く (ku)
Pronunciation
The character く represents the syllable 'ku', a hard 'k' followed by 'u'. The 'u' sound is short and the lips are relaxed (not rounded). Part of the か-row. In casual speech the 'u' can become almost silent, especially at the end of common verbs.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
く is written in a single stroke — one of the simplest hiragana to write. Begin in the upper left, sweep diagonally down to a point in the middle, then sweep back out diagonally to the lower right, forming a sharp angled shape resembling a less-than sign or a sideways 'V'. Keep the angle pronounced, not rounded.
Common Words with く
- ひゃく (hyaku) — hundred / 100
- つくる (tsukuru) — to make / to produce / to manufacture
- わるくち (warukuchi) — abuse / speaking ill of people / bad-mouthing
- おくりもの (okurimono) — present / gift
- あく (aku) — to open
- きく (kiku) — to hear
- きづく (kizuku) — to notice / to realize / to realise
- ちかづく (chikazuku) — to approach / to draw near / to get close
- どくとく (dokutoku) — peculiarity / uniqueness / characteristic
- おく (oku) — inner part / interior / back
- かく (kaku) — stone / pit / pip
- く (ku) — ward / borough / city
- くき (kuki) — stalk / stem
- がく (gaku) — frame / framed picture
- くさ (kusa) — grass / weed / herb
- くせ (kuse) — habit / tendency
- さく (saku) — plan / policy / means
- じく (jiku) — axis / shaft / axle
- くち (kuchi) — mouth
- くつ (kutsu) — shoe / shoes / boots
How to Write く (ku) in Hiragana
The hiragana character く is romanized as "ku" and is written with 1 stroke. Like "coo" in "cool", but shorter. Example word: くるま (kuruma) — car.
Stroke Order for く
When writing く, 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 く 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.