Free Hiragana Quiz - Test Your Knowledge of the Hiragana Alphabet

*Just click on the first card*

Hiragana is one of the three main writing systems in Japanese, alongside katakana and kanji. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a unique sound or syllable in the Japanese language.

Unlike kanji, which are ideograms borrowed from Chinese, hiragana is a phonetic script used primarily for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb conjugations.

Hiragana evolved during the Heian period (794–1185 AD) from simplified versions of kanji characters.

It was originally known as "women's hand" because it was commonly used by women in literature, while men favored kanji. Today, it's essential for reading and writing Japanese fluently.

The standard hiragana set includes vowels like あ (a), い (i), and consonants combined with vowels, such as か (ka) or さ (sa). Mastering these basics is the first step for any Japanese learner, as they form the foundation for reading simple sentences and children's books.

See where you stack up on this Hiragana Quiz.

Hiragana helps with proper pronunciation, as each character corresponds to a consistent sound (unlike English). It also aids in understanding Japanese grammar, where particles like は (wa) or を (wo) are written in hiragana.

Plus, it's a gateway to cultural immersion—think reading manga or song lyrics in their original form.

Many learners confuse similar characters, like し (shi) and つ (tsu). Practice through repetition and mnemonics: for example, visualize し as a "sheep's hook" while you're doing the Hiragana quiz.

Our free hiragana quiz reinforces these distinctions with visual flashcards and audio.

Our interactive hiragana quiz is designed for easy, engaging practice. Simply click the card to flip it, revealing the romaji and hearing the pronunciation.

Self-assess with the green check for correct or red X for wrong, and track your score as you go.

• Start with the front side showing a hiragana character.
• Guess the romaji pronunciation mentally.
• Flip the card to check and hear the audio.
• Mark your answer and proceed to the next card.The Hiragana quiz shuffles randomly for varied practice, covering all 46 basic characters.

• Audio Pronunciation: Uses natural Japanese voices for accurate sound.
• Self-Assessment: Track correct and wrong answers to monitor progress.
• Mobile-Friendly: Practice anywhere on your phone or tablet.

Consistency is key—aim for 15-30 minutes daily. Combine our Hiragana quiz with writing practice: trace characters on paper or use apps.

Group them by rows (e.g., a-ka-sa-ta-na) to memorize systematically.

Associate shapes with images: あ looks like an "apple" with a stem. For う, think of a "u-turn" sign. Repeat with audio to link sight and sound.

Write simple words like あい (ai, love) or すし (sushi). Read hiragana-only texts to build speed.

If you need more structured help, check out our Hiragana flashcards with all Hiragana, Dakuten, and Handakuten, plus romanization and example words.

Once you've nailed basic hiragana, advance to modified characters. Dakuten (゛) adds voicing, turning か (ka) into が (ga). Handakuten (゜) creates p-sounds, like は (ha) to ぱ (pa).

These expand hiragana to over 70 characters, essential for real-world Japanese.

• Dakuten: び (bi) in びじん (bijin, beautiful person).
• Handakuten: ぴ (pi) in ぴんく (pinku, pink).Practice these to read more vocabulary. Our quiz focuses on basics, but for full coverage, explore our Hiragana flashcards with all hiragana, dakuten, and handakuten, including romanization and example words.

Hiragana pairs with katakana for foreign words and onomatopoeia. Start blending them early for balanced learning.

If this free hiragana quiz has sparked your interest, dive deeper with premium tools. Need more help mastering hiragana? Check out our Hiragana flashcards with all Hiragana, Dakuten, and Handakuten, as well as romanization and example words. They're perfect for tactile, on-the-go practice.