Hiragana and katakana are the Japanese syllabaries. You need them to read anything. If you're serious about learning Japanese, memorising them is non-negotiable. Here's how to do it fast.
Step 1: Understand the Problem
Hiragana (ひらがな) is used for native words and grammar. Katakana (カタカナ) is for foreign words and emphasis. Together, they cover 46 basic characters each, plus modifiers like dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜).
Dakuten
“Voicing mark”
Step 2: Use Spaced Repetition
Apps like Anki or Tofugu’s Learn Kana force you to recall characters at increasing intervals. Drill them until you can recognise each kana in under a second.
Step 3: Write Them Out
Handwriting reinforces memory. Use grid paper and follow stroke order. Do this for 10-15 minutes daily. Yes, even for katakana, which looks like it was designed by someone drunk.
- Hiragana: Round, flowing shapes (e.g., ぬ/nu looks like a noodle).
- Katakana: Angular, sharp lines (e.g., リ/ri is just two slashes).
Step 4: Contextual Practice
Read real kana words immediately. Start with:
| Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|
| こんにちは (hello) | コーヒー (coffee) |
| ありがとう (thank you) | テレビ (TV) |
Step 5: Test Yourself
Use timed quizzes. If you can’t score 90%+ on RealKana within a week, you’re not trying hard enough.
Common Pitfalls
- Mixing up similar kana (e.g., ね/ne vs. れ/re). Write them side by side until the differences are obvious.
- Ignoring dakuten. は/ha vs. ば/ba vs. ぱ/pa are three distinct characters.
- Skipping katakana because it’s ‘harder’. You’ll regret this when you see ラーメン on a menu and freeze.
For more on pronunciation, see our guide on Lithuanian phonetics (yes, really - the principles are universal).
Final Note
One week is aggressive but doable with focused effort. After that, move to kanji. No excuses.
