work, but writing reinforces the form in one go. Voiced and contracted syllables don't need separate study — they derive from the basic ones.
FAQ
- How many characters are in hiragana?
- 46 basic, plus 25 voiced, 5 semi-voiced, and 33 contracted — but the derivatives are derived from the basic ones.
- Do hiragana characters have a translation?
- No: a character conveys a sound, not a meaning. The table shows readings, not meanings.
- How long does it take to learn hiragana?
- Three to five days if you work in batches of 10–15 characters with mandatory handwriting.
- Which characters are read irregularly?
- し (shi), ち (chi), つ (tsu), and ふ (between 'fu' and 'hu'). They are memorized as exceptions.
Updated: 2026-07-25