Explore the writing examples below. Sound comparisons are approximate; use complete words and recordings to develop your listening and pronunciation.
| あ | [a] as in Alabama |
| い | [i] as in ink |
| う | [oo] as in tool |
| え | [e] as in egg |
| お | [o] as in old |
| は | [ha] as in hard |
| ひ | [hi] as in hips |
| ふ | [fu] as in full |
| へ | [he] as in help |
| ほ | [ho] as in home |
| か | [ka] as in Mecca |
| き | [ki] as in kiss |
| く | [ko] as in cook |
| け | [ke] as in ken |
| こ | [ko] as in cold |
| ま | [ma] as in mask |
| み | [mi] as in mill |
| む | [mu] as in mule |
| め | [me] as in men |
| も | [mo] as in more |
| さ | [sa] as in sat |
| し | [shi] as in ship |
| す | [su] as in suit |
| せ | [se] as in set |
| そ | [so] as in soy |
| や | [ya] as in yard |
| ゆ | [yu] as in you |
| よ | [yo] as in yoga |
| た | [ta] as in task |
| ち | [chi] as in chin |
| つ | [tsu] as in tsunami |
| て | [te] as in ten |
| と | [to] as in top |
| ら | [ra] as in rank |
| り | [ri] as in ring |
| る | [ru] as in ruby |
| れ | [re] as in red |
| ろ | [ro] as in rope |
| な | [na] as in now |
| に | [ni] as in niece |
| ぬ | [nu] as in nude |
| ね | [ne] as in net |
| の | [no] as in knock |
| わ | [wa] as in what |
| ゐ | [wi] as in wing |
| ん | [n] as in nice |
| ゑ | [we] as in wet |
| を | [wo] as in won |
The above letters in Japanese should allow you to read and write the following pages with much ease: popular phrases in Japanese, Japanese homepage, or Japanese Grammar. Japanese quiz and flashcard can also be found on our homepage.