Hiragana Translator
Convert English and Romaji to Hiragana instantly — with a built-in virtual keyboard, pronunciation guide, and 95.1% linguistic accuracy.
Translator Features
Built for learners, students, and Japanophiles
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Audio Pronunciation
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Hiragana Vocabulary Guide
Essential characters every Japanese learner should know — click to load
Sakura
Arigatou
Konnichiwa
Sayounara
Sumimasen
Ohayou Gozaimasu
Common Phrases
Click any row to load it into the translator
| English | Hiragana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | こんにちは | konnichiwa |
| Thank you (polite) | ありがとうございます | arigatou gozaimasu |
| Excuse me | すみません | sumimasen |
| Good morning | おはようございます | ohayou gozaimasu |
| Good evening | こんばんは | konbanwa |
| Good night | おやすみなさい | oyasuminasai |
| Nice to meet you | はじめまして | hajimemashite |
| Please | おねがいします | onegaishimasu |
| I'm sorry | ごめんなさい | gomenasai |
| Bon appétit (before eating) | いただきます | itadakimasu |
| Thank you for your hard work | おつかれさまです | otsukaresama desu |
| I'm fine / It's okay | だいじょうぶです | daijoubu desu |
About Hiragana
Understanding Japan's foundational writing system
What is Hiragana?
Hiragana (ひらがな) is one of three Japanese writing systems, alongside Katakana and Kanji. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable sound, making it a phonetic alphabet uniquely suited to the Japanese language. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, verb endings, and words with no kanji representation.
Hiragana developed in the 9th century from simplified Chinese characters (kanji) and was originally known as "onnade" (女手, women's hand) because it was used primarily by women at the Imperial court. Today it is typically the first script taught to learners and appears in children's books, furigana reading guides, and everyday writing throughout Japan.
Dakuten and Handakuten
These diacritical marks modify the pronunciation of base characters. Dakuten (゛) voices a consonant — for example, か (ka) becomes が (ga), and た (ta) becomes だ (da). Handakuten (゜) adds a "p" sound to the は-row — は (ha) becomes ぱ (pa). Together with the base 46 characters and yōon combinations, the full hiragana set covers all native Japanese sounds.
Why Learn Hiragana First?
Hiragana is essential because every Japanese word can be written in it. Even kanji have hiragana readings (known as furigana). Mastering hiragana unlocks reading menus, signs, children's books, and beginner textbooks. Most Japanese language programs begin with hiragana before introducing katakana and kanji, making it the gateway to Japanese literacy.
How to Use This Translator
Five simple steps to convert your text
Enter Text
Type English words or romaji into the input field, or use the virtual Hiragana keyboard.
Click Translate
Press the "Translate to Hiragana" button or use the Ctrl+Enter keyboard shortcut.
Review Output
Your Hiragana translation appears in the output area. Check accuracy and pronunciation.
Listen & Refine
Click Speak to hear the Japanese pronunciation. Adjust your input if needed.
Copy or Download
Copy the Hiragana text to clipboard or download as a .txt file for your studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Hiragana Translator