Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

Chapter 1

The Japanese Sound System and Hiragana

Workbook Activities
I. Hiragana
A. Write each hiragana, following the correct stroke order. The arrows indicate the direction of
each stroke. Pay attention to the balance of each character and how each stroke ends: Stop (S),
Release (R), or Hook (H). H/S indicates individual variations.

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Chapter 1

B. Practice writing each hiragana, following the correct stroke order. Work from top to bottom
to avoid writing the same character repeatedly.

 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

C. Write the following words in hiragana.

1. kasa (umbrella)

6. ashi (leg)

2. kiku (chrysanthemum)

7. uso (lie, n.)

3. isu (chair)

8. koe (voice)

4. oka (hill)

9. ike (pond)

5. kisoku (rule)

10. sekai (world)

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Chapter 1 

II. Hiragana
A. Write each hiragana, following the correct stroke order. The arrows indicate the direction of
each stroke. Pay attention to the balance of each character and how each stroke ends, Stop (S),
Release (R), or Hook (H). R/S indicates individual variations.

 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

B. Practice writing each hiragana, following the correct stroke order. Work from top to bottom
to avoid writing the same character repeatedly.

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Chapter 1

C. Write the following words in hiragana.

1. tsuchi (soil)

16. hito (person)

2. nasu (eggplant)

17. tane (seed)

3. hachi (bee)

18. hifu (skin)

4. nuka (rice bran)

19. fune (ship)

5. nokosu (to save)

10. hoshikusa (hay)

 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

III. Hiragana
A. Write each hiragana, following the correct stroke order. The arrows indicate the direction of
each stroke. Pay attention to the balance of each character and how each stroke ends, Stop (S),
Release (R), or Hook (H). H/S indicates individual variations.

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Chapter 1

B. Practice writing each hiragana, following the correct stroke order. Work from top to bottom
to avoid writing the same character repeatedly.

 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

C. Write the following words in hiragana.

1. hera (spatula)

6. yuri (lily)

2. matsuri (festival)

7. mukashi (past)

3. yoyaku (reservation)

8. rokuro (potters wheel)

4. raihin (guest)

9. moritsuke (dish)

5. misoshiru (miso soup)

10. wareru (to break)

IV. Hiragana : Voiced consonants

Write these words with voiced consonants in hiragana.

1. dekigoto (event) _ ______________________ 6. edamame (soybeans)____________________

2. tenpura (tempura) _____________________ 7. jidai (period)_____________________________
3. giron (discussion) ______________________ 8. goman (fifty thousand)____________________
4. kubetsu (distinction) _ __________________ 9. genjitsu (reality)__________________________
5. tonbo (dragonfly) ______________________ 10. kabin (vase)______________________________

V. Hiragana : Long vowels

Write these words with long vowels in hiragana.

1. sensee (teacher) ______________________________________________

2. tokee (clock) ________________________________________________
3. reezooko (refrigerator) ________________________________________
4. soomen (noodles) ____________________________________________
5. doroboo (thief) ______________________________________________
6. gakusee (student) ____________________________________________
7. imooto (younger sister) _______________________________________
8. yuumee (famous) ____________________________________________
9. chuushajoo (parking lot) ______________________________________
10. gyooretsu (procession) ________________________________________

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Chapter 1

VI./VII. Double Consonants and Glides

A. Practice writing small hiragana both horizontally and vertically. Pay attention to the
proportion of small hiragana with respect to the regular-size hiragana.

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

B. Now write these words with glides in hiragana.

1. kyoka (permission) ______________________________________________________

2. hyakuen (one hundred yen) _______________________________________________
3. gyaku (reverse) _________________________________________________________
4. kanja (patient, n.) _______________________________________________________
5. ryokan (inn) ___________________________________________________________
6. chawan (rice bowl) ______________________________________________________
7. jisho (dictionary) _ ______________________________________________________
8. sanmyaku (mountain range) ______________________________________________
9. shokutaku (dining table) _________________________________________________
10. shakai (society) _________________________________________________________

C. Write these words with double consonants in hiragana.

1. kitte (stamp) ___________________________________________________________

2. yatto (at last) ___________________________________________________________
3. rippa (splendid) _ _______________________________________________________
4. sekken (soap) ___________________________________________________________
5. shakkuri (hiccup) _______________________________________________________
6. nikki (diary) _ __________________________________________________________
7. shippai (failure) _________________________________________________________
8. kissaten (coffee shop) ____________________________________________________
9. Roppongi (Tokyo neighborhood) _________________________________________
10. chokkaku (right angle) ___________________________________________________

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Chapter 1 11

D. Write these words in hiragana.

1. isshoo kenmee (hard)

2. shuppatsu shinkoo (start)
3. shinzoo hossa (heart attack)
4. manjoo icchi (unanimity)
5. tokkyuu ressha (limited express)

12 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

Lab Activities
I. Introduction and Hiragana
A. Listen to and repeat each of the following words or phrases. After you hear each one a second
time, write it down. Stop the audio as necessary.

1.

7. _________________________ 13.

2.

8. _________________________ 14.

3.

9. _________________________ 15.

4.

10. _________________________ 16.

5.

11. _________________________ 17.

6.

12. _________________________ 18.

B. Listen to and repeat each of the following words, paying attention to the whispered sounds.

1. shore

5. hem

2. chrysanthemum

6. like

3. stalk

7. four seasons

4. grass

8. deer

C. You are attending an orientation session for international students at a university in Japan.
Some of the students approach you and introduce themselves. Following the example, greet
each person and give your name.

hajimemashite

k a t o o

hajimemashite

b u r a u n

d e s u

d o o z o

yoroshiku

You hear:
d e s u

d o o z o

yoroshiku

You say:

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Chapter 1 13

II. Hiragana
A. Listen to and repeat each of the following words or phrases. After you hear each one a second
time, write it down. Stop the audio as necessary.

1.

7. _________________________ 13.

2.

8. _________________________ 14.

3.

9. _________________________ 15.

4.

10. _________________________ 16.

5.

11. _________________________ 17.

6.

12. _________________________ 18.

B. Listen to and repeat each of the following words, paying attention to the whispered sound.

1. soil

5. underground

2. moon

6.

3. to win

7. Sachiko (female name)

my father

4. to wait for
C. You run into some of your classmates and instructors on campus at various times of the day.
They greet you. Give each person the appropriate response. You will then hear the correct
response.
o ha y o o

go z a

i ma s u

You hear: 9:00 a.m.,

o ha y o o

go z a

i ma s u

o ha y o o

go z a

i ma s u

You say:
You hear:
D. You run into some of your classmates and instructors during the day. After hearing the cue
telling you the time of day, greet each person. You will then hear the correct greeting.
You hear: 3:00 p.m.
k o n n i chiw a

You say:
k o n n i chiw a

You hear:
14 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

III. Hiragana
A. Listen to and repeat each of the following words or phrases. After you hear each one a second
time, write it down. Stop the audio as necessary.

1.

7. _________________________ 13.

2.

8. _________________________ 14.

3.

9. _________________________ 15.

4.

10. _________________________ 16.

5.

11. _________________________ 17.

6.

12. _________________________ 18.

B. Listen to and repeat each of the following words, paying attention to the [n] sounds. You will
then hear the word again.

1. elder brother

4. this kind (of)

2. easygoing

5. seed

3. powder

6. detailed

C. Your last class is over and you are going home. You see some of your classmates and instructors
in the hallway and expect to see them again soon. Listen to each cue identifying a classmate or
an instructor and greet that person appropriately. You will then hear the correct greeting.
y a mad a s a n

You hear:
j

ma t a

ma t a

You say:
You hear:

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Chapter 1 15

IV. Hiragana : Voiced consonants

A. Listen to and repeat each of the following words or phrases. After you hear each one a second
time, write it down. Stop the audio as necessary.

1.

7. _________________________ 13.

2.

8. _________________________ 14.

3.

9. _________________________ 15.

4.

10. _________________________ 16.

5.

11. _________________________ 17.

6.

12. _________________________ 18.

B. Listen to each of the following pairs of words and identify which word in the pair has a voiced
sound. Circle first or second. Listen to the model:
You hear:
You see:
first second
You circle: second, because the second word you heard had a voiced sound.

1. first

second

2. first

second

3. first

second

4. first

second

5. first

second

6. first

second

C. Listen to and repeat each of the following phrases, paying attention to the length of each
sound. You will then hear the phrase again.
D. What would you say in each of the following situations? Listen to each cue identifying a
situation and respond appropriately. You will then hear the correct response.
You hear: You lost a book that you borrowed from a friend.
You say:
You hear:

16 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

V. Hiragana : Long vowels

A. Listen to and repeat each of the following words or phrases. After you hear each one a second
time, write it down. Stop the audio as necessary.

1.

7. _________________________ 13.

2.

8. _________________________ 14.

3.

9. _________________________ 15.

4.

10. _________________________ 16.

5.

11. _________________________ 17.

6.

12. _________________________

B. Listen to and repeat each of the following words or phrases. After you hear each one a second
time, write it down. Stop the audio as necessary.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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Chapter 1 17

C. Listen to the following pairs of words and repeat them, paying attention to the contrast in
pronunciation for each pair.

1.

picture

yes

2.

stomach

good

3.

house

no

4.

sushi

numeral

5.

countryside

sugar

6.

cloth

pretty, clean

7.

shoes

pain

8.

wind

taxation

9.

aunt

grandmother

10.

uncle

grandfather

11.

here

high school

12.

my husband

prisoner

D. Listen to Professor Yamamotos requests. Write the letter of the illustration that matches each
request.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

You hear:

You write: A because the request means please listen.

1. ________________ 5. __________________

2. ________________ 6. ___________________

3. ________________ 7. ___________________

4. ________________ 8. ___________________

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

VI. Hiragana Small : Double consonants

A. Listen to the following pairs of words or phrases and identify which word or phrase in each
pair contains a double consonant. Circle first or second.
You hear:

You see:

You circle: first, because the first word you heard had a double consonant.

first second

1. first

second

2. first

second

3. first

second

4. first

second

5. first

second

6. first

second

7. first

second

B. Listen to the following pairs of words and identify each word that contains a double
consonant. Circle first, second, both, or neither.
You hear:

You see:

first second both neither

You circle: neither, because neither word you heard had a double consonant.

1. first

second

both

neither

2. first

second

both

neither

3. first

second

both

neither

4. first

second

both

neither

5. first

second

both

neither

6. first

second

both

neither

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Chapter 1 19

C. Listen to the following words or phrases first in English, then in Japanese. Repeat each of the
Japanese words or phrases. After you hear it a second time, write it down. Stop the audio as
necessary.
You hear:

school,

You repeat:
You hear:

You write:

1. ______________________________________
2. ______________________________________
3. ______________________________________
4. ______________________________________
5. ______________________________________
6. ______________________________________
7. _ _____________________________________
8. ______________________________________
D. A Japanese friend is speaking to you but you dont understand everything he says. Ask him to
speak louder or slower or to repeat what he said, depending on what you hear. You will then
hear the correct request. Repeat each request.
You hear:

You say:

You hear:

You repeat:

20 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

VII. Hiragana : Glides

A. Listen to the following pairs of words and identify which word in each pair has a glide. Circle
first or second.
You hear:

You see:

first second

You circle: first, because the first word you heard had a glide.

1. first

second

2. first

second

3. first

second

4. first

second

5. first

second

6. first

second

B. Listen to the following pairs of words and identify which words have a glide. Circle first,
second, both, or neither.
You hear:

You see:

first second both neither

You circle: second, because the second word you heard had a glide.

1. first

second

both

neither

2. first

second

both

neither

3. first

second

both

neither

4. first

second

both

neither

5. first

second

both

neither

6. first

second

both

neither

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Chapter 121

C. Listen to the following words first in English, then in Japanese. Repeat each of the Japanese
words, then write it down after you hear it a second time. Stop the audio as necessary.
You hear:

homework,

You repeat:
You hear:
You write:

1._____________________________________________
2._____________________________________________
3._____________________________________________
4._____________________________________________
5._____________________________________________
6._____________________________________________
7._____________________________________________

22 Nakama 1a SAM

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Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_ ______________________

D. Look at the following drawing. Listen to each cue in English and ask your friend, Ms.
Kimura, what the item is called in Japanese. You will then hear the correct question. Repeat
the question. You will then hear the answer to the question. Stop the audio and write the
Japanese word.
you

You hear: eraser

You say:
You hear:
You say:
You hear: or

You write:

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________

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Chapter 123

E. Listen to each of the following English words and ask how to say them in Japanese. You will
then hear the correct question. Repeat the question. You will then hear the answer to the
question. Stop the audio and write the Japanese word.

You hear:

Love

You say:

Love

You hear:

Love

You repeat: Love

You hear:

or

You write:

1.___________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________
F. Prof. Yamada says a word you dont understand. Ask for the meaning of the word. You will
then hear the correct question. Write the question. You will then hear the answer to the
question.

You hear:
You say:

You hear:
You write:
You hear: fish

1.___________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________
6.___________________________________________________
24 Nakama 1a SAM

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