Similar-Looking Hiragana

1. さ (SA) and ち (CHI)

• さSA
• ちCHI

The top is the same: a short line across and a line down. The difference is the curve at the bottom. In さ, the bottom curve opens to the right, like a letter C. In ち, the bottom curve bulges out to the right and opens to the left, like the bottom of the number 5.

• Memory trick: if it looks like a 5, it is ち.
• In many fonts, the last two strokes of さ join together. When you write by hand, you can lift your pen (3 strokes).

2. ぬ (NU) and め (ME)

• ぬNU
• めME

Both are two crossing strokes. ぬ ends with a small loop; め does not.

• Memory trick: ぬ is a bowl of NUdles with a loop of noodle at the end. め is just the bowl… or an eye, which is め (ME) in Japanese.
• The same “loop or no loop” rule tells る (RU, with a loop) from ろ (RO, no loop).

3. は (HA) and ほ (HO)

• はHA
• ほHO

The left side is the same tall line. On the right, は has one line across; ほ has two, and its vertical line does not stick out above the top line.

• Count the lines on the right: one for は, two for ほ.
• は is read WA when it marks the topic: わたしは (WATASHI WA). It is still the same letter.

4. い (I) and り (RI)

• いI
• りRI

Both are two strokes side by side. In い, both strokes stay at the same level, and the right one is the shorter one. In り, the right stroke is much longer and curves down to the bottom.

• Look at the right stroke: short for い, long for り.
• In some fonts, the two strokes of り are joined into one. Both are correct.

5. ね (NE), れ (RE), and わ (WA)

• ねNE
• れRE
• わWA

This is the hardest set, because the left half is the same in all three. Only the ending is different:

• ね ends with a loop.
• れ ends with a kick out to the right.
• わ ends with a round curve, like a closed hand.

Memory trick: a cat (ねこ, NEKO) curls its tail into a loop, so ね has the loop.

Test yourself

Ready? In the Hiragana Challenge, you see the romaji and tap the right hiragana before the timer runs out. Gen is playing too, and Gen does not always get it right. Can you beat Gen?

Once you know your hiragana, try your first kanji: The 7 Kanji for the Days of the Week.