ご (go)
Pronunciation
The character ご represents the syllable 'go', a hard 'g' followed by 'o'. It is こ with the dakuten that voices 'k' to 'g'.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ご is written in four strokes. The first two strokes are identical to こ (a short curving line at the top, then a longer slightly curved line below). Then add the dakuten: Stroke 3: a small diagonal mark at the upper right. Stroke 4: a second small diagonal mark below or to the right of the first. The two marks voice the syllable from 'ko' to 'go'.
Common Words with ご
- たまご (tamago) — eggs / egg / spawn
- ひとりごと (hitorigoto) — soliloquy / monologue / speaking to oneself
- ごぶさた (gobusata) — not writing or contacting for a while / neglecting to write / long silence
- いつごろ (itsugoro) — about when / about what time / how soon
- ご (go) — five / 5
- ごう (gou) — number / edition / make
- まご (mago) — grandchild
- いご (igo) — after this / from now on / hereafter
- うごき (ugoki) — movement / move / motion
- えいご (eigo) — English
- かくご (kakugo) — readiness / preparedness
- こうご (kougo) — alternate / alternating
- こうごう (kougou) — empress
- ごうか (gouka) — extravagant / lavish / opulent
- ごうけい (goukei) — sum total / total amount
- ごかい (gokai) — misunderstanding
- ごご (gogo) — afternoon / p.m.
- さいご (saigo) — end / conclusion
- そうご (sougo) — mutual / reciprocal
- そうごう (sougou) — synthesis / combination / integration
How to Write ご (go) in Hiragana
The hiragana character ご is romanized as "go" and is written with 4 strokes. Like "go" in "goal". Example word: ごはん (gohan) — rice/meal.
Stroke Order for ご
When writing ご, 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 ご 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.