Welcome to your third lesson. In our previous sessions, you've learned about the three Japanese writing systems and, crucially, mastered the concept of the mora, the rhythmic heartbeat of the Japanese language. You can now recognize the five core vowel sounds: a, i, u, e, o.
Today, we transition from sound to script. You will learn to read and write the five hiragana characters that represent these vowel sounds: あ (a), い (i), う (u), え (e), and お (o). Mastering these five characters is the first and most important step in learning to write Japanese. We will pay close attention to stroke order, a fundamental principle that ensures your writing is both legible and efficient.
Why Stroke Order is Crucial
Before we begin, let's address why learning the correct stroke order is so important. It might seem like a minor detail, but it's the foundation of all Japanese handwriting. Following the correct sequence:
- Ensures Balance and Proportionality: Correct stroke order helps create well-formed, balanced characters.
- Improves Legibility: Characters written with the proper stroke order are easier for native speakers (and yourself) to read.
- Increases Speed: Once the patterns become muscle memory, you'll be able to write much faster and more naturally.
- Helps with Recognition: The kinetic motion of writing a character correctly reinforces its shape in your memory, making it easier to recognize when reading.
The basic principles are simple: strokes are generally drawn from top to bottom and from left to right. As we'll see, there are also different ways a stroke can end, which affects the character's final appearance.
The following video is an excellent guide for this lesson. The instructor, Yuko Sensei, clearly explains the stroke order and introduces three types of stroke endings: stop, release (a gradual lift), and brush up (a flick or hook). Pay close attention to these details as you watch.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
This video from Yuko Sensei provides a fantastic introduction to writing the hiragana vowels, with a special focus on correct stroke endings.
Before we dive into the characters, watch the introductory segment from the beginning to understand the format and the three crucial stroke endings: Stop (s), Release (r), and Brush up (b).
Now, let's learn each vowel one by one. Get a pen and some paper ready—gridded paper is ideal if you have it.
1. あ (a)
This is the first character in the Japanese syllabary. It is pronounced 'a' as in "father".
How to Write あ:
It consists of three strokes:
- A horizontal line from left to right, slightly angled up.
- A vertical line that starts above the first stroke, curves down through it, and sweeps to the left.
- A final, looping stroke on the right side that crosses over itself.
Yuko Sensei's video gives a perfect demonstration, pointing out common mistakes like incorrect proportions.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
Let's watch how to write あ.
Watch the demonstration from the start of 'a'. Notice how the second stroke is curved and the third stroke creates two open spaces of different sizes.
For a detailed written guide and a helpful memory aid, the resource from JapanesePod101 is excellent.
The Hiragana Vowels - JapanesePod101
This page gives detailed textual descriptions for writing each vowel.
Read the section for あ (a). It breaks down each stroke's movement. For a mnemonic, think of the character's main shape as an "Apple" with a stem.
2. い (i)
This character represents the sound 'i', as in "machine". It's one of the simplest hiragana.
How to Write い:
It consists of two strokes:
- A curved vertical line on the left, ending with a small hook or "flick" (a hane).
- A shorter, curved vertical line on the right.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
Now, let's watch the simple and elegant strokes for い.
Watch the short segment on 'i'. Pay attention to the flick at the end of the first stroke and the slight curve of both lines.
The JapanesePod101 resource provides a clear description of the relationship between the two strokes.
The Hiragana Vowels - JapanesePod101
Continue with the same resource for the next character.
Find and read the description for い (i). Notice the tip about the first stroke connecting to the second.
3. う (u)
This character represents the sound 'u', as in "flute". Remember from our last lesson, the lips are not rounded as much as in English.
How to Write う:
It consists of two strokes:
- A short, diagonal tick at the top.
- A large, curving stroke underneath that resembles the letter 'C' tipped on its back.
A common mistake is to connect the two strokes, but they should remain separate.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
Next up is う. The alignment of the two strokes is key here.
Watch Yuko Sensei's explanation for 'u'. She gives an excellent tip about imagining a vertical line to keep the character balanced.
The Hiragana Vowels - JapanesePod101
Let's get the written instructions for う.
Read the section for う (u). Focus on the "ear shape" description for the second stroke.
4. え (e)
This character represents the sound 'e', as in "bet". Its shape is a bit more complex.
How to Write え:
It consists of two strokes:
- A short, diagonal tick at the top, similar to う.
- A longer, zigzagging stroke that starts to the right, goes left, down diagonally, and finishes with a wave-like curve to the right.
The most challenging part is the brief moment where you retrace your line.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
The character え can be tricky. Let's see how it's done.
Watch the demonstration for 'e'. Notice how the second stroke is one continuous motion that looks like a squiggly number '7'.
The Hiragana Vowels - JapanesePod101
The written description can help clarify the complex second stroke.
Read the section on え (e). The tip about "writing a number 7" and then making a small wave is very helpful.
5. お (o)
Finally, this character represents the sound 'o', as in "old". It is visually similar to あ, so be careful.
How to Write お:
It consists of three strokes:
- A horizontal line from left to right.
- A vertical line that starts above, goes through the first stroke, and forms a loop at the bottom.
- A small, separate diagonal tick on the upper right.
The key difference from あ is this separate tick; in あ, the final stroke is connected and forms part of the main body.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
Let's learn our final vowel, お.
Watch the segment for 'o'. Pay close attention to the placement of the third stroke—the small dash.
The Hiragana Vowels - JapanesePod101
Let's see the final written description.
Read the section on お (o). The guide points out how the left side should be aligned and how to balance the character's proportions.
Time to Practice!
Now that you've been introduced to all five vowels, the most important step is to practice writing them yourself.
Grab your notebook and a pen. Write each character—あ, い, う, え, お—at least 10-20 times. As you write, say the sound out loud. This will build a strong connection between the visual shape, the physical motion, and the sound.
For a guided practice session, use the interactive quiz from Yuko Sensei's video.
Learn How to Write Hiragana 1 - A I U E O あいうえお and N ん #hiragana
This is a great way to test your recall and practice under a little time pressure.
Pause the video when prompted at the start of the practice. Write the characters on your paper, and then check your work against the answers.
Reading Your First Japanese Words
Congratulations! You can now read and write your first Japanese words. Try reading the following words, which are made up only of the characters you've just learned.
| Hiragana | Rōmaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| あい | ai | love |
| うえ | ue | up, above |
| あお | ao | blue |
| いえ | ie | house |
| いいえ | iie | no |
Practice writing these words as well. This will help you get used to combining the characters.
Key Takeaways
- You can now read and write the five fundamental hiragana vowels: あ, い, う, え, お.
- Stroke order is essential for creating balanced, legible, and quickly written characters. The general rules are top-to-bottom and left-to-right.
- Practice is key. Repeatedly writing the characters while saying them aloud is the most effective way to memorize them.
Looking Ahead
You have now built the essential foundation for reading and writing Japanese. Every other hiragana character is simply a combination of a consonant and one of these five vowel sounds. In our next lesson, we will expand your alphabet by learning the k-row (か, き, く, け, こ), the s-row (さ, し, す, せ, そ), and the t-row (た, ち, つ, て, と). Keep practicing your vowels