TL;DR
- After mastering basic hiragana, you must learn kana extras to read real Japanese.
- The three essential extras are dakuten, yoon, and small っ.
- These change pronunciation and meaning in Japanese writing.
- Practice each group with pronunciation + writing drills for fast progress.
Hiragana Practice Online
Practice kana extras with audio, mouth-shape guidance, and writing mode. Master dakuten, yoon, and small っ step by step.
Go to practice hub →What Are Kana Extras After Hiragana?
When people learn Japanese, they usually start with the 46 basic hiragana characters.
These characters cover the core sounds of the language, but they are not enough to read real Japanese writing.
In textbooks, signs, manga, and daily conversation, you will constantly see additional kana forms called kana extras.
Kana extras hiragana refers to:
- modified sounds
- combined sounds
- doubled consonants
Without these, you can’t read most real Japanese words correctly.
These extras apply to hiragana or katakana, so mastering them helps with both kana systems and prepares you for advanced Japanese reading.
1) Dakuten (が・ざ・だ・ば) and Handakuten (ぱ)
Dakuten are the small double lines (゛) that change a sound from unvoiced to voiced.
Handakuten is the small circle (゜) used in the P-row.
These marks are tiny, but they are extremely important in Japanese writing.
How Dakuten Work
| Base | Dakuten | Sound Change |
|---|---|---|
| か | が | k → g |
| さ | ざ | s → z |
| た | だ | t → d |
| は | ば | h → b |
Handakuten (P sounds)
| Base | Handakuten | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| は | ぱ | pa |
| ひ | ぴ | pi |
| ふ | ぷ | pu |
| へ | ぺ | pe |
| ほ | ぽ | po |
Why Dakuten Matter
Compare these Japanese words:
- かみ = paper / god
- がみ = hair
- さけ = alcohol
- ざけ = sake (casual slang)
One small mark can change meaning completely.
Practice Drill
- Read か → が aloud
- Write both characters 3×
- Contrast pairs side by side
This is the fastest step to learn voiced kana characters and avoid common pronunciation mistakes.
2) Yoon (きゃ / しゃ / ちゃ)
Yoon are combined sounds made with small や・ゆ・よ.
They are sometimes called contracted sounds or palatalized sounds in linguistics.
Basic Pattern
- き + ゃ → きゃ (kya)
- し + ゅ → しゅ (shu)
- ち + ょ → ちょ (cho)
The second kana must be small.
If it is full-size, the meaning and pronunciation change.
Common Yoon Examples
- きゃ / きゅ / きょ
- しゃ / しゅ / しょ
- ちゃ / ちゅ / ちょ
- にゃ / にゅ / にょ
- ひゃ / ひゅ / ひょ
- りゃ / りゅ / りょ
Why Yoon Matter
Japanese words like:
- きょう (today)
- しゃしん (photo)
- ちょっと (a little)
- にゃんこ (cat, casual)
are impossible to read without yoon knowledge.
Practice Drill
- Say: きゃ → きゅ → きょ (3× each)
- Write each combination once
- Read all three as a set
This trains both sound blending and Japanese writing flow.
3) Small っ (Sokuon)
The small っ is called sokuon.
It marks a double consonant and changes the rhythm of Japanese speech.
Example Words
- がっこう (school)
- きって (stamp)
- ちょっと (a little)
- まって (wait!)
How It Changes Sound
It adds a short pause:
- かこう = kakou
- がっこう = gapausekou
Native speakers hear this difference instantly, and missing it is one of the most common Japanese learning mistakes.
Writing Tip
Small っ is half-size.
Writing it too large makes the word incorrect or confusing.
Practice Drill
- Read きて → きって
- Clap your hands for the pause
- Write the word once slowly
This helps you feel Japanese rhythm and timing.
How Kana Extras Fit Into Japanese Writing
Basic hiragana teaches you sounds.
Kana extras make Japanese real.
They appear in:
- everyday conversation
- manga and anime
- textbooks and signage
- subtitles and dictionaries
Learning kana extras is the natural next step to learn Japanese after mastering basic hiragana.
The 10-Minute Kana Extras Routine
Use this daily routine to master kana characters fast:
Minute 1–3: Dakuten
- Read が / ざ / だ / ば / ぱ
- Write each once
Minute 4–6: Yoon
- Practice きゃ / しゃ / ちゃ
- Say each aloud
Minute 7–10: Small っ
- Read words with っ
- Clap the pause
- Write one example word
This structure balances pronunciation, memory, and Japanese writing practice.
Common Mistakes With Kana Extras
These are common mistakes beginners make:
- Writing small や as full や
- Forgetting dakuten marks
- Ignoring small っ pauses
- Reading yoon as two syllables
- Overusing romaji instead of kana
Fix by contrast practice:
- きゃ vs きや
- か vs が
- きて vs きって
Contrast training is one of the most effective Japanese learning methods.
When Should You Learn Kana Extras?
Right after basic hiragana.
Ideal learning order:
- Basic hiragana
- Dakuten
- Yoon
- Small っ
- Katakana
This is the most efficient path to mastering kana characters.
What Comes After Kana Extras?
Once kana extras feel natural, move to:
- Katakana
- Real Japanese words
- Basic grammar
- Kanji
Kana extras are the bridge from charts to real Japanese reading.
👉 Return to the main guide: Hiragana Practice Online
Final Takeaway
Kana extras are not advanced Japanese.
They are essential Japanese.
If you know:
- dakuten
- yoon
- small っ
you can read real character in Japanese text with confidence.
Practice them daily, and your kana skills become complete.