HIRAGANA · CHARACTER GUIDE
な (na) in hiragana
Na in hiragana is な. A loop at the bottom of its last stroke tells it apart from た.
- Reading
- na
- Type
na- Katakana
- ナ
- Strokes
- 4
- Audio
- see listening section
On this page
How な is written, and why it is not た.
The full model: 4 strokes, numbered in order.
start end
This browser is not saving your study set, so it lasts for this visit.
Memory hook: Picture a cross on the left and, on the right, a little dash above a string that loops at the bottom. Make your own · All 46 hiragana mnemonics
More hiragana activities
WRITE IT
How to write な: stroke order
Shape: A little taller than wide, roughly a diamond: a small cross on the left, a short mark at the upper right, and a long stroke that ends in a loop at the bottom.
In this model, strokes 1, 2 and 4 stop and stroke 3 ends in a hook. Japanese schools name three kinds of ending: Ending: Stop とめ, Ending: Hook はね, Ending: Sweep はらい. Textbooks and teachers differ on some.
Stroke 1Ending: Stop とめ
Starts far left of the vertical center line, well above the horizontal one. A short line rising gently to the right, ending on the vertical center line.
Stroke 2Ending: Stop とめ
Starts left of the vertical center line, near the top, above stroke 1. A diagonal down to the left, through the middle of stroke 1, ending far left a little below the horizontal center line.
Stroke 3Ending: Hook はね
Starts right of the vertical center line, near the top, about as high as the end of stroke 1. A short slant down to the right, then a small flick back to the left, toward the start of stroke 4.
Stroke 4Ending: Stop とめ
Starts right of the vertical center line, a little above the horizontal one, below stroke 3. Straight down to well below the middle, then curve left into a small loop at the bottom, cross back over the straight part, and finish toward the lower right. Many teachers make the loop a small triangle pointing down.
One mistake to avoid: stroke 2
- Watch for
- The diagonal (stroke 2) runs down to near the bottom, as long as the diagonal of た, and crowds the loop.
- Fix
- End stroke 2 a little below the horizontal center line, as in the model, leaving room for the loop.
Stroke diagrams adapted from KanjiVG, © Ulrich Apel and contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0. License and attribution.
READ IT
Read な in print and in words.
な in handwriting and three typefaces
Handwriting model Textbook style Print, plain (gothic) Print, serif (mincho)
In every typeface the last stroke of な still ends in a loop, and its diagonal is shorter than in た. Copy the handwriting model.
Find な inside a word.
- なつnatsusummer. Up to the N row
- おなかonakastomach; belly. Up to the N row
- ななnanasevenSeven is also read しち (shichi).. Up to the N row
- たなtanashelfThe pair side by side: た, then な.. Up to the N row
“Up to the N row” marks a word written only with kana from the vowels to the N row of the chart, so you can read it if you learn the chart in order.
In everyday writing these words use kanji (なつ is 夏, なな 七, たな 棚), and おなか is often お腹; here they are in hiragana for reading practice.
TELL THEM APART
な or た?
Look at the bottom right: the last stroke of な ends in a loop, and た has two short strokes on the right instead. The diagonal of な is also shorter, ending a little below the middle.
A quick check
Four models, handwritten and printed: is each one な or た? Only your first answer to each model counts. The models are pictures; each one is described in words after you answer.
This check changed in another tab. It now shows your latest answers.
Which reading matches this model?
Check finished.
A short practice with pictures of the shapes. It does not test pronunciation, listening or long-term recall.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Practice な with た.
A short round of な and た, the shapes this page compares.
Practice the whole N row: な に ぬ ね のIt includes に, ぬ, ね and の, which this page does not teach.
Learn な with its group in lesson 5 · Try it on the hiragana keyboard
Sources, artwork and review status
Teaching content on this page is a draft: a Japanese educator has not reviewed it yet. Generated pronunciation audio is available in the listening section.
Stroke models and drawings: KanjiVG, © Ulrich Apel and contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0. License and attribution.
Two typefaces are served from this site: Klee One and Noto Serif JP (SIL Open Font License). The gothic sample uses this device’s own font.
- Japan Foundation: MARUGOTO-NO-KOTOBA vocabulary (readings and meanings)
- Jisho.org (JMdict): readings and common spellings
- syoka-koyoblog (penmanship): な
- z-shogei calligraphy school: と, な and に
- Matsumoto Shoeido calligraphy school: な
- Matsumoto Shoeido calligraphy school: な
- Japanese-Lesson.com: な に ぬ ね の
- JapanesePod101: the hiragana N column (た and な)
- ryohkei.com: な
- Japan Foundation’s Irodori kana materials (spelling reference)
Draft teaching content · Japanese educator review pending · Approved generated audio is available in the listening section; romaji is a reading aid, not a pronunciation guide.
minimachi · HIRAGANA CHARACTER CARD
な · na
Na in hiragana is な. A loop at the bottom of its last stroke tells it apart from た.
Write it, stroke by stroke.
- Starts far left, high in the box; rises gently, ends on the center line. — stop (とめ)
- Starts left of center, near the top; a short diagonal down-left through 1. — stop (とめ)
- Starts upper right, about level with 1's end; a short slant, flicks left. — hook (はね)
- Starts below stroke 3; straight down, a small loop, then out to the right. — stop (とめ)
Watch for: The diagonal (stroke 2) runs down to near the bottom, as long as the diagonal of た, and crowds the loop. Fix: End stroke 2 a little below the horizontal center line, as in the model, leaving room for the loop.
Trace, copy, then cover the model and write from memory.
Stroke model: KanjiVG, © Ulrich Apel and contributors · CC BY-SA 3.0 · kanjivg.tagaini.net · license: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Draft teaching content; Japanese educator review pending. Generated audio: see full guide.
Full guide and sources: minimachi.com/hiragana/na/
Listen to the sounds and examples on this page
Generated speech: Google Cloud Text-to-Speech. Checked by a native Japanese speaker. Audio is available only for items with a Listen button. Listen plays at normal speed; Slow gives more listening time at the original pitch. Sound hints are drafts pending educator review.
Kana sounds
- な na
Example words
- たな shelf
- おなか stomach; belly
- なな seven
- なつ summer