ひ (hi)
Pronunciation
The character ひ represents the syllable 'hi', a soft 'h' followed by 'i'. Part of the は-row. In rapid speech the 'h' before 'i' can sound slightly more breathy than English 'h'.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ひ is written in a single stroke. Begin in the upper left with a short downward stroke, then sweep down and to the right in a long curving line that arcs across the bottom of the character, finally rising up to the upper right and ending with a small hook. The shape resembles a smile or a shallow bowl.
Common Words with ひ
- ひゃく (hyaku) — hundred / 100
- ひとり (hitori) — one person
- ひとりごと (hitorigoto) — soliloquy / monologue / speaking to oneself
- ひ (hi) — day / days
- ひがし (higashi) — east
- ひつじ (hitsuji) — sheep
- ひとみ (hitomi) — pupil
- ひま (hima) — spare time / free time / leisure
- てのひら (tenohira) — palm
- ひかり (hikari) — light
- ひだり (hidari) — left / left-hand side
- ひる (hiru) — noon / midday
- ひょう (hyou) — vote / ballot
- ひざ (hiza) — knee
- ひと (hito) — person / someone / somebody
- ひん (hin) — elegance / grace / refinement
- あさひ (asahi) — morning sun
- ずいひつ (zuihitsu) — essays / miscellaneous writings / literary jottings
- ぜひ (zehi) — certainly / without fail
- たいひ (taihi) — contrast / juxtaposition
How to Write ひ (hi) in Hiragana
The hiragana character ひ is romanized as "hi" and is written with 1 stroke. Like "hee" in "heat". Example word: ひと (hito) — person.
Stroke Order for ひ
When writing ひ, 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 ひ 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.