Pe Po
Hiragana 2
Chapter 10 Β· Pe Po
πΈ Finishing the P Row β γΊ γ½
The last two characters of the course: γΊ (pe) and γ½ (po), the semi-voiced forms of γΈ and γ». After this chapter you know every voiced and semi-voiced hiragana. Romaji is shown for everything.
| Plain | With γ | Sound before | Sound now |
|---|---|---|---|
| γΈ | γΊ | he | pe |
| γ» | γ½ | ho | po |
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| h | γ― | γ² | γ΅ | γΈ | γ» |
| p (h + γ) | γ± | γ΄ | γ· | γΊ | γ½ |
The two highlighted characters are today's; the P row is now complete.
β¨ Two New Characters β γΊ γ½
π Read It β New Words
Mostly mimetic words and everyday favourites. Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji.
| # | Word | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γγγ½ | sanpo | a walk; a stroll | sa-n-po: the usual word for a leisurely walk |
| 2 | γγγ½γ½ | tanpopo | dandelion | ta-n-po-po |
| 3 | γΊγγΊγ | perapera | fluent (in a language) | pe-ra-pe-ra: "He's γΊγγΊγ in Japanese!" |
| 4 | γΊγγΊγ | pekopeko | starving (stomach rumbling) | pe-ko-pe-ko: γγͺγγ γΊγγΊγ = "I'm starving" |
| 5 | γ½γγ½γ | pokapoka | nice and warm | po-ka-po-ka: a lovely sunny-day word |
| 6 | γ½γγ½γ | potapota | drip, drip | po-ta-po-ta |
| 7 | γΊγγΊγ | petapeta | sticky; patting | pe-ta-pe-ta |
| 8 | γ½γ€γ½γ€ | potsupotsu | spots; scattered drops | po-tsu-po-tsu |
| 9 | γ½γ | pon | pop; a light tap | po-n |
| 10 | γΊγ | pen | pen | pe-n: usually written γγ³ in katakana |
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Read aloud: γΊ Β· γ½ Β· γ± Β· γ΄ Β· γ·
Show answer
pe Β· po Β· pa Β· pi Β· pu
2. Read aloud and translate: γγγ½ Β· γγγ½γ½
Show answer
sanpo (a walk) Β· tanpopo (dandelion)
3. Read aloud and translate: γΊγγΊγ Β· γ½γγ½γ Β· γ½γγ½γ
Show answer
perapera (fluent) Β· pokapoka (warm) Β· potapota (drip, drip)
4. What does γγͺγγ γΊγγΊγ mean?
Show answer
I'm starving: lit. "my stomach is peko-peko".
5. Which of the 25 characters you have learned sound the same as another, and which?
Show answer
γ’ sounds like γ (ji) and γ₯ sounds like γ (zu).
6. Write in hiragana: sanpo Β· tanpopo Β· perapera (check the stroke order).
Show answer
γγγ½ Β· γγγ½γ½ Β· γΊγγΊγ
π Course Complete β γγγ§γ¨γοΌ
You have learned all 25 voiced and semi-voiced hiragana. Here is the whole chart, every one of them one of the basic characters with a mark.
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| k β g | γ | γ | γ | γ | γ |
| s β z | γ | γ | γ | γ | γ |
| t β d | γ | γ’ | γ₯ | γ§ | γ© |
| h β b | γ° | γ³ | γΆ | γΉ | γΌ |
| h β p | γ± | γ΄ | γ· | γΊ | γ½ |
Read across each row: the plain row from Hiragana 1 plus the mark gives the row shown. γ’ and γ₯ sound like γ and γ.
| Chapter | New characters | You can now⦠|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | γ γ γ | You can now explain what γ does and read γγγγ, γγγ. |
| 2 | γ γ | You can now read γγγ, γγ―γ, γγγγͺγγ. |
| 3 | γ γ γ | You can now read γγγγ¨γγγγγΎγ, γγ―γγγγγγΎγ. |
| 4 | γ γ | You can now read γγ, γγγ, γγ. |
| 5 | γ γ’ γ₯ | You can now read γγγ γγΎγ, γ¨γγ γ‘, and explain rendaku. |
| 6 | γ§ γ© | You can now read γ§γ, γ©γ, γ§γγ. |
| 7 | γ° γ³ γΆ | You can now read γγγ°γγ―, γγ°γ, γΆγ©γ. |
| 8 | γΉ γΌ | You can now read γγΉγ, γγΉγγ¨γ, γΌγ. |
| 9 | γ± γ΄ γ· | You can now explain γ and read γγγ΄γ€, γγγ·γ. |
| 10 | γΊ γ½ | You can now read γγγ½, γγγ½γ½, γΊγγΊγ. |