1-10-Basic_HIragana

Question 1

あ

Answer 1

a - あい (ai) - ‘ah-ee’ (love)

Open your mouth wide, place the tongue low, and say “ah” (like in “car”).

Question 2

い

Answer 2

i - いぬ (inu) - ‘ee-noo’ (dog)

Smile slightly, tongue touches the bottom of upper teeth, say “ee” (like in “see”).

Question 3

う

Answer 3

u - うみ (umi) - ‘oo-mee’ (sea)

Lips are rounded but not as much as English “oo”, say “oo” (like in “food”, but unrounded).

Question 4

え

Answer 4

e - えき (eki) - ‘eh-kee’ (station)

Keep the mouth half-open, tongue slightly raised, say “eh” (like in “bet”).

Question 5

お

Answer 5

o - おかね (okane) - ‘oh-kah-neh’ (money)

Lips are rounded, but not as strong as English “oh”, say “oh” (like in “go”).

Question 6

か

Answer 6

ka - かさ (kasa) - ‘kah-sah’ (umbrella)

Hard “k” sound, like “car”.

Question 7

き

Answer 7

ki - きた (kita) - ‘kee-tah’ (north)

“Key” but shorter and sharper.

Question 8

く

Answer 8

ku - くるま (kuruma) - ‘koo-roo-mah’ (car)

Like “coo”, but without lip rounding.

Question 9

け

Answer 9

ke - けしごむ (keshigomu) - ‘keh-shee-goh-mu’ (eraser)

Like “kettle”, but without diphthong.

Question 10

こ

Answer 10

ko - ことば (kotoba) - ‘koh-toh-bah’ (word)

Like “coat”, but shorter and without rounding.