きゃ (kya)
Pronunciation
The compound character きゃ represents the syllable 'kya', formed by combining き (ki) with a small ゃ (ya). The combination changes the vowel of き from 'i' to a 'ya' sound, producing the single syllable 'kya' — not 'ki-ya'. This pattern (consonant+i + small ya/yu/yo) is called yōon and creates many essential Japanese sounds.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
きゃ is written in seven strokes total: four for き (two short horizontals, a slanted vertical, a curving tail) followed by three for the small ゃ. The ゃ is written like や but smaller and tucked into the lower right area beside き — sized about half the height of the main character.
Common Words with きゃ
- かんきゃく (kankyaku) — spectator / audience
- きゃくしつ (kyakushitsu) — guest room / guest cabin / passenger cabin
- きゃくほん (kyakuhon) — script / screenplay / scenario
- ひんきゃく (hinkyaku) — guest of honour / guest of honor / privileged guest
- かんこうきゃく (kankoukyaku) — tourist
- きゃっか (kyakka) — rejection / dismissal
- おきゃくさん (okyakusan) — guest / visitor
How to Write きゃ (kya) in Hiragana
The hiragana character きゃ is romanized as "kya" and is written with 7 strokes. "K" + "ya" blended quickly. Example word: きゃく (kyaku) — guest.
Stroke Order for きゃ
When writing きゃ, 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 きゃ 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.