ra (ら) Hiragana Stroke Order

The hiragana character ら is pronounced as "ra" 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 ら. 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.

ra Hiragana stroke order chart
Hiragana  ra stroke order chart animation

How to Pronounce ら (ra)

Sounds like a Spanish 'r' — a quick tap of the tongue, not a rolled or English 'r'.

Learn "ら" Stroke Order - Step by Step

"ら" Stroke Order Count:2

Stroke 1
Stroke 2

Stroke Order Tips for ら

Stroke 1

Draw a short horizontal stroke at the top.

Stroke 2

Draw a curved vertical stroke curving to the left at the bottom.

"ら" 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 "ら" Stroke Order Online Practice

Practice writing hiragana in the area below using a mouse or stylus, following the example.

Common Words Using ら

らいおん
raion
lion
らいねん
rainen
next year
らく
raku
comfortable
らっぱ
rappa
trumpet

Characters Commonly Confused with ら

Current
vs
(chi)

ら (ra) and ち (chi) may look similar, but ち has a diagonal top while ら has a horizontal top.

Characters in the Same Row as ら

Frequently Asked Questions about ら

How many strokes does ら have?

Hiragana ら has 2 strokes. Katakana ラ has 2 strokes.

How do I pronounce the Japanese 'r' in ら?

The Japanese 'r' is a flap sound — tap your tongue quickly against the roof of your mouth, similar to the Spanish 'r'.

All Hiragana Stroke Order