1.6 ら (ra) – ん (n) and Hiragana Review
In this final module, we will focus on the hiragana characters ら (ra), り (ri), る (ru), れ (re) and ろ (ro), along with わ (wa), を (o) and ん (n).
1. ら (ra), り (ri), る (ru), れ (re), ろ (ro)
Practice saying each character slowly at first, then increase the speed. After that, challenge yourself to pronounce all five characters smoothly in one go, as if in a single breath.
Here is an additional resource (about 15 minutes long) created by Learn Japanese with Kobachan-tachi, which show you how to learn ら, り, る, れ and ろ using mnemonics. It also includes revision games!
In this resource, you will also learn more about the pronunciation of R-sounds in Japanese, which sounds closer to L-sounds, in greater detail:
2. わ (wa), を (o), ん (n)
Practice saying each character slowly at first, then increase the speed. After that, challenge yourself to pronounce all five characters smoothly in one go, as if in a single breath.
Here is an additional resource (about 16 minutes long) created by Learn Japanese with Kobachan-tachi, which shows you how to learn わ, を and ん using mnemonics. It also includes revision games that you may find useful:
Exercise 1
1. Some hiragana letters may appear slightly different depending on the typeface used. Click on the panel and match the equivalent hiragana letter.
NOTE: Only one type of hiragana font provides audio as a hint.
2. Some hiragana letters look very similar. Can you figure out if the following statement is true or false?
The following resource, created by TOMO sensei, contains additional words in hiragana. You may find it helpful for assessing your understanding of hiragana:
What is the difference between お (o) and を (0)？
In Japanese, the hiragana character お (o) serves multiple purposes in vocabulary.
Firstly, it is commonly used in everyday words, like おおさか (Oosaka: Osaka) and おとな (otona: adults, grown-ups).
Additionally, it functions as an honorific prefix for nouns, conveying politeness and respect. For example, in おちゃ (ocha: tea), お acts as the honorific prefix for cha (tea). Without the honorific お, the tone can shift from polite to brusque, affecting the overall courtesy conveyed in speech.
In contrast , を (o) is a particle used to mark the direct object of a sentence – the target of an action or the object that is being acted upon. For example, in the sentence 「おちゃをください。」(ocha o kudasai), which means ‘Tea, please’ or, more literally, ‘Please give me tea’, を marks おちゃ as the object being given.
You will learn more about the particle を in Module 2.5.
How should I pronounce ん (n)?
In Japanese, the character ん (n) is distinct from the English ‘n’ in terms of pronunciation. It represents a nasal sound and is produced through the nose rather than the mouth.
Here are a few tips for practising the pronunciation of ん:
- Listen to native Japanese speakers and try to imitate their pronunciation.
- Practise saying words that contain ん out loud, such as せんせい (sensei: teacher) and にほん (Nihon: Japan).
- Drop your jaw slightly as you articulate the Japanese ん sound to pronounce it accurately.
The pronunciation of ん can vary slightly depending on the surrounding characters. At this stage, it is not necessary to master these nuances, but if you are interested in delving deeper into the pronunciation of ん, please see the following resource created by Dogen.
How can I write hiragana?
References
Dogen. “The 7 Different Ways to Pronounce ん / 「ん」の7つの音.” YouTube video, 1:36. November 16, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M-2LjAWb3M.
Japan Foundation. “Hiragana Memory Hint Worksheets.” October, 2020. https://jpf.org.au/classroom-resources/resources/hiragana-memory-hint-worksheets/.
Learn Japanese with Kobachan-tachi. “[Hiragana] Learn Japanese – Hiragana R-Line らりるれろ in 15 Minutes.” YouTube video, 14:53. April 5, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R00ytkEZ7_4&t=2s&ab_channel=LearnJapanesewithKobachan-tachi.
Learn Japanese with Kobachan-tachi. “[Hiragana] Learn Japanese – Hiragana W-Line + N わをん in 15 Minutes.” YouTube video, 16:14. April 8, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW_tz795DHI&ab_channel=LearnJapanesewithKobachan-tachi.
SWACIACLASS. “Japanese Hiragana Alphabet.” 2023. https://quizlet.com/712699031/japanese-hiragana-alphabet-flash-cards/.
TOMO sensei. “HIRAGANA TEST 01 – Japanese Words Quiz: Hiragana Reading Practice for Beginners.” YouTube video, 4:17. Mar 10, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwJgubX_J4k.
