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Hiragana reading practice with real words and audio

Read a word from the script before checking its reading. Then listen and repeat. These exercises use beginner words from Remlori's free first chapter.

Review the hiragana chart · Browse the illustrated word list

How to practise reading

  1. Start with First sounds, then try More sounds and Mixed words.
  2. Say the word before selecting its reading. Listen after your answer and compare.
  3. Switch to Listen and choose to recognise the written word from audio. Retry anything you miss.

Long vowels need an extra beat. Review vowel length and small っ before harder words. These first-chapter word rounds do not cover every kana combination; use the chart for the full set.

New to Japanese? Start Japanese Lesson 1

Try a reading round

Choose a mode and a group. Each round has up to ten questions. Wrong answers go into a retry round.

Try these questions, then open the answers. The interactive version needs JavaScript.

  1. Choose the reading of ねこ.
    Answer and explanation

    neko — ねこ (neko) — cat.

  2. Choose the reading of たこ.
    Answer and explanation

    tako — たこ (tako) — octopus.

  3. Choose the reading of すし.
    Answer and explanation

    sushi — すし (sushi) — sushi.

  4. Choose the reading of わに.
    Answer and explanation

    wani — わに (wani) — crocodile.

  5. Choose the reading of かめ.
    Answer and explanation

    kame — かめ (kame) — turtle.

  6. Choose the reading of みみ.
    Answer and explanation

    mimi — みみ (mimi) — ear.

  7. Choose the reading of とら.
    Answer and explanation

    tora — とら (tora) — tiger.

  8. Choose the reading of さと.
    Answer and explanation

    sato — さと (sato) — village.

  9. Choose the reading of きく.
    Answer and explanation

    kiku — きく (kiku) — chrysanthemum.

  10. Choose the reading of これ.
    Answer and explanation

    kore — これ (kore) — this.

Words to start with

ねこ · cat

neko

Picture and sound mnemonic
A soccer NET scoops up an ice-cream CONE so hard that a purple CAT pops out of the top.
A soccer Net scoops up an ice-cream Cone so hard that a purple Cat pops out of the top.

ね (ne) → Net + こ (ko) → Cone

たこ · octopus

tako

Picture and sound mnemonic
Balancing a crunchy TACO in one arm and a pink ice cream CONE in the other, a purple OCTOPUS stretches its tongue right across to lick the ice cream.
Balancing a crunchy Taco in one arm and a pink ice cream Cone in the other, a purple Octopus stretches its tongue right across to lick the ice cream.

た (ta) → Taco + こ (ko) → Cone

すし · sushi

sushi

Picture and sound mnemonic
Steaming SOUP splashes a dancing woman as SHE spins and lands face-first into a giant roll of SUSHI.
Steaming Soup splashes a dancing woman as She spins and lands face-first into a giant roll of Sushi.

す (su) → Soup + し (shi) → She

わに · crocodile

wani

Picture and sound mnemonic
A syrupy waffle rests on one scraped bent knee. The single continuous leg extends into one foot pressing a startled crocodile’s snout.
With a Waffle stuck to its scraped Knee, a leg kicks out at a crocodile's snout.

わ (wa) → Waffle + に (ni) → Knee

かめ · turtle

kame

Picture and sound mnemonic
A tiny CAR crashes into a giant MELON, popping out a startled TURTLE.
A tiny Car crashes into a giant Melon, popping out a startled Turtle.

か (ka) → Car + め (me) → Melon

みみ · ear

mimi

Picture and sound mnemonic
One blazing METEOR smashes into a second METEOR, and they both wedge tightly inside a giant human EAR.
One blazing Meteor smashes into a second Meteor, and they both wedge tightly inside a giant human Ear.

み (mi) → Meteor + み (mi) → Meteor

Written by Remlori using examples and media from our beginner course. Alphabet reference: The Japan Foundation, Irodori Starter. Romanization approximates the sound; use the recordings when practising.

Learn your first sounds, words and sentences. Lesson 1 needs no account.

Start Japanese Lesson 1