Are there any memory tricks to learning Hiragana?

Question

Im learning Hiragana right now I find it difficult since its so different from the English language. Its takes me hours just to learn how to write and memorize the first few characters.

Answer 1

Yeah, lots.  You should be able to find a book somewheres.

For example, "a" looks like an Apple.

"o" looks like an Orange.

"ka" looks like a KArate chop hand.

"ki" looks like a key.

etc.

It will take just about anyone hours to learn how to write and memorize hiragana, so don't worry about it.

Answer 2

Hiragana:

http://www.hiragananow.com

My favorite trick is for 'yu'. Just think "fish die in 'yu'" and 'yu' looks like a fish.

And when you're ready for katakana, try this.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Japanese/Ka...

There are other sites out there, but they can be hard to find. For future reference these memorizing tricks are called mnemonics.

Using mnemonics, I memorized katakana in just a few hours.

Good luck.

Answer 3

At school the teachers made up this rap song, and they make the characters look like random objects: I.e:

し　－　looks like a fish hook

な　－ looks like a nun praying

ふ　ー　looks like Mount Fuji

Just pretend the symbols are some kind of images it'll help you remember. Good Luck or should I say: ごこううん　を　いのります！