NihongoDoya

Hiragana Flashcards Pack

Printable Flashcards for Japanese Beginners

Author: NihongoDoya
Target: Japanese Language Beginners, JLPT N5, JFT-Basic Learners
Features: 46 Basic Characters • Stroke Counts • Printable Double-sided • Doodles Included
Copyright: © 2026 NihongoDoya. All rights reserved.

How to Print and Study

Get the most out of your printable educational Hiragana flashcards.

Printing Instructions

Card Stock Selection Print on thick A4 card stock (200gsm to 300gsm). A matte finish is highly recommended for writing on cards and avoiding bright glare under study lamps.
Double-Sided (Duplex) Alignment This pack is pre-formatted for duplex printing. Print odd pages for fronts, even pages for backs. Select "Flip on Short Edge" in your print settings.
Visible Cut Lines Cut along the solid gray border lines using a paper cutter or scissors. For safety and a clean finish, you can round the corners of the cards.
Lamination (Optional) Laminating your cards using standard thermal laminating sheets will protect them from tears, dirt, and water, extending their lifespan indefinitely.

Study Methods & Tips

Active Recall Mastery Look at the Hiragana front, try to pronounce the character, write it down on scrap paper, then flip the card to check. Do not just look at both sides passively!
Spaced Repetition System (SRS) Sort cards into three physical piles: Hard (review daily), Medium (review every 3 days), and Easy (review once a week). Move cards between piles as you master them.
Visual Vocabulary Association Hiragana is the foundation of Japanese writing. Associate each card's character with the cute doodle on the front and example vocabulary on the back.

Hiragana Gojuon Table

A quick reference grid of the 46 basic Hiragana characters grouped by syllable.

Vowel

A

Ka

Sa

Ta

Na

Ha

Ma

Ya

Ra

Wa

N

A

あ a

か ka

さ sa

た ta

な na

は ha

ま ma

や ya

ら ra

わ wa

ん n

I

い i

き ki

し shi

ち chi

に ni

ひ hi

み mi

—

り ri

—

U

う u

く ku

す su

つ tsu

ぬ nu

ふ fu

む mu

ゆ yu

る ru

—

E

え e

け ke

せ se

て te

ね ne

へ he

め me

—

れ re

—

O

お o

こ ko

そ so

と to

の no

ほ ho

も mo

よ yo

ろ ro

を wo

—

A / あ行 3 Strokes

あ

A / あ行 2 Strokes

い

A / あ行 2 Strokes

う

A / あ行 2 Strokes

え

A / あ行 3 Strokes

お

Ka / か行 3 Strokes

か

Ka / か行 4 Strokes

き

Ka / か行 1 Stroke

く

え

e

Pronounced like the 'e' in pet.

えんぴつ (enpitsu)

pencil

う

u

Pronounced like the 'oo' in boot.

うみ (umi)

sea / ocean

い

i

Pronounced like the 'ee' in meet.

いぬ (inu)

dog

あ

a

Pronounced like the 'a' in father.

あさ (asa)

morning

く

ku

Pronounced like 'koo' (k + oo in boot).

くるま (kuruma)

car

き

ki

Pronounced like 'kee' (k + ee in meet).

きつね (kitsune)

fox

か

ka

Pronounced like 'kah' (k + a in father).

かさ (kasa)

umbrella

お

o

Pronounced like the 'o' in solo.

おにぎり (onigiri)

rice ball

Ka / か行 3 Strokes

け

Ka / か行 2 Strokes

こ

Sa / さ行 3 Strokes

さ

Sa / さ行 1 Stroke

し

Sa / さ行 2 Strokes

す

Sa / さ行 3 Strokes

せ

Sa / さ行 1 Stroke

そ

Ta / た行 4 Strokes

た

し

shi

Pronounced like 'shee' (sh + ee in meet).

しんかんせん (shinkansen)

bullet train

さ

sa

Pronounced like 'sah' (s + a in father).

さかな (sakana)

fish

こ

ko

Pronounced like 'koh' (k + o in solo).

こども (kodomo)

child

け

ke

Pronounced like 'keh' (k + e in pet).

けしごむ (keshigomu)

eraser

た

ta

Pronounced like 'tah' (t + a in father).

たまご (tamago)

egg

そ

so

Pronounced like 'soh' (s + o in solo).

そら (sora)

sky

せ

se

Pronounced like 'seh' (s + e in pet).

せんせい (sensei)

teacher

す

su

Pronounced like 'soo' (s + oo in boot).

すし (sushi)

sushi

Ta / た行 2 Strokes

ち

Ta / た行 1 Stroke

つ

Ta / た行 1 Stroke

て

Ta / た行 2 Strokes

と

Na / な行 4 Strokes

な

Na / な行 3 Strokes

に

Na / な行 2 Strokes

ぬ

Na / な行 2 Strokes

ね

と

to

Pronounced like 'toh' (t + o in solo).

ともだち (tomodachi)

friend

て

te

Pronounced like 'teh' (t + e in pet).

てがみ (tegami)

letter

つ

tsu

Pronounced like 'tsoo' (ts + oo in boot).

つくえ (tsukue)

desk

ち

chi

Pronounced like 'chee' (ch + ee in meet).

ちず (chizu)

map

ね

ne

Pronounced like 'neh' (n + e in pet).

ねこ (neko)

cat

ぬ

nu

Pronounced like 'noo' (n + oo in boot).

ぬいぐるみ (nuigurumi)

stuffed animal

に

ni

Pronounced like 'nee' (n + ee in meet).

にほんご (nihongo)

Japanese language

な

na

Pronounced like 'nah' (n + a in father).

なつ (natsu)

summer

Na / な行 1 Stroke

の

Ha / は行 3 Strokes

は

Ha / は行 1 Stroke

ひ

Ha / は行 4 Strokes

ふ

Ha / は行 1 Stroke

へ

Ha / は行 4 Strokes

ほ

Ma / ま行 3 Strokes

ま

Ma / ま行 2 Strokes

み

ふ

fu

Pronounced like 'foo' (breath through lips).

ふじさん (fujisan)

Mt. Fuji

ひ

hi

Pronounced like 'hee' (h + ee in meet).

ひこうき (hikōki)

airplane

は

ha

Pronounced like 'hah' (h + a in father).

はな (hana)

flower

の

no

Pronounced like 'noh' (n + o in solo).

のりもの (norimono)

vehicle

み

mi

Pronounced like 'mee' (m + ee in meet).

みず (mizu)

water

ま

ma

Pronounced like 'mah' (m + a in father).

まつり (matsuri)

festival

ほ

ho

Pronounced like 'hoh' (h + o in solo).

ほん (hon)

book

へ

he

Pronounced like 'heh' (h + e in pet).

へや (heya)

room

Ma / ま行 3 Strokes

む

Ma / ま行 2 Strokes

め

Ma / ま行 3 Strokes

も

Ya / や行 3 Strokes

や

Ya / や行 2 Strokes

ゆ

Ya / や行 2 Strokes

よ

Ra / ら行 2 Strokes

ら

Ra / ら行 2 Strokes

り

や

ya

Pronounced like 'yah' (y + a in father).

やま (yama)

mountain

も

mo

Pronounced like 'moh' (m + o in solo).

もみじ (momiji)

maple leaf

め

me

Pronounced like 'meh' (m + e in pet).

めがね (megane)

glasses

む

mu

Pronounced like 'moo' (m + oo in boot).

むし (mushi)

insect

り

ri

Pronounced like Japanese 'r' + 'ee' in meet.

りんご (ringo)

apple

ら

ra

Pronounced like Japanese 'r' + 'a'.

らいおん (raion)

lion

よ

yo

Pronounced like 'yoh' (y + o in solo).

よる (yoru)

night

ゆ

yu

Pronounced like 'yoo' (y + oo in boot).

ゆき (yuki)

snow

Ra / ら行 1 Stroke

る

Ra / ら行 2 Strokes

れ

Ra / ら行 1 Stroke

ろ

Wa / わ行 2 Strokes

わ

Wa / わ行 3 Strokes

を

N / ん 1 Stroke

ん

Bonus Card / 応援 Go!

がんばれ!

Review Card / 復習 Web

どや顔

わ

wa

Pronounced like 'wah' (w + a in father).

わたあめ (wataame)

cotton candy

ろ

ro

Pronounced like Japanese 'r' + 'o' in solo.

ろうそく (rōsoku)

candle

れ

re

Pronounced like Japanese 'r' + 'e' in pet.

れいぞうこ (reizōko)

refrigerator

る

ru

Pronounced like Japanese 'r' + 'oo' in boot.

るすばん (rusuban)

staying home

どや顔

Doyagao

Show off your proud 'doya' face! Scan nihongodoya.com for support.

にほんご (nihongo)

Japanese language

がんばれ!

Ganbare!

You can master Hiragana! Consistency is key. Practice daily!

ファイト (faito)

Do your best!

ん

n

Pronounced like the 'n' in pen. Never starts a word.

ほん (hon)

book

を

wo

Pronounced like 'o' (the 'w' is silent).

はなをみる (hana o miru)

see a flower

Deck Divider / あぎょう Index 1

あ行

あいうえお

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / かぎょう Index 2

か行

かきくけこ

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / さぎょう Index 3

さ行

さしすせそ

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / たぎょう Index 4

た行

たちつてと

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / なぎょう Index 5

な行

なにぬねの

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / はぎょう Index 6

は行

はひふへほ

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / まぎょう Index 7

ま行

まみむめも

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / やぎょう Index 8

や行

やゆよ

DIVIDER

た行 Ta

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

た • ち • つ • て • と

さ行 Sa

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

さ • し • す • せ • そ

か行 Ka

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

か • き • く • け • こ

あ行 A

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

あ • い • う • え • お

や行 Ya

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

や • ゆ • よ

ま行 Ma

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

ま • み • む • め • も

は行 Ha

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

は • ひ • ふ • へ • ほ

な行 Na

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

な • に • ぬ • ね • の

Deck Divider / らぎょう Index 9

ら行

らりるれろ

DIVIDER

Deck Divider / わぎょう Index 10

わ行

わをん

DIVIDER

Grammar Note Rules 1

がぎぐげご

Dakuten (゛)

STUDY AID

Grammar Note Rules 2

ぱぴぷぺぽ

Handakuten (゜)

STUDY AID

Grammar Note Rules 3

きゃきゅきょ

Yōon (ゃゅょ)

STUDY AID

Grammar Note Rules 4

っ (small つ)

Sokuon (っ)

STUDY AID

Memo Card Writing

学習メモ

Study Notes

STUDY AID

Memo Card Quotes

一歩一歩

Step by Step

STUDY AID

ぱぴぷぺぽ P-Sounds

Handakuten (゜)

Turns H-sounds to P-sounds. Example: は (ha) becomes ぱ (pa).

NihongoDoya Study System

がぎぐげご Voiced Sounds

Dakuten (゛)

Turns unvoiced consonants to voiced. K -> G, S -> Z, T -> D, H -> B.

NihongoDoya Study System

わ行 Wa & N

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

わ • を • ん

ら行 Ra

CHECKLIST & TIP

Check: [ ] Read [ ] Write [ ] Master

ら • り • る • れ • ろ

一歩一歩 Motivation

Step by Step

Every day of study is a step closer to fluency. Ganbatte! - NihongoDoya

NihongoDoya Study System

学習メモ My Progress

Study Notes

Use this card to write your personal study reminders and goals.

NihongoDoya Study System

っ (small つ) Double Consonant

Sokuon (っ)

A small tsu doubles the following consonant sound (e.g. きって / kitte).

NihongoDoya Study System

きゃきゅきょ Contracted Sounds

Yōon (ゃゅょ)

Combines an I-row character with small Ya, Yu, or Yo (e.g. にゃ / nya).

NihongoDoya Study System

Hiragana Orthography & Sound Modifiers

Learn how to represent voiced consonants, palatalized sounds, and double consonants in written Japanese.

Voiced (Dakuten) & Semi-Voiced (Handakuten)

1. Dakuten (゛): The double stroke modifies unvoiced syllables into voiced ones:
• K ➔ G: か (ka) ➔ が (ga)
• S ➔ Z: さ (sa) ➔ ざ (za) (し/shi becomes じ/ji)
• T ➔ D: た (ta) ➔ だ (da) (ち/chi becomes ぢ/dji, つ/tsu becomes づ/dzu)
• H ➔ B: は (ha) ➔ ば (ba)

2. Handakuten (゜): The small circle modifies H syllables into P-sounds:
• H ➔ P: は (ha) ➔ ぱ (pa), ひ (hi) ➔ ぴ (pi), etc.

Double Consonants (Sokuon): The small っ (tsu) is not pronounced. Instead, it creates a one-beat pause, doubling the consonant that follows (e.g. きって / kitte / stamp, or きっぷ / kippu / ticket).

Contracted Sounds (Yōon)

Yōon combines an I-vowel character (like き, し, ち) with a small version of や (ya), ゆ (yu), or よ (yo) to create a single contracted syllable:

Base + Small	Sound	Example Word	English Meaning
しゃ (し + ゃ)	sha	お医者さん (oishasan)	doctor
きょ (き + ょ)	kyo	今日 (kyō)	today
ちゃ (ち + ゃ)	cha	お茶 (ocha)	green tea
りょ (り + ょ)	ryo	旅行 (ryokō)	travel
にゅ (に + ゅ)	nyu	牛乳 (gyūnyū)	milk
ひょ (ひ + ょ)	hyo	ひょう (hyō)	leopard / hail

Essential Vocabulary in Japanese

Master these common words that you will encounter daily in conversations, books, and signs throughout Japan.

さくら

sakura

cherry blossom

すし

sushi

ねこ

neko

cat

いぬ

inu

dog

てんぷら

tenpura

tempura

きもの

kimono

あめ

ame

rain / candy

うみ

umi

sea / ocean

ともだち

tomodachi

friend

せんせい

sensei

teacher

にほん

nihon

Japan

はなび

hanabi

fireworks

Stroke Order & Grid Tracing

Use the dotted lines to align your letters correctly. Trace the light gray character first, then write your own.

あ

い

う

え

お

か

My Learning Checklist

Track your mastery of each column. Check the boxes once you can read, write, and identify the characters in under 2 seconds.

Hiragana Group	Characters	Read	Write	Master
A (あ行)	あいうえお
Ka (か行)	かきくけこ
Sa (さ行)	さしすせそ
Ta (た行)	たちつてと
Na (な行)	なにぬねの
Ha (は行)	はひふへほ
Ma (ま行)	まみむめも
Ya (や行)	やゆよ
Ra (ら行)	らりるれろ
Wa (わ行)	わをん

7-Day Hiragana Mastery Challenge

Follow this step-by-step roadmap to achieve complete Hiragana proficiency in just one week.

1

Day 1: Vowels & K (あ - こ)

Learn the core vowels and K-sounds. Write 5 basic words using them (e.g. あさ, おにぎり).

2

Day 2: S & T (さ - と)

Learn the next 10 characters. Pay special attention to write and distinguish さ (sa) vs ち (chi).

3

Day 3: N & H (な - ほ)

Learn these columns. Notice how loop characters are drawn: ぬ vs ね vs の, and は vs ほ.

4

Day 4: M & Y (ま - よ)

Study these characters. Practice connecting them to make vocabulary words. Y has only 3 syllables!

5

Day 5: R, W & N (ら - ん)

Master the remaining Hiragana characters. Note the sound of the Japanese R-flap and how ん is used.

6

Day 6: Speed Card Review

Shuffle your printed Hiragana deck. Set a stopwatch and review the cards. Try to complete it in under 2 minutes!

7

Day 7: The Vocab Challenge

Go to the Common Words page (Page 21) and read all 12 vocabulary words out loud. Check your score!

Mastery Badge

Color in this trophy badge once you complete all 7 days and master reading and writing Hiragana!