Writing Japanese Hiragana - by Jim Gleeson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Mastering written Japanese begins with hands-on practice, and Writing Japanese Hiragana offers the perfect starting point. With a spacious, easy-to-use format, this workbook encourages students to dive right in and start learning.

Written Japanese combines three scripts: the phonetic syllabaries hiragana and katakana, along with kanji characters derived from Chinese ideographs. This workbook zeroes in on the forty-six basic hiragana characters, used for native Japanese words not represented by kanji. A solid grasp of hiragana is essential for any dedicated Japanese learner.

Each hiragana character is presented in brushed, handwritten, and typed formats to boost recognition and understanding. Generous writing space allows for ample practice, ensuring each character is memorized accurately and confidently. Charming illustrations and engaging onomatopoeic examples make learning interactive and enjoyable, reinforcing character retention through a fun, memorable approach.

Ideal for both young learners and adults new to Japanese, Writing Japanese Hiragana includes:

• Grayed-out, trace-over characters for guided practice
• Practice sentences to reinforce retention
• Brief insights into each character's origins, helping foster visual recall

This workbook offers an effective, hands-on introduction to hiragana, making it a valuable tool for beginners of all ages.

Review Quotes

"Writing Japanese Hiragana: An Introductory Japanese Language Workbook is a good book for those who wish to learn Japanese. When studying Japanese, you should start by learning to read and write hiragana. Not only will it help you to be able to read signs, menus, etc in Japan... but knowing and using hiragana (as well as katakana and kanji) helps you to pronounce Japanese properly." --Tokyo Five blog

"This workbook has been carefully designed to facilitate the quick and easy mastery of the forty-six character hiragana syllabary used to write all types of native words not written in kanji. An understanding of hiragana is essential for the serious student wishing to learn Japanese effectively." --Just One Cookbook blog

About the Author

Jim Gleeson, a native of Sydney, Australia, holds an honors degree in the History of Science from the University of New South Wales. He has written for various Australian newspapers as well as many major corporations both in Japan and Australia.