Hiragana · 10 min
The N-, H-, and M-rows
Read three more regular rows and begin spotting kana in words.
- Recognize the main idea in the n-, h-, and m-rows.
- Use one clear example before you begin the quiz.
- Build confidence with a small, repeatable step.
The N-, H-, and M-rows extend the same vowel order. They appear often in beginner vocabulary.
Three patterns
なにぬねの, はひふへほ, and まみむめも follow the a-i-u-e-o rhythm.
A sound to remember
ふ is usually written fu in romaji, though its sound is softer than a strong English f.
Study these forms
Read each character in order. These two-character drills practice sound decoding; some are sound sequences rather than vocabulary words. なあ (na-a) · にあ (ni-a) · ぬあ (nu-a) · ねあ (ne-a) · のあ (no-a) · はあ (ha-a) · ひあ (hi-a) · ふあ (fu-a) · へあ (he-a) · ほあ (ho-a) · まあ (ma-a) · みあ (mi-a) · むあ (mu-a) · めあ (me-a) · もあ (mo-a) · ない (na-i) · にい (ni-i) · ぬい (nu-i) · ねい (ne-i) · のい (no-i) · はい (ha-i) · ひい (hi-i) · ふい (fu-i) · へい (he-i) · ほい (ho-i)
More reading practice
まい (ma-i) · みい (mi-i) · むい (mu-i) · めい (me-i) · もい (mo-i) · なう (na-u) · にう (ni-u) · ぬう (nu-u) · ねう (ne-u) · のう (no-u) · はう (ha-u) · ひう (hi-u) · ふう (fu-u) · へう (he-u) · ほう (ho-u) · まう (ma-u) · みう (mi-u) · むう (mu-u) · めう (me-u) · もう (mo-u) · なえ (na-e) · にえ (ni-e) · ぬえ (nu-e) · ねえ (ne-e) · のえ (no-e)
Put it together
Look at the examples once more. Notice the small detail that makes this hiragana lesson different from the one before it.
Guided examples
Use this example while studying the n-, h-, and m-rows.
Try to recognize it before you start the quiz.
Before the quiz, can you recognize the key form from the n-, h-, and m-rows?
na-a
Show the answer
na-a · This is one of the forms introduced in the lesson. Say it aloud and connect it to the explanation above.
Remember the main pattern from the n-, h-, and m-rows and use the examples as your first reference. A short review is useful learning, not a setback.