Kana Mnemonics Notes (Vowels and Rows)

Vowels (あいうえお)

a (あ) → looks like a person with arms out saying “aah!”
i (い) → two thin lines = two is standing together
u (う) → shaped like a sideways "u" or a bird's beak going "oo"
e (え) → extra arm sticking out from the middle line = “e”
o (お) → big round shape with a small hat = looks like an

KRow (かきくけこ)

ka → looks like a kite on a string = “ka”
ki → resembles a key with teeth = “ki”
ku → curved like a bird's beak saying “koo koo” = “ku”
ke → looks like a keg with a tap = “ke”
ko → two parallel lines making a corner (corner) = “ko”
(With dakuten: ga, gi, gu, ge, go — just “k” sounds with dakuten turn into “g” sounds)

S Row (さしすせそ)

sa → looks like a saw blade = "sa"
shi → L (shi) → a curvy line like a smile saying “shi”
su → swirl like a tornado: "soon a storm" = “su”
se → looks like a hook or a fishing line for “sea” = “se”
so → curl with a tick, like a sewing needle + thread = “so”
(With dakuten: za, ji, zu, ze, zo — just “s” becomes “z” when dakuten is added; i.e., s-row → z-row)

TRow (たちつてと)

ta → looks like a tall table = ta
chi → looks like a backwards "C" with an extra stroke : "chi" (think "chee-tos")
tsu → three drops of water falling = "tsu" (like “tsunami”)
te → looks like a T with a hook = te
to → looks like a tombstone = to
Dakuten: rare variants noted (e.g., some glyphs and historical forms), largely replaced by modern usage; see notes for details

N Row (なにぬねの)

na → looks like a cross + loop = "na"
ni → two strokes like two parallel “nickels” = “ni”
nu → has a loop like noodles = “nu”
ne → has a knot (like a bowtie ribbon) = “ne”
no → a single loop = “no”

H Row (はひふへほ)

ha → looks like a person saying “ha-ha” = “ha”
hi → curvy, looks like a smile saying “hee-hee” = “hi”
fu → looks like a blowing face/fan (think “fufu” blowing air) = “fu”
he → looks like a slope, a mountain with a hedge = “he”
ho → looks like a T with an extra line (a holy cross) = “ho”
Dakuten: H→ B sounds (ba, bi, bu, be, bo); Handakuten: H → P sounds (pa, pi, pu, pe, po); some variant glyphs noted historically

M Row (まみむめも)

ma → looks like a loop with a line = "ma" (think “mama”)
mi → looks like three squiggly lines = “mi” (like three pieces of string)
mu → has a curly tail like a cow's tail going “moo” = “mu”
me → has a cross with a loop = “me” (me means eye in Japanese)
mo → looks like a monster with arms = “mo”

Y Row (やゆよ)

ya → looks like a hook + line = "ya"
yu → looks like a fishhook or spring = "yu" (like “yo-yo”)
yo → looks like a crooked “Y” = "yo"
Note: No yi or ye in standard hiragana.

R Row (らりるれろ)

ra → looks like a ribbon loop = “ra”
ri → two little vertical strokes = "ri" (like two reeds)
ru → swirl/loop = "ru" (like a rope tied in a knot)
re → looks like a sideways “r” = “re”
ro → looks like "no" () but more open/straight → "ro"

W Row + N

wa → looks like "ra" but with an extra stroke → "wa"
wo → only used as a particle, pronounced “o” → “wo/o”
n → looks like an “n” or a hook → “n”