RETURN TO KANA MATRIXhiragana > gojuon > a
Official Standard Japanese Character Profile
あ
/a/
Script: HiraganaClass: GOJUONRow: VOWEL3 Strokes
Visual Mnemonic & Memory Aid
“Looks like an apple with a stem.”
Tip: Associate the shape with this visual image in your mind to recall it in less than 0.5s during drills.
Vocabulary Example
あめ (ame)
Meaning: Rain / Candy
Standard Ministry of Education phonetic syllabus
Frequently Confused Lookalikes
Learners often confuse あ with the following characters. Compare their nuances:
READY TO DRILL 'あ' AT ARCADE SPEED?
Reading Japanese isn't just about memorization — it's about fast visual reflexes. Test your speed in the SaKana Dojo.