づ (du)
Pronunciation
The character づ represents the syllable pronounced 'zu' in modern Japanese (identical to ず). It is つ with the dakuten. Like ぢ, it appears mostly in compound words where つ becomes voiced (e.g., みかづき — crescent moon); ず is the standard form for 'zu' in most words.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
づ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: identical to つ — a single curving stroke that arcs across the top and curves down to the lower left. Stroke 2: a small diagonal mark at the upper right of the character. Stroke 3: a second small diagonal mark below or to the right of the first. The two marks voice the syllable from 'tsu' to 'zu'.
Common Words with づ
- きづく (kizuku) — to notice / to realize / to realise
- ちかづく (chikazuku) — to approach / to draw near / to get close
- こづつみ (kozutsumi) — parcel / package
- よこづな (yokozuna) — yokozuna / grand champion
- こづかい (kozukai) — pocket money / spending money / pin money
- てつづき (tetsuzuki) — procedure / process / proceedings
- ことばづかい (kotobazukai) — speech / expression / wording
- てづくり (tezukuri) — handmade / handcrafted / homemade
- びんづめ (binzume) — bottling
- つづく (tsuzuku) — to continue / to last / to go on
- つづける (tsuzukeru) — to continue / to keep up / to keep on
- つづみ (tsuzumi) — hand drum
- づけ (zuke) —
- はなづまり (hanazumari) — nasal congestion / stuffy nose / blocked nose
How to Write づ (du) in Hiragana
The hiragana character づ is romanized as "du" and is written with 3 strokes. Pronounced like ず (zu) — rarely used. Example word: つづく (tsuduku) — to continue.
Stroke Order for づ
When writing づ, 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 づ 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.