a (あ) Hiragana Stroke Order
The hiragana character あ is pronounced as "a" and is one of the fundamental characters in the Japanese writing system. Below you'll find both a stroke order diagram and an animated demonstration showing the proper sequence for writing あ. Watch the animation carefully and practice tracing the character with your mouse or finger on the screen to master the correct stroke order and flow.
How to Pronounce あ (a)
Sounds like the 'a' in 'father'. Open your mouth wide and let the sound flow naturally from the back of your throat.
Learn "あ" Stroke Order - Step by Step
"あ" Stroke Order Count：3
Stroke Order Tips for あ
Draw a short horizontal line from left to right across the upper portion.
Draw a vertical stroke from top center, curving to the left at the bottom.
Draw a long sweeping horizontal stroke from left to right across the lower portion.
"あ" Stroke Order Worksheet
Download and print this stroke order practice worksheet as a PDF to perfect your character writing. The worksheet provides guided tracing space and blank grids for repeated practice.Below is a preview of the worksheet. The printed version will be larger – simply click the Print button to generate your PDF.
Hiragana "あ" Stroke Order Online Practice
Common Words Using あ
Characters Commonly Confused with あ
あ (a) and お (o) both have curved strokes, but お has an additional diagonal flick at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions about あ
How many strokes does あ have?
Hiragana あ has 3 strokes. Katakana ア has 2 strokes.
What is the difference between あ and お?
あ represents the 'a' sound and お represents the 'o' sound. Visually, お has a diagonal flick that あ does not have.
Is あ the first character in hiragana?
Yes, あ is the first character in the hiragana chart and the first character in the あ行 (a-row).