What does hiragana mean?
Hiragana is a fundamental component of the Japanese writing system, used in conjunction with kanji and katakana to represent native Japanese words and foreign word pronunciations. It consists of 46 basic characters and is characterized by its cursive-like appearance. Hiragana is often used in informal writing and is an essential tool for learners of Japanese, providing a means to write out words phonetically. Its widespread use and versatility make it a crucial element of Japanese literacy. Hiragana is also used to add grammatical information to kanji characters, such as verb and adjective conjugations.
nounHiragana is a Japanese script used to write native Japanese words and to represent Japanese pronunciation of foreign words. It consists of 46 basic characters and is used in conjunction with kanji and katakana.
- A Japanese script used for native words and foreign word pronunciation
- A set of characters used to write Japanese
"The Japanese student practiced writing hiragana characters to improve her reading skills."
"The hiragana character for 'a' is written differently than the katakana character for 'a'."
"Hiragana is often used to write Japanese words that have no kanji equivalent."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hiragana
The term 'hiragana' is derived from the Japanese language, with 'hira' meaning 'plain' or 'simple' and 'gana' referring to a type of script. Hiragana originated from the cursive form of kanji characters during the Heian period (794-1185 CE).
Usage notes
Hiragana is commonly used in informal writing, such as text messages and personal letters, and is also used to write out Japanese words for learners of the language.