あ (a)
Pronunciation
The character あ represents the vowel sound 'a', pronounced like the 'a' in 'father' or the Spanish 'a'. It is one of the five basic Japanese vowels and one of the most frequently used sounds in the language. The sound is short and crisp — never drawn out unless explicitly doubled (ああ).
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
あ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: a short, slightly slanted horizontal line near the top, written from left to right. Stroke 2: a long vertical line that crosses through the first stroke and curves toward the lower left as it descends. Stroke 3: a sweeping curve that begins on the upper right of stroke 1, loops down and around the lower body of the character, and ends with a small inward hook on the lower left. The third stroke is what gives あ its distinctive shape — beginners often shorten or flatten this curve.
Common Words with あ
- あさ (asa) — morning
- あめ (ame) — rain
- あお (ao) — blue
- あか (aka) — red
- あに (ani) — older brother
- あね (ane) — older sister
- あし (ashi) — foot, leg
- あたま (atama) — head
- あき (aki) — autumn, fall
- ありがとう (arigatou) — thank you
- あう (au) — to meet
- あける (akeru) — to open
- あつい (atsui) — hot (weather)
- あまい (amai) — sweet
- あたらしい (atarashii) — new
- あそぶ (asobu) — to play
- あるく (aruku) — to walk
- あなた (anata) — you
- あした (ashita) — tomorrow
- あらう (arau) — to wash
How to Write あ (a) in Hiragana
The hiragana character あ is romanized as "a" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "a" in "father". Example word: あさ (asa) — morning.
Stroke Order for あ
When writing あ, follow the numbered stroke order shown in the reference character above. Japanese characters are generally written from left to right and top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability and writing speed.
Practice Tips
- Print this sheet on standard 8.5" × 11" letter paper
- Start by tracing the light grey guide characters in the first column
- Then practice writing あ freehand in the empty squares
- Pay attention to stroke direction and order — follow the numbered guide
- For interactive practice with animations, visit the main study page
About Hiragana
Hiragana is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, grammar particles, and verb endings. Learning correct stroke order is essential for proper Japanese handwriting.