じ (ji)
Pronunciation
The character じ represents the syllable 'ji', a soft 'j' sound (like the 'j' in 'jeep' but lighter). It is し with the dakuten that voices 'shi' to 'ji'. Note that じ and ぢ are both pronounced 'ji' in modern Japanese — but じ is the standard form used in the vast majority of words.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
じ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: identical to し — a long vertical line that curves to the right at the bottom and ends with a slight upward hook. Stroke 2: a small diagonal mark at the upper right. Stroke 3: a second small diagonal mark below or to the right of the first. The two small marks transform 'shi' into 'ji'.
Common Words with じ
- はじめて (hajimete) — for the first time
- はじめに (hajimeni) — first / firstly / first of all
- あじ (aji) — flavor / flavour / taste
- じく (jiku) — axis / shaft / axle
- すじ (suji) — muscle / tendon / sinew
- にじ (niji) — rainbow
- はじ (haji) — shame / embarrassment / disgrace
- ひつじ (hitsuji) — sheep
- くじら (kujira) — whale
- じゅう (juu) — ten / 10
- じゅく (juku) — cram school / private tutoring school / juku
- かけじく (kakejiku) — hanging scroll
- じ (ji) — character / letter / written text
- いじ (iji) — maintenance / preservation / improvement
- おうじ (ouji) — prince
- おじ (oji) — uncle
- かくじ (kakuji) — each / everyone / individual
- かじ (kaji) — housework / domestic chores
- きじ (kiji) — cloth / fabric / material
- けいじ (keiji) — detective
How to Write じ (ji) in Hiragana
The hiragana character じ is romanized as "ji" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "jee" in "jeep". Example word: じかん (jikan) — time.
Stroke Order for じ
When writing じ, 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 じ 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.