How to write ひ (hi) in hiragana
ひ (hi) turns into び (bi) and ぴ (pi) with the voicing marks. It grew out of the cursive form of the kanji 比 (“compare”). One flowing stroke draws it: it starts at the top left and runs downwards then upwards then down and right, ending at the right. Words that start with it include 光 (“light”), 東 (“east”), 被告 (“defendant”) and 左 (“left”).
- Romaji
- hi
- Strokes
- 1
- From
- 比
- Katakana
- ヒ
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- top leftdownwards → upwards → down and right
Where ひ comes from
- Hiragana
- 比, cursive of the whole kanji
- Katakana
- ヒ from 比
Here both scripts start from the same kanji, 比 (“compare”).
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
With voicing marks
Base kana first, then the marks at the top right.
Combined sounds
- ひゃ hya
- ひゅ hyu
- ひょ hyo
- びゃ bya
- びゅ byu
- びょ byo
- ぴゃ pya
- ぴゅ pyu
- ぴょ pyo
Words with ひ
613 common JMdict words with it; ten shown.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 光 | ひかり hikari | light; illumination |
| 東 | ひがし higashi | east |
| 被告 | ひこく hikoku | defendant; the accused |
| 左 | ひだり hidari | left; left-hand side |
| 一つ | ひとつ hitotsu | one; for one thing |
| 批判 | ひはん hihan | criticism; judgement |
| 百 | ひゃく hyaku | hundred; 100 |
| 必要 | ひつよう hitsuyou | necessary; needed |
| 人びと | ひとびと hitobito | people; men and women |
| 火 | ひ hi | fire; flame |
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kana: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Hiragana, in chart order: