Japanese/Kana/Lessons/Hiragana/Lesson 6

In this lesson you are going to learn how to read and write は、ひ、ふ、へ、ほ. Adding two small lines called dakuten, but commonly known simply as  tenten, meaning "two marks", causes clear sounds to change to their voiced sound. Thus, adding the tenten marks to は、ひ、ふ、へ、and ほ will produce ば、び、ぶ、べ、ぼ. Adding a small circle called a handakuten, but commonly known simply as a  maru, "circle" causes clear sounds to change to their plosive sound. Thus, adding a maru to は、ひ、ふ、へ、and ほ will produce ぱ、ぴ、ぷ、ぺ、ぽ.


 * Note: "は" is pronounced wa when used as a particle.