Hiragana · 8 min
The five vowel sounds
Meet あいうえお and the rhythm beneath every Japanese word.
- Recognize the main idea in the five vowel sounds.
- Use one clear example before you begin the quiz.
- Build confidence with a small, repeatable step.
Japanese begins with five steady vowel sounds. Learn the symbol and sound together before relying on romaji.
The foundation row
Read left to right: あ is a, い is i, う is u, え is e, and お is o.
Practice aloud
Point to each kana, say it once, then read the whole row smoothly. Japanese vowels stay short and clear.
Short words using vowel kana
あお (ao) means blue; いえ (ie) means house; うえ (ue) means above; あい (ai) means love; あう (au) means meet; いい (ii) means good; and いう (iu) means say. Read each kana in order and connect its sound to the word.
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 five vowel sounds.
Try to recognize it before you start the quiz.
Before the quiz, can you recognize the key form from the five vowel sounds?
あ
Show the answer
あ · 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 five vowel sounds and use the examples as your first reference. A short review is useful learning, not a setback.