ME
め is the ME in raMEn, and is long, curvy, and delicious like the ぬ in noodles.
MO
も is like し, but like with one MO’ notch on the hook for one MO’ fish having been caught.
YA
や is a hippo making a large YAwn.
YU
ゆ is Uncle Sam moving his hand up, around, and at you, saying, “I want YOU.”
YO
よ is like a hand signal for someone who says “YO!”
RA
ら is shaped like the base of the ear and the side of the face of a RAccoon.
RI
り is like the end of a juicy rib ready for the gRIll.
RU
る is like the letter “r” with a lOOp on the end.
RE
れ is shaped like a leg (the Japanese might say “REg”) with a foot at the end.
RO
ろ is like the letter “r” with an Open curl on the end.
WA
わ is shaped somewhat like an ancient haniWA horse sculpture.
O
を is shaped like a man jumping Over an obstacle.
N
ん, while shaped somewhat more like an h, is a tall “n”, often used as an eNding sound.
Kana Combinations (hiragana • katakana)
| KYA きゃ・キャ | KYU きゅ・キュ | KYO きょ・キョ |
| SHA しゃ・シャ | SHU しゅ・シュ | SHO しょ・ショ |
| CHA ちゃ・チャ | CHU ちゅ・チュ | CHO ちょ・チョ |
| NYA にゃ・ニャ | NYU にゅ・ニュ | NYO にょ・ニョ |
| HYA ひゃ・ヒャ | HYU ひゅ・ヒュ | HYO ひょ・ヒョ |
| MYA みゃ・ミャ | MYU みゅ・ミュ | MYO みょ・ミョ |
| RYA りゃ・リャ | RYU りゅ・リュ | RYO りょ・リョ |
カタカナ KATAKANA
A
ア looks like a dArt.
I
イ is one of many pEople you will see in this book.
U
ウ is like a tOOl that could be used to lOOsen a nut.
E
エ looks like an “H” on its side and is pronounced with the beginning sound of this letter (EHch).
O
オ has an (Opening at the bottom that could close soon.
KA
カ wields lots of power just like the kanji 力.
KI
キ looks like it could go on a KEY ring along with the hiragana き.
KU
ク is shaped like a quiz (KUizu in Japanese) paper that has just been graded.
KE
ケ is like KElp, a seaweed eaten quite often by Japanese.
KO
コ looks like a COmb that’s missing its teeth.
SA
サ is the American English pronunciation for the first part of the word sock (“ SAck”).
SHI
シ has marks similar to a capital letter “ E”.
SU
ス is for the SUit that goes with this bowtie.