Hiragana, katakana, and kanji make up the Japanese writing system. When you start learning Japanese, figuring out how to read and write can feel overwhelming; after all, Japanese is completely different from the Roman alphabet! You then learn that there are three different writing systems used all at once. How is that even possible? Not to worry – these systems are simpler than you might expect! Each one has unique, defining characteristics and uses; once you learn more about these, reading and writing Japanese will be a breeze!

We’ve covered smaller articles for each Japanese writing system. Don’t forget to check out our downloadable hiragana chart and quiz for a more detailed guide and resource recommendation.

Origins of the Japanese Alphabet

Do you know about the history and the origin of hiragana and katakana? Originally, the Japanese ancestors did not have a writing system. Around the fifth century, they started using kanji, ideograms that were adopted from China and Korea. They only used the phonetic reading of the kanji, regardless of their meaning. At that time, the ideograms were called manyogana (万葉仮名).

However, kanji’s characters are composed of many strokes. They take longer to write, as you have noticed by now! Due to their difficulty, those ideograms were slowly simplified into kana alphabets, namely hiragana and katakana. They are called syllabograms, as each character corresponds to one sound in the Japanese language. According to historians, the change was initiated by Buddhist priests who thought kanji could not accurately represent the Japanese language and that a phonetic alphabet would be better.

Examples of Change

On the left is the manyogana, and on the right are simplified hiragana and katakana forms.

• 安 →あ 阿 → ア (a)
• 以 →い 伊 → イ(i)
• 宇 →う、ウ(u)
• 衣 →え 江 → エ(e)
• 於 →お、オ(o)

This change is thought to have occurred between the eighth and ninth centuries.  Hiragana can be considered a simplified calligraphy form of the kanji’s strokes. On the other hand, katakana is taken from a single element of a kanji. In some cases, the Hiragana and Katakana are created from different ideograms.

Some hiragana and Katakana express the same sound and have similar shapes, such as り and リ. However, some can be dissimilar, such as あ and ア. Hiragana is said to be cursive, while katakana is more angular. Do take note that one sound can have more than one hiragana. In 1900, the two kana scripts, hiragana and katakana, were codified. This led to the clear establishment of rules for the Japanese system in 1946.

Japanese Writing System #1: Hiragana

Whenever you just start out learning Japanese, hiragana is usually the first writing system you learn. Hiragana is technically a syllabary or a way of writing where symbols represent whole syllables (such as “ba” and “to”) instead of individual sounds (such as “b” or “t”)⁵. This is because all Japanese words are made up of these small syllables, so there’s no need to write out individual sounds!

In Japanese, there are 46 basic syllables:

• The basic vowels: a, i, u, e, o.
• The k-line: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko.
• The s-line: sa, shi, su, se, so. (Notice that the “si” sound is instead replaced by “shi.”)
• The t-line: ta, chi, tsu, te, to. (Notice that the “ti” and “tu” sounds are instead pronounced closer to “chi” and “tsu.”)
• The n-line: na, ni, nu, ne, no.
• The h-line: ha, hi, fu, he, ho. (Notice that the “hu” sound is actually said as “fu.”)
• The m-line: ma, mi, mu, me, mo.
• The y-line: ya, yu, yo.
• The r-line: ra, ri, ru, re, ro.
• Wa, o/wo, and n. (These sounds are unique, so they are generally placed together. The “o/wo” symbol can be pronounced either way and “n” is considered a whole syllable in Japanese.)

There are also 23 additional syllables in Japanese; these are formed with additional marks that we’ll cover in a minute.

• The g-line: ga, gi, gu, ge, go.
• the z-line: za, ji, zu, ze, zo. (Notice that “ji” is used instead of “zi.”)
• The d-line: da, ji, zu, de, do. (“ji” and “zu” are pronounced the same way as in the z-line but have different uses.)
• The b-line: ba, be, bu, be, bo.
• the p-line: pa, pi, pu, pe, po.

Writing Hiragana

So, now that we’ve covered the basic sounds, let’s see how these syllables are written down in hiragana:

Hiragana is generally round in shape, with lots of curves and bends. This characteristic is a key way to tell what symbols are hiragana! You can also combine a consonant with a / ya / yu / yo / sound by attaching a small 「や」、「ゆ」、or 「よ」 to the / i / vowel character of each consonant.

Now, let’s take a look at those 23 additional sounds:

• the g-line: が(ga), ぎ(gi), ぐ(gu), げ(ge), ご(go).
• the z-line: ざ(za), じ(ji), ず(zu), ぜ(ze), ぞ(zo).
• the d-line: だ(da), ぢ(ji), づ(zu), で(de), ど(do). 
• the b-line: ば(ba), べ(be), ぶ(bu), べ(be), ぼ(bo).
• the p-line: ぱ(pa), ぴ(pi), ぷ(pu), ぺ(pe), ぽ(po).

Did you notice something about the above sounds? The hiragana for the g-line is identical to the k-line, and the same goes for the z-line and s-line, the t-line and the d-line, the h-line and the b- and p-lines! The only difference is the addition of diacritical marks; these marks go to the upper right of the hiragana and can be either two short diagonal marks (called a dakuten) or a small circle (called the handakuten). This is pretty nice, as you don’t have to memorize even more symbols!

There are also contracted sounds in Japanese. These sounds are basically combinations of sounds ending in “-i” and the y-line and are considered one syllable as well^. All you have to do for these is add a small y-line hiragana after the main hiragana! (Notice that not all of these syllables keep the “y” sound.)

• the k-line: きゃ(kya), きゅ(kyu), きょ(kyo)
• the s-line: しゃ(sha), しゅ(shu), しょ (sho)
• the t-line: ちゃ(cha), ちゅ(chu), ちょ(cho)
• the n-line: にゃ(nya), にゅ(nyu), にょ(nyo)
• the h-line: ひゃ(hya), ひゅ(hyu), ひょ(hyo)
• the m-line: みゃ(mya), みゅ(my) みょ(myo)
• the r-line: りゃ(rya), りゅ(ryu), りょ(ryo)
• the g-line: ぎゃ(gya), ぎゅ(gyu), ぎょ(gyo)
• the z-line: じゃ(ja), じゅ(ju), じょ(jo)
• the b-line: びゃ(bya), びゅ(byu), びょ(byo)
• the p-line: ぴゃ(pya), ぴゅ(pyu), ぴょ(pyo)

So, that is the basics of how hiragana is written. However, there are also double consonants and long vowels, which are written with variations in hiragana (and katakana). We recommend checking out our full-length article about double consonants and long vowels to learn more about those!

How to Use Hiragana

Hiragana can be used for many things; it’s like the all-rounder of writing Japanese, and it represents all the syllables of the Japanese language! Hiragana is used when writing verb endings, particles, grammar words (such as conjunctions), and many native Japanese words, as well as for words that do not have a corresponding kanji character. Hiragana is also used in furigana; this is when hiragana is written in a small font above kanji for those who don’t know the kanji’s reading.

Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Hiragana

In Japanese hiragana, double consonants are represented by adding a small “tsu” character (っ) before the consonant that is doubled. For example, the word “katta” (勝った), meaning “won”, would be written as かった, with a small “tsu” between the two “t” characters.

Long vowels in hiragana are done by extending a consonant or vowel with another vowel, depending on the vowel in accordance with the following chart.

For example, the word “ookii” (大きい), meaning “big”, would be written as おおきい.

Vowel Sound	Extended by	Example
a	あ	おばあさん
i, e	い	おおきい、きれい
u, o	う	こうこう、くうき

Example

Let’s start off with a simple sentence – “My pet’s name is Bob.” (What a funny name for a pet!) In Hiragana, this looks like this:

わたしの ぺっと の なまえ は  ぼぶ です。
Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.

So, we can write a whole Japanese sentence just using hiragana! This is how most people (including native speakers) start off reading and writing Japanese. Of course, as you learn about katakana and kanji, some of these words will be replaced.  However, you will see that the particles (の [no] and は [wa]) and the native verb です(desu) will remain the same, as these are some of the things that specifically use hiragana!  

Now that you’ve learned the basics, it’s time for practice! Head on over to our list of practice sheets, apps, and quizzes to make sure you’ve got a solid understanding of hiragana!

Tips for Writing in Japanese

1. There are no spaces in the Japanese writing system

Japanese is written with no spaces, so a combination of hiragana, kanji, and katakana helps distinguish words within a sentence. As you improve your Japanese writing and reading skills, you’ll start to feel that reading kanji is often easier than reading a sentence that consists solely of hiragana.

2. Be careful of hiragana characters that sound and look similar

Pay more attention when pronouncing “tsu” and “su”. Beginner-level students also have a hard time discerning ro (ろ), re (れ), ru (る) — and nu (ぬ) and me (め) because they look similar.

3. Correct stroke order and direction are important

Writing hiragana with the correct stroke order and direction will help you intuitively know how to write new characters, and it has a big effect on how readable it ends up looking.

Japanese Writing System #2: Katakana

After hiragana, it’s a good idea to learn katakana next; katakana works the exact same way that hiragana does, just using different characters; some katakana symbols even look similar to their hiragana counterparts!  In fact, hiragana and katakana are often collectively referred to as kana, since they are so similar!

Writing Katakana  

the basic vowels	ア(a), イ(i), ウ(u), エ(e), オ(o)
the k-line	カ (ka), キ(ki), ク(ku), ケ(ke), コ(ko)
the s-line	サ(sa), シ(shi), ス(su), セ(se), ソ(so)
the t-line	タ(ta), チ(chi),ツ(tsu), テ(te), ト(to)
the h-line	ハ(ha), ヒ(hi), フ(fu), へ(he), ホ(ho)
the n-line	ナ(na), ニ(ni), ヌ(nu), ネ(ne), ノ(no)
the m-line	マ(ma), ミ(mi), ム(mu), メ(me), モ(mo)
the y-line	ヤ(ya), ユ(yu), ヨ(yo)
the r-line	ラ(ra), リ(ri), ル(ru), レ(re), ロ(ro).
	ワ(wa), ヲ(o/wo), and ン(n).

Now, let’s take a look at those 23 additional sounds:

• the g-line: ガ(ga), ギ(gi), グ(gu), ゲ(ge), ゴ(go).
• the z-line: ザ(za), ジ(ji), ズ(zu), ゼ(ze), ゾ(zo).
• the d-line: ダ(da), ヂ(ji), ヅ(zu), デ(de), ド(do). 
• the b-line: バ(ba), ビ(bi), ブ(bu), べ(be), ボ(bo).
• the p-line: パ(pa), ピ(pi), プ(pu), ぺ(pe), ポ(po).

The contracted sounds are also formed in the same way as in hiragana. However, katakana has additional combinations with small vowel letters to transcribe foreign sounds that did not originally exist in Japanese. These are generally easy to pronounce, as you simply combine the consonant of the main katakana symbol with the vowel of the smaller one.

Examples of this include the フェ (fe) in カフェ (kafe), the ティ (ti) in パーティー (paatii), and the ウィ (wi) in ハロウィーン (harowiin)!

You can see that katakana is simpler and has more straight lines than hiragana; this is one major way to tell them apart!

If you want to learn more about katakana, check out our article below and get a free, downloadable PDF of our chart!

Read More: What is Katakana? Free Katakana Chart and Learning Guide

How and When to Use Katakana

Another way to tell them apart is by their usage. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords or words from different languages. ハンバーガー (hanbaagaa, hamburger) and アルバイト (arubaito, part-time job) are examples of Japanese words taken from English and German, respectively. Many non-Japanese names are spelled using katakana as well!

Katakana is also often used for onomatopoeic words, which are words that imitate sounds, such as “pikapika” (sparkling), “gacha” (clacking sound), or “wanwan” (dog’s bark).

Katakana can also be used to emphasize words, similar to how words might be italicized or bolded in English. You can usually see this more in signs or advertisements, like メガネ, megane (glasses) or ラーメン (raamen, glasses).

Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Katakana

Long vowels in katakana are so much simpler than hiragana. All long vowel sounds are denoted by a simple dash: ー.

For example, the word “アート” (aato), meaning “art”, has a long “a” sound represented by the horizontal line over the “a” character.

Double consonants in Katakana are represented using a small “tsu” character (ッ) just like in Hiragana. For example, the word “バッグ” (baggu), meaning “bag”, has a double “g” sound represented by the small “tsu” character.

Example of Katakana

Remember the pet with the funny name? Let’s take another look at that sentence, this time adding in katakana – try to guess where the katakana will be!

わたしのペットのなまえは ボブ です。
Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.

Did you guess petto and bobu? Both of these words are English loanwords and names, so they would be written in katakana. Including katakana when writing Japanese is also a great way to make the words easier to distinguish from each other; writing in all hiragana could make it hard to tell words apart, since Japanese doesn’t normally use spaces!

Difference between Hiragana and Katakana

Why are there 2 syllabic Japanese scripts? In the event that the difference is stylistic, you will learn that hiragana is used to write native Japanese words. Those words will have no kanji representation, and the ideogram will be too ancient or too difficult to write. This kana script is also the one used to write grammatical elements such as particles: を (wo)、に (ni)、へ (he;e)、が (ga)、は (ha).

On the contrary, the Japanese use katakana to write words of foreign origin and foreign names. If you like to read manga in Japanese, you will certainly notice that katakana is also used to represent onomatopoeia and emphasis.

Have you heard of the word “furigana”? Furigana are hiragana and katakana characters written in small forms above kanji in order to show the pronunciation. Furigana is used in kids’ books and Japanese language textbooks for learners, in order to teach the reading of unknown kanji.

Japanese Writing System #3: Kanji                                                               

Kanji is usually the last system to be learned, even for native Japanese speakers! Kanji are Chinese characters and were Japan’s first writing system. They were first introduced to Japan over 1,500 years ago; hiragana and katakana actually evolved from these symbols!

Kanji are complex characters that represent words or ideas, and they form the backbone of the Japanese writing system. In fact, it is estimated that there are over 50,000 kanji characters, although only a fraction of those are commonly used.

Reading Kanji

Kanji is different from hiragana and katakana in that there are multiple ways to pronounce a single character. This is because there is a Chinese way to read a character (called the on-yomi) and a Japanese way (the kun-yomi). The on-yomi was the original way, but when kanji started to be used to write native Japanese words, new pronunciations were added¹. So, if you see a character pronounced one way in one word but differently in another, this is why!

Writing Kanji

Radicals

All kanji are made up of one or more radicals. A radical is simply a small symbol that, either by itself or when combined with other symbols, makes up a complete kanji character. Take, for instance, the radical 一. By itself, this is the complete kanji for ichi (one). But, it can be added with the radical亅to form the kanji 丁! There are 214 total radicals used in 13 different positions when forming kanji, though some radicals and positions are used more frequently than others. If you think of all kanji as being made up of these smaller radicals, then they will be easier to learn!

There are roughly four main types of kanji, based on how and why the radicals are arranged¹:

1. Pictograms

These kanji originally came from pictures, simply drawing the object itself to represent it in writing¹. It’s like writing “😊” to represent “smiley face” – just like emojis today! Take a look at 山 (yama, mountain) for example; doesn’t the character 山 remind you of how a mountain looks, with a pointy peak at the top?

2. Simple Ideograms

These kanji originally used lines and dots to “represent numbers or abstract concepts.¹” So, instead of drawing an object, you would try to visually represent the idea you wanted to convey. Take “up” and “down” for instance; drawing a dot above a line could represent “up” while a dot below a line would signify “down.” This is where 上 (ue, up) and 下 (shita, down) came from¹!

3. Compound Ideograms

Basically, these are kanji formed by combining two or more simpler kanji¹. The kanji used in 休む (yasumu, to rest), for example, is a combination of 人 (hito, person [often written as ⺅ when used as a radical]) and 木 (ki, tree)¹. A lot of the time, the two simpler kanji are chosen because of their connection to the resulting character. For 休, a person leaning against a tree would be resting – which is why 人 and 木 were chosen to form this character!  

4. Phonetic-ideographic Characters

These kanji are usually found when a character’s original on-yomi sounded like a native Japanese word, but the kanji associated with the sound didn’t represent the word’s meaning. So, to remedy this, those in the past added an additional kanji to clarify the meaning. In other words, these kanji are formed by combining one kanji that has the word’s pronunciation and another kanji that represents the word’s meaning. One example of this is the character for sei (clean). Water is generally associated with cleaning, so the kanji for water 水 (mizu, often written as ⺡) is added to the kanji 青 (sei, blue) to get 清 sei (clean).

As you can see, kanji are definitely more complex than hiragana or katakana, but don’t worry – there are plenty of simple kanji too! Plus, knowing the radicals and kanji types will help to make learning and remembering kanji easier. Knowing the stroke order, or the steps in which each character is written, can help make memorization easier too; check out this site to look up any kanji and see its stroke order (and other helpful information)!

Uses

Kanji is used for nouns, verb stems, and adjectives. So, kanji are used for most major words that you will encounter in everyday Japanese! While hiragana and katakana are crucial, you also can’t rely on just those when reading and writing; you have to learn kanji as well!

Example

Let’s take one last look at Bob, this time reading the sentence as it would be written in everyday Japanese:

私のペットの名前はボブです。
Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.

Well, using kanji certainly makes the Japanese sentence shorter! In this case, the pronoun watashi (I) and the noun namae (name) use kanji. If there was a different verb in this sentence (like “look” or “ate”), then there would most likely be kanji there as well. Finally, using these new symbols makes the sentence even easier to read, as they are visually quite different than hiragana or katakana!

While all of this might seem overwhelming at first, it’s nothing you can’t handle with a little practice! Simply writing the kanji out is a great way to see how the radicals work together and to memorize their combinations; but, if you’re looking for something a little bit more high-tech, there are also some kanji apps we recommend you can use to practice as well!

Conclusion

Well, we certainly covered a lot of ground today! Let’s review everything to make sure you remember what we learned.

Japanese has three types of writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana is curvy, represents small syllables, and is used for grammatical information, particles, and native Japanese words! Katakana is straight, also represents small syllables, and is used for loanwords from other languages. Kanji are complex characters made up of radicals, represent a concept, a sound, or a mixture of the two, and are used for nouns, verb stems, and adjectives.

And those are the main points! Not so bad, right? You are now ready to start reading and writing Japanese like a pro! If you feel like you need more help, though, feel free to reach out to us or join one of our many Japanese language classes here!

FAQ

What is the Japanese writing system?

The Japanese writing system uses Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji scripts.

What does Hiragana represents?

Hiragana represents native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb endings.

What does Katakana represents?

Katakana represents foreign words, loanwords, onomatopoeic words, and emphasis.

How many characters are there in hiragana and katakana?

There are 46 characters in each of the Hiragana and Katakana scripts.

What is the closet thing to English chracters?

There is no such thing as the Japanese alphabet, but the closest things would be called hiragana and katakana.

How many kanji I should learn?

To be considered fluent in Japanese, you must learn from 1500 to 2500 kanji characters.

Want to learn Japanese hiragana? In this blog, we share our own PDF learning Hiragana practice sheets and links to some popular apps for learning Japanese. Just started learning Japanese? Head to our main article about the Japanese writing system for a more comprehensive guide!

Apps for Learning Hiragana

If you are just getting started with learning Hiragana, you may think that it is easier to learn with an App.

Apps are convenient and easy to take with you to practice using while you are out and about. However, we also suggest that you take some time to physically write the characters, as it will cement them in your brain.

That being said, we recommend several apps for being fun and easy to use.

Learn Hiragana & Katakana with Dr. Moku

Dr. Moku’s Hiragana and Katakana Mnemonics are 2 separate apps. One for Hiragana and one for Katakana. In each app, they associate all the kana with pictures, making it easy for you to remember them.

It also uses mnemonic hacks (tying each character to a visual story-based meaning) rather than just rote memorization.

Mindsnacks – Limited Free Version

Mindsnacks has a visually appealing interface, and the limited free version allows you to practice learning Hiragana and Katakana characters.

It is the closest thing to a learning video game that we have found.

Hiragana Learning Chart – Writing Practice PDFs

If you are looking for a more analog way to practice and learn hiragana – we have included a sample of a few of the practice homework sheets from our Japanese Crash Course below:

Open the image in a new tab by clicking on it- you can print it!

How to use the homework sheets:

Use the hiragana chart here to locate the correct symbol. (Right-click to save as – or left-click to open)

Draw a line to the corresponding character and connect them.

Start learning Japanese with Cot Academy!

Coto Academy offers expert-led Japanese lessons for all levels. Study in Tokyo, Yokohama, or online. Choose from part-time, intensive, or private lessons that fit your busy lifestyle. Start speaking real, practical Japanese today!

Looking for something more advanced? Check out our JLPT Kanji Workbook PDFs!

Hiragana FAQ

What is Hiragana used for?

Hiragana is a fundamental script in Japanese, used for writing sentences, grammatical particles (like は, が, を), and parts of words. It is also used for words that don’t have kanji or for furigana (small hiragana above kanji to show pronunciation).

How many Hiragana characters are there?

There are 46 basic Hiragana characters. Some characters can change their sounds when small marks (゛or ゜) are added, like か (ka) → が (ga) or は (ha) → ぱ (pa).

What’s the easiest way to learn Hiragana?

The best ways to learn Hiragana are:

• Learn mnemonics (e.g., し (shi) looks like a smiling face)
• Practice writing daily
• Use flashcards to memorize characters
• Listen to Hiragana songs or use learning apps

What’s the difference between Hiragana and Katakana?

Hiragana is mainly used for native Japanese words and grammar, while Katakana is used for foreign words (like “coffee” → コーヒー), onomatopoeia, and emphasis.

Can I write everything in Hiragana?

Yes, but it’s not ideal. Japanese writing combines Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, so writing everything in Hiragana can be hard to read and understand.

When you start learning Japanese — or at least reading Japanese words — you’ll come across romaji first before hiragana or katakana. The term comes from “Rome,” the capital of Italy, and “ji” (字), which means “letter” or “character” in Japanese. Literally, it translates to “Roman letters.” In short, romaji refers to Japanese words written using the Latin (Roman) alphabet.

Romaji can be challenging or even confusing. This is especially true when spelling Japanese words correctly. It can also affect proper Japanese pronunciation. In this guide, we will answer these questions. We will also explain how romaji works.

Romaji: What is it and what is it used for?

Romaji is just Japanese characters written with the Roman or Latin alphabet. Its foremost intent is just to write Japanese words in a Roman alphabet, so that non-Japanese speakers can understand what is being read. For instance, most English speakers probably know the words Tokyo, tsunami, samurai, and so much more, because they have been transcribed into Roman letters. 

But romaji also has practical uses for native Japanese speakers. It is often used for inputting Japanese on a keyboard that uses the Roman/Latin letters. Most Japanese school children will learn romaji from a young age since the use of the Roman alphabet is standard for most keyboards. 

Keep in mind that certain special characters will be written differently from how they’re usually written or pronounced.

For example, small characters such as ‘ぁ’ need to be input as ‘la’ rather than ‘a’ which would just type the normal ‘あ’ character. For most small characters, you usually need to input an ‘l’ before the actual romaji of the character. 

Romaji is also often used for Japanese learners to read and understand how Japanese characters are read and pronounced.

While there are many pros to learning romaji in the beginning, it does come with inherent disadvantages as well. So, let’s get into the merits and demerits of romaji as a way of writing Japanese in the Western alphabet. 

Download romaji chart below!

How does romaji work?

So, with all that out of the way, let’s get into how Romaji actually works and how each character is written with different Roman characters. 

The first table shows monographs, which are the core syllables of Japanese. They include the five vowels (a, i, u, e, o) and consonant plus vowel combinations like ka, sa, ta. Every other sound in Japanese builds on these basics.

	a (あ)	i (い)	u (う)	e (え)	o (お)
K	ka (か)	ki (き)	ku (く)	ke (け)	ko (こ)
S	sa (さ)	shi (し)	su (す)	se (せ)	so (そ)
T	ta (た)	chi (ち)	tsu (つ)	te (て)	to (と)
N	na (な)	ni (に)	nu (ぬ)	ne (ね)	no (の)
H	ha (は)	hi (ひ)	fu (ふ)	he (へ)	ho (ほ)
M	ma (ま)	mi (み)	mu (む)	me (め)	mo (も)
Y	ya (や)	—	yu (ゆ)	—	yo (よ)
R	ra (ら)	ri (り)	ru (る)	re (れ)	ro (ろ)
W	wa (わ)	—	—	—	wo/o (を)
N	n (ん)

This table shows how adding small marks called dakuten (゛) or handakuten (゜) changes the pronunciation of certain syllables. Dakuten makes consonants voiced as follows:

• k → g
• s → z
• t → d
• h → b

Handakuten will make the following:

• h → p

For example, when adding dakuten to ka (か), it becomes ga (が). This table shows all the characters that have the dakuten or handakuten marks:

	a (あ)	i (い)	u (う)	e (え)	o (お)
G (が)	ga (が)	gi (ぎ)	gu (ぐ)	ge (げ)	go (ご)
Z (ざ)	za (ざ)	ji (じ)	zu (ず)	ze (ぜ)	zo (ぞ)
D (だ)	da (だ)	ji/di (ぢ)	zu (づ)	de (で)	do (ど)
B (ば)	ba (ば)	bi (び)	bu (ぶ)	be (べ)	bo (ぼ)
P (ぱ)	pa (ぱ)	pi (ぴ)	pu (ぷ)	pe (ぺ)	po (ぽ)

Digraphs (拗音, or youon) are formed by combining a consonant with a small ya (ゃ), yu (ゅ), or yo (ょ). For example, ki plus ya becomes kya (きゃ). These sounds are very common in Japanese words and names.

	ya (ゃ)	yu (ゅ)	yo (ょ)
K	kya (きゃ)	kyu (きゅ)	kyo (きょ)
S	sha (しゃ)	shu (しゅ)	sho (しょ)
T/Ch	cha (ちゃ)	chu (ちゅ)	cho (ちょ)
N	nya (にゃ)	nyu (にゅ)	nyo (にょ)
H	hya (ひゃ)	hyu (ひゅ)	hyo (ひょ)
M	mya (みゃ)	myu (みゅ)	myo (みょ)
R	rya (りゃ)	ryu (りゅ)	ryo (りょ)
G	gya (ぎゃ)	gyu (ぎゅ)	gyo (ぎょ)
J	ja (じゃ)	ju (じゅ)	jo (じょ)
B	bya (びゃ)	byu (びゅ)	byo (びょ)
P	pya (ぴゃ)	pyu (ぴゅ)	pyo (ぴょ)

While we are mostly showing how romaji writes out hiragana, the same rules largely apply for katakana as well!

Long Vowels and Double Consonants

What are long vowels and double consonants? These are sounds captured in the Japanese writing system, but when writing in romaji, it might be easy to assume a double vowel, such as “oo”, makes the /u:/ sound like in “food”. But in Japanese romaji, this just implies a longer enunciation of the vowel. For example, the word for big, ookii (おおきい), the long vowel oo is pronounced like saying the letter o but more elongated as in “ocean” or “go”. Refer to the table below for a quick guide on long vowels:

Romaji	Hiragana	Pronunciation	Japanese Example
aa	ああ	“aah” like in “father”	okaasan (mother)
ii	いい	“ee” like in “see”	shiiki (city area)
uu	うう	“oo” like in “food”	kuuki (air)
ee	ええ	“e” like in “bet”	ee (yes or um)
ei	えい	“ay” like in “late”	sensei (teacher)
oo	おお	“oh” like “old”	ookii (big)
ou	おう	“oh” like in “old”	Toukyou (Tokyo)

Keep in mind, when it comes to ou there are nuances to be aware of. Some words will have a subtle u sound at the end, especially in words such as koushi (baby cow), which is a combination of the word ko (子) meaning small or young, and ushi (牛) meaning cow.

Double consonants are similar in that the sound of the consonant is more enunciated compared to just one consonant. For example, in the words kata (肩), or shoulder, and katta (勝った), or won, the difference is that the double tt sound is more pronounced or harder in katta, where the t sound in kata is much softer. 

Romaji	Hiragana	Pronunciation	Japanese Example
ssa	っさ	“ss” as in “grass”	messa (very)
tta	った	“tt” like in “battle”	itta (went)
cchi	っち	“ch” as in “itch”	occha (tea)
kka	っか	“kk” like in “kick”	mikka (3 days)
nna	んな	“nn” like in “penny”	onna (woman)

If you want to go more in-depth on the pronunciation with different characters and sounds, read our guide on long vowels and double consonants in Japanese!

Should you use romaji when learning Japanese?

When studying Japanese, you cannot avoid romaji, and for good reason. It is both useful for studying and is (to some extent) ingrained into the modern Japanese language. So, here are some pros and cons to knowing romaji.

Pros of using romaji

1. Romaji can simplify Japanese for beginners 

By providing a useful pronunciation breakdown in Roman lettering, beginners can start to understand how Japanese is read and pronounced using letters that are familiar to them. Romaji can be especially useful when you haven’t fully learnt hiragana, katakana, or kanji. 

2. Romaji can help with typing on a Japanese keyboard

As mentioned, since most keyboards generally use Roman alphabet lettering for the keys, knowing romaji will allow you to type in Japanese on your computer. 

3. Romaji is widely used in daily life in Japan

Romaji is also widely used in daily life for accessibility. You can find it on street signs, train stations, menus, and passports. So knowing Japanese words in romaji could make travel and navigation in Japan much easier for non-Japanese speakers.

Cons of Using Romaji

As with any language coming from a very different language family, Japanese characters operate on different rules that roman letters might not always capture. This results in different romaji writing standards attempting to capture Japanese pronunciation, such as incorporating letters with the long vowel markers, such as with ‘ō’. 

But if you are not taught how to pronounce Japanese, romaji could lead to bad habits. Some could include:

1. Incorrect word recognition 

Since romaji doesn’t show kanji differences, reading a Japanese sentence completely in romaji may be confusing. Some Japanese words have double meanings, after all. 

For example, kami can mean 神 (god), 髪 (hair), or 紙 (paper). Without kanji, the meaning can be unclear unless you have context. When speaking, context usually makes it clear. For instance, if someone asks “髪を切った？ (Kami o kitta)”, You would understand they mean hair.

2. Pronunciation issues from English interference

English speakers may end up applying English sound rules to Romaji, which could lead to bad pronunciation habits. These habits tend to be more difficult to fix in the future, so learning Japanese pronunciation early on is always ideal.

Example: fu (ふ) might be pronounced like “foo” instead of the softer Japanese sound between fu and hu.

Example: r sounds (ら, り, る, れ, ろ) are not like English “r” but somewhere between “r” and “l.”

3. Misleading spelling conventions

Long vowels and double consonants can be confusing when relying on romaji. 

Example: Tokyo is written in romaji without a long vowel, but in Japanese it’s とうきょう (Toukyou). Learners who only see romaji may pronounce it incorrectly.

4. Inconsistent romaji writing systems

Because Roman letters must represent sounds from a completely different phonetic system, different romaji systems — such as Hepburn and Kunrei-shiki — evolved to spell Japanese words in different ways.

Example: shi vs. si, tsu vs. tu, ō vs. ou. This can confuse learners who don’t realize they represent the same Japanese sounds.

For this guide (and for most of our blogs), we use a modified Hepburn where long vowels are written as ‘ou’ instead of ‘ō’, for instance. So, keep that pronunciation in mind when we write romaji characters! 

Best way to use romaji

Take the pronunciation that romaji implies with a grain of salt. Using listening material as well as a professional teacher will help to fully understand how to pronounce Japanese, so it’s best not to use romaji alone to learn. You should try to memorize hiragana or even kanji alongside learning new vocabulary in romaji so you can understand Japanese as it is originally intended to be written, and of course, spoken and pronounced. For practice, refer to our hiragana chart and quiz!

Romaji is a great starting point for understanding how Japanese words might sound using the closest English sounds possible, but don’t get too reliant on it. Japanese has a lot of nuance in its pronunciation that isn’t always captured by romaji. 

But it is still very much worth learning since you will most likely be typing out Japanese words on a computer using English letters. 

Also, sometimes words from other languages, especially acronyms, are written in romaji or just in English. Loan words are mostly written in katakana. 

Wrapping Up: Make Japanese progress beyond romaji

Romaji is a powerful tool that opens the door to Japanese for beginners. But while romaji can guide your first steps, it’s not meant to be the final destination. Relying too heavily on it can create blind spots, whether in reading, pronunciation, or truly understanding the Japanese language

If you want to go beyond romaji and truly start learning Japanese, nothing beats guidance from a professional teacher who can help you sound like a native! Why not join Japanese classes at Coto Academy?

Coto Academy is a leading Japanese language school based in Tokyo and Yokohama. We also have an online class so you can learn Japanese anywhere, anytime. Our small classes focus on practical Japanese, giving you a strong foundation in both hiragana and katakana. With our approach, you can start speaking confidently in just 4 weeks!

Consider our in-person or online classes at Coto Academy and sign up today by filling out the form below. 

FAQ

What is romaji?

Romaji (ローマ字) is the system of writing Japanese using the Latin alphabet. For example, “ありがとう” is written as arigatou in Romaji.

Why is romaji used?

Romaji is used to make Japanese accessible to non-Japanese speakers. You’ll see it on signs, train stations, passports, and in beginner textbooks. It’s also the main way to type Japanese on a computer or phone.

Should I learn romaji before hiragana and katakana?

Romaji can help at the very beginning, but you should learn hiragana and katakana as soon as possible. Relying too much on romaji can cause bad habits in pronunciation and reading.

Do Japanese people use romaji?

Not in daily writing. Japanese people primarily use hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Romaji is mainly for foreigners, brand names, and typing.

Which romaji system is best?

The most common is Hepburn Romaji (e.g., shi, tsu, shou). Other systems like Kunrei-shiki and Nihon-shiki exist, but Hepburn is the most widely used internationally and easiest for learners.

Is it okay to use romaji to learn Japanese?

Romaji can sometimes be misleading since you may end up applying english pronunciation rules to Japanese words that are pronounced very differently. It is best to learn romaji in conjunction with hiragana or katakana and a teacher who can help guide your pronunciation.

Starting to learn Japanese? You might like to read:

• How to Convert Your Name into Japanese
• Origins of Hiragana and Katakana
• 100 Basic Japanese Verbs All Learners Should Know
• Guide to Japanese Colors and Phrases

If you’ve ever cheered on a friend in Japan, you’ve probably shouted “Ganbare!” or “Ganbatte!” at least once. But what do they actually mean? Ganbare (頑張れ) or ganbatte (頑張って) is a Japanese phrase that means “Come on!” “Let’s go!” or “Go for it!” in English. It literally translates to “Do your best” and can be used to motivate your friends or peers during a sporting event, a big exam, or any moment that needs an extra boost of encouragement.

But did you know that this uniquely Japanese word carries more nuance than just a simple “good luck” or “do your best”? In this guide, we’ll explore the verb ganbaru, its various conjugations, its cultural significance, and how to use each form appropriately. Make sure to watch the YouTube video below, and read our full guide!

Meaning of Ganbaru and Ganbarimasu

The Japanese words ganbare, ganbatte, and ganbarimasu are based on the same Japanese verb: ganbaru. On its own, this verb means to persevere, do one’s best, or work hard.

The meaning becomes clearer when you look at the individual kanji:

• 張 means “stretch” or “extend,” suggesting effort and pushing oneself.
• 頑 means “stubborn” or “firm,” conveying determination and resolve.

So in a literal sense, 頑張る conveys the idea of stretching yourself to your limit or pushing through something with effort and determination.

There are two main theories about the origin of 頑張る (ganbaru). One suggests it comes from 我を張る (ga o haru), meaning “to insist on one’s own ideas.” The other traces it to 眼張る (ganharu), meaning “to keep watch” or “stretch one’s eyes.” Both origins highlight the kanji 張 (haru), which means “to stretch” or “strain,” reflecting the idea of sticking to something and never giving up.

Variations of Ganbaru, Ganbatte, and Ganbare

Form	Japanese	Meaning / Nuance	Usage / Context
Dictionary / Base	頑張る (ganbaru)	to do one’s best, to persevere	Basic form; casual or dictionary use.
Polite Present / Future	頑張ります (ganbarimasu)	I will do my best	Polite form for conversation, work, or school.
Polite Volitional	頑張りましょう (ganbarimashou)	Let’s do our best	Polite, inclusive way to motivate a group.
Imperative / Casual Encouragement	頑張れ！ (ganbare)	Do your best! / Hang in there!	Cheer someone on; casual/familiar tone.
Te-form / Friendly Encouragement	頑張って！ (ganbatte)	Keep it up! / Do your best!	Soft, casual encouragement in speech or messages.
Past / Completed Effort	頑張った (ganbatta)	I did my best / You did your best	Reflects effort already made; praise or self-reflection.
Volitional / Let’s Do Our Best	頑張ろう (ganbarou)	Let’s do our best	Casual, motivational way to invite others to join in effort.

If you’re just starting out with Japanese, you probably know 頑張る (ganbaru) in its basic form. But you’ll also encounter many variations: 頑張ります (ganbarimasu), 頑張って (ganbatte), 頑張れ (ganbare), 頑張ろう (ganbarou). Why so many?

It all comes down to verb conjugation.

Each form keeps the core meaning of “to do your best”, but adds a different nuance: polite, casual, encouraging, or collective. Let’s break them down so you can use each one.

Note: Ganbaru is considered a う-verb (u-verb), a Japanese verbs that end in an “-u” sound in its dictionary form, such as う, つ, む, ぬ, る, く, ぐ, す, ぶ, ぷ. They are also called 五段活用動詞 (godan katsuyou doushi). These verbs change their ending depending on tense, mood, or politeness, which is why conjugation rules differ from other verbs. This affects how it’s conjugated into forms like ganbarimasu, ganbatte, ganbarou, and ganbatta. Knowing its verb type helps you apply the right endings naturally.

1. Ganbaru (頑張る)

The verb 頑張る (ganbaru) in its plain form is the base form you’ll find in a Japanese dictionary. On its own, ganbaru can mean “to persevere,” “I persevere.”

Since Japanese does not technically have a distinct future tense like English, ganbaru can also mean “I will persevere.” This form also combines easily with grammar structures, such as ことにしました, which expresses a decision:

だから頑張ることにしました。
Dakara ganbaru koto ni shimashita.
That’s why I decided to do my best.

In the plain present tense, ganbaru can describe ongoing effort, though actual present-moment usage is rare because the present is fleeting. For example, when asking why someone is trying hard:

なぜ、そんなに頑張るんですか。
Naze, sonna ni ganbarun desu ka.
Why do you try so hard?

You can also use it when talking about your own plans in a neutral way:

明日テストを頑張る。
Ashita tesuto o ganbaru.
I’ll do my best on the test tomorrow

2. Ganbarimasu (頑張ります)

Japanese distinguishes between formal and informal speech, and that’s where the -ます form comes in. The only difference between 頑張る (ganbaru) and 頑張ります (ganbarimasu) is the polite ~ます ending, which replaces the plain る ending.

Use ganbarimasu when you are speaking to strangers, colleagues, or superiors—anyone where politeness is expected. Interestingly, your superiors might still respond to you in plain form; in Japanese, this is not rude. Instead, it reflects the social hierarchy: the language you use signals your relative position in the conversation.

Example:

明日も頑張ります。
Ashita mo ganbarimasu.
I’ll do my best tomorrow too.

By switching to -masu, you keep the same meaning as ganbaru, but with the polite tone appropriate for formal or professional settings.

3. Ganbatte (頑張って)

Now we move to a slightly more complex conjugation: the te-form. In general, the -て form is used to connect verbs or indicate ongoing actions, acting as a bridge that lets you create more complex or compound expressions.

In the case of 頑張って (ganbatte), it’s often short for 頑張ってください (ganbatte kudasai). The te kudasai (～てください) grammar point is used to make polite requests, so here it translates roughly as “Please do your best.” Think of it as a soft command—similar to saying “Go for it!” in English. It’s direct, but friendly and encouraging.

試験、頑張って！
Shiken, ganbatte!
Good luck on your exam!

明日も頑張ってください。
Ashita mo ganbatte kudasai.
Please do your best tomorrow, too.

While ganbatte is technically a command, it’s used in a positive, supportive way. Adding ください makes it polite, which is perfect for teachers, colleagues, or anyone you want to encourage respectfully.

Read More: How to Conjugate Te Form

4. Ganbare (頑張れ)

Ganbare is another form of encouragement, but it’s a stronger, more intense command than ganbatte. While ganbatte is like saying “Go for it!” in a friendly way, ganbare is closer to “Fight!!!” or “Give it everything you’ve got!” It carries a sense of urgency and intensity, which is why you often hear it shouted during sports matches or competitive situations.

Because of its forceful tone, ganbare should be used carefully, especially in polite or formal situations. Using it too casually can come across as rude, since you’re giving a strong command rather than a gentle encouragement.

頑張れ、チーム！
Ganbare, chiimu!
Go for it, team!

For learners, it’s best to stick with ganbatte in everyday situations. Over time, as you get a feel for social context in Japanese, you’ll know when it’s appropriate to use the heavier-hitting ganbare. 

5. Ganbarou (頑張ろう) 

Ganbarou is the volitional form of 頑張る (ganbaru), which in Japanese expresses “let’s …”. Unlike ganbatte or ganbare, where you position yourself as a commander or instructor to someone else, ganbarou is more collective. 

It has a friendly, rallying energy, like a verbal high-five that says, “We’ve got this!” It is similar to “let’s…” in English:

さぁ、今日も一日頑張ろう。

Saa, kyou mo ichinichi ganbarou.
Alright, let’s give it our all today, too!

The volitional form isn’t just for inviting others to take action with you. You can also use it to show personal determination or commitment:

期待に応えられるように、頑張ろう。

Kitai ni kotaerareru you ni, ganbarou.
I’ll work hard to meet everyone’s expectations.

Here, you could use 頑張る (ganbaru) instead, but the volitional form conveys a stronger intent, almost like making a promise to yourself or others. To make this polite, simply swap 頑張ろう for 頑張りましょう (ganbarimashou). This keeps the friendly, motivational tone but adds a layer of politeness for workplace or formal settings.

6. Ganbarimashou (頑張りましょう)

頑張りましょう (ganbarimashou) is the polite way of saying “Let’s do our best” or “Let’s work hard.” It’s used when you want to encourage a group—including yourself—to give it your all. The word comes from 頑張り (ganbari), the stem of 頑張る, plus ましょう (mashou), which adds the “let’s do” meaning.

Compared to the casual 頑張ろう (ganbarou), which feels more friendly and upbeat, 頑張りましょう is polite but still motivating, perfect for encouraging others in a respectful way.

The Spirit of Ganbare or Ganbatte in Japanese Culture

Although a seemingly simple term, ganbare, ganbatte, or their other modifications have roots in Japanese culture and a view on perseverance and determination, you’ll hear it chanted in sports competitions and anime series, mostly to encourage the other party to do their best and never give up, no matter how hard the challenge.

Saying those words isn’t just reserved for special occasions, though. From a young age, Japanese people are exposed to ganbatte through various mundane activities: doing homework, studying for a test, or fighting with friends.

The word ganbare is ingrained in almost every stage of life in the Japanese community. As you grow old, you’ll face even more significant problems, like finding a job, overcoming a hard breakup, or confronting a problem at work. In the end, the spirit of ganbatte reminds individuals in Japan that even in times of great hardship, you need to trust your ability.

Japanese Kanji and Writing for Ganbare or Ganbatte

The Japanese word for ganbatte originated from the verb 頑張る (read as ganbaru), which means “to do your best” or “to work hard.” However, people tend to follow the first definition more in many social contexts. The Japanese kanji 頑 (gan) means “tough” or “stubborn”, while the last character 張る (haru) means “to be prominent”.

Ganbare vs Ganbatte

How did it turn into ganbare or ganbatte? The term ganbatte (頑張って) is the conjunctive form of 頑張る. Ganbatte is the shortened form of てください, which is to turn a plain Japanese verb into a polite command or request: “I would ask you to (verb).”

The longer version of ganbatte is ganbatte kudasai (頑張ってください), but this might sound a bit too formal if you’re speaking to your friends or close family members. This is why sometimes people just opt to say “ganbatte”. It can be written in kanji as 頑張って, in hiragana as がんばって, or in katakana as ガンバッテ.

You might wonder: ganbatte is not a loanword that the Japanese language takes, so why can we use katakana? This is because katakana emphasizes things, especially on signs, advertisements, or texts. Examples are gomi (ゴミ) and megane (メガネ), each meaning trash and glasses, respectively. When you type ガンバッテ, it shows you want the reader to pay attention to your words of encouragement.

It may also be said as “ganbatte ne”( 頑張ってね) or “ganbatte yo” (頑張ってよ) for more emphasis on overcoming the task at hand.

You can also add ね or よ for more emphasis.

頑張ってね!
Ganbatte ne!

頑張ってよ!
Ganbatte yo!

Ganbare (がんばれ), on the other hand, stems from the same verb, but it’s in a command form. The verb conjugation changes action in solid commands, and it’s less polite than saying ganbatte kudasai (がんばってください).

The Best Time to Use Ganbare or Ganbatte

Ganbare has a positive connotation; you need to use it with empathy and without being flippant or joking, which could be seen as insensitive.

• A coworker or friend is taking an exam or a test
• A friend is playing in a sporting match or running a marathon
• A friend will do something difficult, like asking someone to marry them.
• A friend has expressed a worry about a big event or challenge that they have coming up.

Inappropriate Situations to Use Gabare or Ganbatte

Despite the versatility of ganbare and ganbatte, there are some situations where it’s far from appropriate. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to face your vulnerability. When someone is facing genuine trouble, read the room and show empathy. Saying, “Let’s do our best!” to someone having a hard time can make us sound tone-deaf and insensitive instead.

Here are a couple of situations where saying ganbare or ganbatte is not advisable.

• A friend has had something tragic happen to them or their family
• A friend is expressing a deep level of sadness or worry

Video Transcript

頑張れ！頑張れ！
Ganbare! Ganbare!
Ganbare! Ganbare!

皆さん、「頑張れ」この言葉聞いたのことがあすか？
Minasan, “ganbare” koto kotoba kiita no koto ga arimasuka?
Hi everyone, have you heard the word “ganbare” before?

「頑張れ」は試合毛ていると応援する時に使う言葉です。
“ganbare” wa shiai geteiru to ouensuru toki ni tsukau kotoba desu
When people are at a sporting match and they are supporting their team, they will use this word!

例えば、野球の試合を呼びに行きます好きな選手が出ています。
Tatoeba, yakyuu no shiai o yobini ikimasu suki na senshu ga deteimasu
For example, next time you go to a baseball game and your favorite player appears,

「頑張れ！頑張れ！」
“ganbare! ganbare!”
You can scream “Ganbare! Ganbare!”

ラグビーやサッカーのワールドカップオリンピックでも「頑張れ頑張れ」と応援することができます。
Ragubi ya sakka no Warudokapu orinpikku demo “ganbare ganbare” to ouensuru koto ga dekimasu.
You can use the word to support your team at the Rugby and Soccer World Cup, and the Olympics.

「頑張れ」この言葉は「頑張って」や「頑張ってください」よりも
“ganbare” kono kotoba wa “ganbatte” ya “ganbatte kudasai” yori mo
The word “ganbare” is similar to “ganbatte” or “ganbatte kudasai.”

強いの言葉です。
tsuyoi no kotoba desu.
But it has a stronger meaning.

すこし、男っぽくて強い言葉なので試合を応援する時に使います。
Sukoshi, otokoppokute tsuyoi kotoba nano de shiai o ouensuru toki ni tsukaimasu.
It’s a very manly word that you can use to support your team during a sporting match.

試合はワクワクドキドキしますね、ですから女の人も試合の時は「頑張れ」と言ってもいです。
Shiai wa waku waku doki doki shimasune, desukara onna no hito mo shiai no toki wa “ganbare” to itte mo idesu.
When you get excited during a football match or a baseball game and you want to support your team, women can also use “ganbare”.

「頑張って」この言葉は色々なシチュエーションでいろことができます。
“Ganbatte” kono kotoba wa iro iro na tsuchinoeshion de iro koto ga dekimasu.
“Ganbatte” is a word that can be used in many different types of situations.

例えば、友達がこーいます「あ、明日試験があるんだ」
Tatoeba, tomodachi ga koiimasu : “a, ashita shiken ga arunda.”
For example, when your friend tells you: “Ugh, I have an exam tomorrow.”

「頑張って！」
“Ganbatte!”
“Do your best!”

「あ、明日彼女にプロポーズするんだ」
“a ashita kanojo ni puopozu surunda”
“I’m going to propose to my girlfriend tomorrow.”

「頑張って！」
“Ganbatte!”
“Do your best!”

「頑張って」はカジュアルの表現なので家族や恋人友達に使ってください。
“Ganbatte” wa casuaru no hyougen nanode kazoku ya koibito tomodachi ni tsukatte kudasai.
“Ganbatte” is a casual expression that you can use when talking to family and friends.

最後に、もう一つ「頑張ります」を紹介します。
Saigo ni, mou hitotsu “ganbarimasu” o shoukai shimasu.
Finally, we have one more word to introduce: “ganbarimasu.”

「頑張ります」はいつ使うのでしょうか？
“ganbarimasu” wa itsu tsukau no deshouka?
When should we use “ganbarimasu”?

そうれでは説明します。
Sourede wa setsumenshimasu.
Let’s break it down.

実は私来年の3月に東京マラソンに出ます。
Jitsu wa atashi rainen no sangatsu ni toukyou maranson ni temasu.
I will really be running the Tokyo marathon next year in March.

そのことを先輩や他の先生に言うと先輩や他の先生はこう言いました「え～すごいね。頑張ってね！」
Sono koto wo senpai ya hoka no sensei ni iyuto senpai ya hoka no sensei wa kouiimashita: “e~ sugoi ne. Ganbatte ne!”
So my coworkers, and other more senior teachers told me: “Oh wow, do your best (good luck)!”

その時私はこう言います「ありがとうございます、頑張ります！」
Sono toki watashi wa kouiimasu: “arigaritou gozaimasu, ganbarimasu!”
At that time, I replied by saying: “Thank you so much, I will try my best!”

「頑張ります」は自分より上の人
“Ganbarimasu” wa jibun yori ue no hito
“Ganbarimasu” is used when people who are above me,

例えば、上司や先輩の人が頑張ってねと
tatoeba joushi ya senpaino hito ga ganbattene to
like my boss or my senior coworkers, tell me to do my best.

応援してな時に
ouen shitenatoki ni
When they show their support

「はい、頑張ります」と答えます。
“hai, ganbarimasu” to kotae masu.
I can answer them by saying: Yes, I will try my best!

はい、皆さん、今日のビデオはここまです。
Hai, minasan, kyou no bideo wa koko made desu.
Okay, everyone! That is all for today’s video.

皆さんは日本語の勉強頑張っていますね！
Minasan wa nihongo no benkyou ganbatte imasune!
Everyone, you’re all doing your best to learn Japanese!

皆さん、頑張って！
Minasan, ganbatte!
Everyone, do your best!

もし質問があったたら、是非このコメントに残してください。私たちが答えられるかもしれません。
moshi shitsumon ga atta tara, zehi kono komento ni nokoshite kudasai. Watashitachi ga kotae rareru kamoshiremasen.
If you have any questions, please share them in the comment section. We might answer them!

それでは皆さん、頑張ってね！
Sorede wa minasan, ganbatte ne!
So then, everyone, go for it/do your best!

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Ganbarimasu in learning Japanese! While this is one of the most useful Japanese phrases you can use, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of other things you need to know to speak Japanese confidently.

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FAQ

What is the difference between ganbatte and ganbaru?

頑張れ (ganbare) is the command form of 頑張る, so it has a stronger, more direct imperative tone—like saying “Do your best!” or “Hang in there!” with urgency.

頑張って (ganbatte), on the other hand, is a shortened version of 頑張ってください (ganbatte kudasai), which is more of a polite request and therefore sounds less demanding.

What is the original word for ganbare and ganbatte?

Ganbare and ganbatte come from the word ganbaru (頑張る) or ganbarimasu (頑張ります), which means “do your best”

How do you respond to “Ganbare”?

When someone says 頑張れ (ganbare) or 頑張って (ganbatte) to you, common responses include:

• Un, ganbaru: “Yeah, I’ll do my best!” (casual)
• Hai!: “Yes!” or “Okay!”
• Ganbarimasu: “I’ll do my best!” (polite)

Is “Ganbatte kudasai” polite?

Yes. 頑張ってください (ganbatte kudasai) is the polite request form of “do your best.” Adding ください (kudasai) makes it respectful,

What does “Ganbare ganbare” mean?

Repeating it (頑張れ頑張れ) is a way to cheer someone on even more enthusiastically—like shouting “Go, go, you can do it!” in a sports game or during a performance.

Love reading this? You might be interested in:

• Basic Japanese Phrases You Need to Know Before Coming to Japan
• 100 Basic Japanese Verbs