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FIRST STEPS TO MASTERING THE JAPANESE WRITING SYSTEM
Japanese
HIRAGANA
& KATAKANA
for Beginners
The method that’s helped thousands in the U.S. and Japan learn Japanese successfully
Timothy G. Stout
Illustrated by Alexis Cowan
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
The Tuttle Story: “Books to Span the East and West”
Most people are surprised to learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its humble beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles E. Tuttle, belonged to a New England family steeped in publishing. And his first love was naturally books—especially old and rare editions.
Immediately after WW II, serving in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur, Tuttle was tasked with reviving the Japanese publishing industry. He later founded the Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Company, which thrives today as one of the world’s leading independent publishers.
Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing a knowledge of Japan and Asia to a world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, Tuttle had published over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by the Japanese emperor with the “Order of the Sacred Treasure,” the highest tribute Japan can bestow upon a non-Japanese.
With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle Publishing is more active today than at any time in its past—inspired by Charles Tuttle’s core mission to publish fine books to span the East and West and provide a greater understanding of each.
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (Hong Kong) Ltd.
Copyright © 2011 by Periplus Editions (Hong Kong) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0101-2 (ebook)
Distributed by
North America, Latin America & Europe
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 U.S.A.
Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993
[email protected] www.tuttlepublishing.com
Japan
Tuttle Publishing
Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor, 5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 0032
Tel: (81) 3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755
[email protected] www.tuttle.co.jp
Asia Pacific
Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.
61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12, Singapore 534167
Tel: (65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290
[email protected] www.periplus.com
16 15 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1205MP
Printed in Singapore
TUTTLE PUBLISHING ® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
CONTENTS
— HIRAGANA —
SECTION ONE
The Basic 46 Hiragana Characters
Reading Practice 1: あ ~ そ
Reading Practice 2: た ~ ほ
Reading Practice 3: ま ~ ん
SECTION TWO
Hiragana Usage Rules
Rule 1: Tenten and Maru
Reading Practice 4: Tenten and Maru
Rule 2: Combined Characters
Reading Practice 5: Combined Characters
Rule 3: Small “tsu”
Reading Practice 6: Small “tsu”
Rule 4: Long Vowels
Reading Practice 7: Long Vowels
Rule 5: Sentence Particles “wa,” “e” and “o”
Reading Practice 8: Particles “wa,” “e” and “o”
SECTION THREE
Reading and Writing Practice
Answers
— KATAKANA —
SECTION FOUR
The Basic 46 Katakana Characters
Reading Practice 1: ア ~ ソ
Reading Practice 2: タ ~ ホ
Reading Practice 3: マ ~ ン
SECTION FIVE
Katakana
