Unit 1 - Section 2: Hiragana - さ行・た行
Hiragana - さ行・た行
Now let's learn the さ (sa) row and た (ta) row of hiragana. These are essential for forming many common Japanese words.
さ行 (SA Row)
| Hiragana | Romaji | Pronunciation | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| さ | sa | sa (like "sa" in "psalm") | Looks like someone sitting |
| し | shi | shi (like "she") | Looks like a fishing hook |
| す | su | su (like "sue") | Looks like a swan swimming |
| せ | se | se (like "say") | Looks like the letter "Z" |
| そ | so | so (like "so") | Looks like a zigzag or sewing needle |
た行 (TA Row)
| Hiragana | Romaji | Pronunciation | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| た | ta | ta (like "ta" in "taco") | Looks like "ta" with a cross on top |
| ち | chi | chi (like "chee" in "cheese") | Looks like a cheerleader doing a high kick |
| つ | tsu | tsu (like "tsunami") | Looks like a wave (tsunami) |
| て | te | te (like "te" in "ten") | Looks like someone pointing upward |
| と | to | to (like "toe") | Looks like a toe with a nail |
Common Words Using These Characters
さかな
sakana
Meaning: fish
すし
sushi
Meaning: sushi
した
shita
Meaning: tongue; below
たいこ
taiko
Meaning: drum
ちち
chichi
Meaning: father
て
te
Meaning: hand
Practice Tips
Learning Tips:
- Note: し is pronounced "shi" (not "si") and ち is "chi" (not "ti")
- Practice: Write each character 10-15 times while saying it out loud
- Mnemonics: Create your own memory associations for each character
- Common mistake: Don't confuse さ (sa) with き (ki) - さ has a loop at the bottom
- Review: Combine these with あ行 and か行 to form more words