Dakuten and handakuten in hiragana

Dakuten: ten-ten, two short strokes

Dakuten changes the K row to G, S to Z/J, T to D/J/Z, and H/F to B. These are called voiced rows. The base shape stays recognizable; add the two short marks at the upper right.

The two spellings of ji and zu

In standard Japanese, じ (ji) and ぢ (ji) are normally read alike, as are ず (zu) and づ (zu). Their spellings still matter: learn each word.

Handakuten: maru, the small circle

The circle changes は, ひ, ふ, へ, ほ to ぱ, ぴ, ぷ, ぺ, ぽ. Compare は ha → ば ba → ぱ pa. It does not apply to every row.

Small っ: double consonants

きて (kite) → きって (kitte). Small っ is not read tsu. It gives the next consonant an extra beat: hold the t before て. In romaji the consonant is usually doubled, as in kitte, kippu and zasshi. At the end of an exclamation such as あっ, small っ can separately show an abrupt cut-off. Audio timing cannot be checked here yet.

Long vowels

おばさん (obasan, aunt) → おばあさん (obaasan, grandmother). A long vowel lasts an extra beat and can change a word. Long a, i and u commonly use あ, い and う. Long e may use え or い; long o may use お or う. Learn each word’s spelling. とけい (tokei) and ひこうき (hikouki) keep their written vowels visible here; ei and ou commonly represent long e and o. おねえさん and こおり show other spellings.

Other small kana: ぁ ぃ ぅ ぇ ぉ

Small vowels appear in expressive or informal hiragana writing, as in わぁ. Katakana uses them more widely for loanword sounds, as in ファ (fa). Furigana is different: it is reading text printed small beside or above a word.

How furigana helps you read kanji; dakuten in katakana.

Typing dakuten and small kana

Type ga, ba or pa for the marked forms. Type kya for きゃ, or xtu / ltu for a standalone small っ. Type di for ぢ and du for づ; these input spellings differ from the standard readings ji and zu. Use the keyboard or romaji converter to try the spellings.

Try it in the romaji converter; type on a phone or computer.

Particles: は, へ and を

As particles, は is read wa, へ is read e, and を is read o. The spelling stays は, へ or を. In ordinary words, は and へ normally read ha and he. うちへ かえります (uchi e kaerimasu): I go home. Spaces here help beginners; ordinary Japanese is usually written without spaces between words.

は guide · へ guide · を guide · Read direction sentences.

Check yourself

Ten short contrasts. Try the spelling before seeing the explanation.

1. Which has dakuten? は / ば / ぱ
   Show answer

   ば: ば has two short marks. は is plain; ぱ has a circle.

   ば: ば has two short marks. は is plain; ぱ has a circle.

2. Which has handakuten? は / ば / ぱ
   Show answer

   ぱ: The circle makes the P form, ぱ.

   ぱ: The circle makes the P form, ぱ.

3. How is ぢ normally read in standard Japanese? chi / di / ji
   Show answer

   ji: ぢ and じ are both normally read ji; di is a keyboard spelling for ぢ.

   ji: ぢ and じ are both normally read ji; di is a keyboard spelling for ぢ.

4. How is づ normally read in standard Japanese? zu / du / tsu
   Show answer

   zu: づ and ず are both normally read zu; du is a keyboard spelling for づ.

   zu: づ and ず are both normally read zu; du is a keyboard spelling for づ.

5. Which is kya, one beat? きや / きゃ
   Show answer

   きゃ: Small ゃ joins き. Full-size きや is ki-ya, two beats.

   きゃ: Small ゃ joins き. Full-size きや is ki-ya, two beats.

6. Which is kitte, with an extra consonant beat? きて / きって / きつて
   Show answer

   きって: Small っ gives the next t an extra beat. It is not read tsu.

   きって: Small っ gives the next t an extra beat. It is not read tsu.

7. Which means grandmother? おばさん / おばあさん
   Show answer

   おばあさん: The extra あ makes a long a. おばさん means aunt.

   おばあさん: The extra あ makes a long a. おばさん means aunt.

8. How is particle は read? ha / wa / ba
   Show answer

   wa: As a topic particle, は is read wa. Its spelling stays は.

   wa: As a topic particle, は is read wa. Its spelling stays は.

9. How is particle へ read? he / e / be
   Show answer

   e: As a direction particle, へ is read e. Its spelling stays へ.

   e: As a direction particle, へ is read e. Its spelling stays へ.

10. How is particle を read? wo / o / wa
    Show answer

    o: The particle を is normally read o. Type wo to enter its spelling.

    o: The particle を is normally read o. Type wo to enter its spelling.

Keep going