Hiragana (ひらがな) is a useful foundation for Japanese reading and writing. It appears in grammar endings, particles, and many everyday words. If you're starting from zero, hiragana is a practical place to begin.
Why start with hiragana?
Unlike English, Japanese uses three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana appears frequently in sentences — for grammar particles, verb endings, and words that do not use kanji. Learning it makes beginner reading much easier.
The good news: the basic hiragana set has consistent readings. Begin with the first five characters, あいうえお (a, i, u, e, o), then connect them to short words such as あい (love) and いえ (house).
A simple 2-week plan
Week 1 — Learn the characters
- Study 5–7 characters per day using stroke order
- Practice writing each character 10 times
- Use mnemonics to remember tricky ones (like し for "she" or つ for a tsunami wave)
Week 2 — Build speed
- Practice reading simple words: あい (love), いぬ (dog), うみ (sea)
- Take timed quizzes to build recognition speed
- Start reading children's books or N5-level texts
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping stroke order — It helps with handwriting and remembering character shapes
- Rushing to kanji — Solid hiragana makes everything else easier
- Passive studying only — Write characters by hand, don't just stare at flashcards
How NihongoHub helps
Continue with characters, mind map, quizzes, or the blog. Read this guide in বাংলা.
A new NihongoHub app is coming. Join the launch waitlist to hear when it is ready.
Start with one small row today, then review it tomorrow before adding more.
Helpful answers for your next step
Understand one idea, try an example, and keep going at your own pace.
How do I start learning Japanese as a complete beginner?
Start with hiragana, then add katakana, a small set of everyday words, and simple sentence patterns. Read a little every day, say examples aloud, and review by recalling them instead of only rereading. NihongoHub’s beginner guides and character reference offer a first path towards N5; treat N5 as a direction rather than a promise of a fixed timetable.
References: Irodori: What is Irodori? · Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture
How can I memorize hiragana effectively?
Learn hiragana in small rows, connect each character to its sound, and practise reading and writing the same set. Mix recognition with recall: hide the answer, read あいうえお aloud, write a character from its sound, and revisit the row after a gap. Mnemonics can start a memory, but repeated reading in short words makes the recognition durable.
References: Irodori Starter materials · NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese
Edited by the NihongoHub Team · 14 September 2026 · Sources & corrections