hiragana: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency outside specific contexts (Japanese language/culture).Neutral formal/informal when discussing Japanese language; technical in linguistic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “hiragana” mean?
A Japanese syllabic script used for native words and grammatical elements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Japanese syllabic script used for native words and grammatical elements.
The fundamental phonetic writing system in Japanese, alongside katakana and kanji, characterized by its flowing, cursive-like characters.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically in the context of Japanese language study.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term associated with language learning and Japanese culture.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, occurring primarily in educational, linguistic, or cultural discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “hiragana” in a Sentence
[Subject] learns hiragana.[Text] is written in hiragana.The word is rendered in hiragana.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hiragana” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Children in Japan learn hiragana before katakana.
- The gentle curves of hiragana make it distinct.
American English
- The first step in my Japanese class was memorizing hiragana.
- The sentence was written entirely in hiragana for beginners.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in companies dealing with Japanese localization, translation, or education.
Academic
Common in linguistics, language acquisition, and Japanese studies courses.
Everyday
Used by learners of Japanese or in discussions about Japanese culture.
Technical
Precise term in linguistics for a moraic syllabary.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hiragana”
- Using 'hiragana' to refer to a single character (better: 'a hiragana character').
- Confusing it with 'katakana'.
- Misspelling as 'hiregana' or 'hiraganna'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a syllabary (more precisely, a moraic script). Each character typically represents a syllable (like 'ka', 'shi') or a single vowel.
Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements. Katakana is used primarily for foreign loanwords, onomatopoeia, scientific terms, and for emphasis.
There are 46 basic characters in the modern hiragana syllabary, which can be modified with diacritics (dakuten and handakuten) to represent additional sounds.
Technically yes, but it would be very difficult to read due to many homophones and lack of word boundaries. Standard Japanese uses a mix of hiragana, katakana, and kanji for clarity and efficiency.
A Japanese syllabic script used for native words and grammatical elements.
Hiragana is usually neutral formal/informal when discussing japanese language; technical in linguistic contexts. in register.
Hiragana: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɪ.rə.ˈɡɑː.nə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɪr.ə.ˈɡɑ.nə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIRAgana is the HIRAmachi (native town) script for native Japanese words.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOUNDATION or ALPHABET (for Japanese writing).
Practice
Quiz
What is hiragana primarily used for in modern Japanese?