hiragana chart
hiragana (ひらがな) is one of the two phonetic alphabets used to write Japanese. It has 46 base characters, each representing a single sound (mora). hiragana is used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, verb endings, and any word for which the kanji is not known or commonly used. Mastering hiragana is the first step of any Japanese course and usually takes between one and three weeks of focused practice.
katakana chart
katakana (カタカナ) is the second phonetic alphabet, also with 46 base characters that represent the same sounds as hiragana. It is used primarily for loanwords (パン, コーヒー), foreign names, scientific terms, onomatopoeia, and emphasis. Because the sounds map one-to-one to hiragana, learners often find katakana easier to learn second — though the angular shapes take a little longer to recognise at speed.
Dakuten, handakuten & combination sounds
The 46 base characters are only the start. Adding a dakuten (゛) turns voiceless sounds into voiced ones — か→が (ka→ga), さ→ざ (sa→za), た→だ (ta→da), は→ば (ha→ba) — while a handakuten (゜) turns は into ぱ (pa). Small や, ゆ, よ combine with the i-row to make yōon contracted sounds such as きゃ (kya), しゅ (shu) and ちょ (cho). A small っ (sokuon) doubles the following consonant, as in きって (kitte). Once you know the base chart, these patterns are quick to add.
The smartest order to learn kana
Most learners start with hiragana because it appears in every sentence, then move to katakana once the sounds are familiar. Work in vowel groups — あいうえお, then かきくけこ — five characters at a time, writing each by hand while saying it aloud. Aim for ten new characters a day and you can read both syllabaries within two to three weeks. Reinforce them immediately by reading real words on the N5 vocabulary list rather than studying the chart in isolation.
Kana that learners mix up
A few shapes look almost identical and cause most early mistakes. In katakana, シ (shi) vs ツ (tsu) and ソ (so) vs ン (n) differ only in stroke direction. In hiragana, watch は (ha) vs ほ (ho), ね (ne) vs れ (re) vs わ (wa), and る (ru) vs ろ (ro). Tracing them with correct stroke order in the writing sandbox is the fastest way to stop confusing them.
How to use the charts
Tap a character to hear it pronounced by the speech engine. Use the chart as a quick reference while you work through the grammar notes or the vocabulary lists. For structured writing practice, the kana sandbox on the Tools page lets you trace each character with stroke order.
Frequently asked questions
Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?
hiragana first. It is used for grammar, particles and native words in every sentence, so it pays off immediately. Learn katakana next — the sounds are identical, only the shapes change.
How long does it take to memorise kana?
With daily practice of about ten characters, most learners read both hiragana and katakana confidently in two to three weeks. Reading real words speeds this up far more than re-reading the chart.
Do I still need romaji once I know kana?
No — and it is best to drop it early. Romaji slows your reading and hides pitch and long-vowel distinctions. Switch to kana as soon as you can sound out simple words.