Definition

A type of Japanese writing system that uses a set of characters to represent syllables, commonly used in modern texts.

Example

In Japanese, hiragana is often used for grammatical elements and native words.

Conversation

Have you started learning hiragana yet?

Yeah, I just began! It's actually really fun to write.

I heard that hiragana is essential for reading Japanese.

Absolutely! Once you get the hang of it, everything else gets easier.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hiragana originates from Japanese, where 'hira' (meaning ordinary or simple) and 'gana' (meaning syllabary or character) combine to refer to the simple or ordinary characters used in the Japanese writing system. Hiragana is a phonetic script used primarily for native Japanese words and grammatical elements.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ordinary' ('hira') characters that form the 'syllabary' ('gana') used in Japanese writing. This helps you remember that hiragana refers to the basic, simple characters in the Japanese language.

Visually Confused Words