ヒ (hi)
Pronunciation
The character ヒ represents the syllable 'hi', identical in pronunciation to hiragana ひ. Common in loanwords for heater, hero, hint, hit, and many proper nouns.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ヒ is written in two strokes. Stroke 1: a short diagonal stroke at the upper right, slanting from upper right down to the lower left. Stroke 2: a longer angled stroke that begins from the lower portion of stroke 1, sweeps to the right at the bottom, and rises with a small upward hook at the right end. The shape resembles a stylized 'L' or boot.
Common Words with ヒ
- ヒーター (hiitaa) — heater
- ヒーロー (hiiroo) — hero
- ヒント (hinto) — hint
- ヒット (hitto) — hit (success / impact)
- ヒップホップ (hippuhoppu) — hip-hop
- コーヒー (koohii) — coffee
- ヒロイン (hiroin) — heroine
- ヒアリング (hiaringu) — hearing
- ヒッピー (hippii) — hippie
- ヒマラヤ (himaraya) — Himalaya
- ヒンドゥー教 (hindoゥゥ教) — Hinduism
- ヒューマン (hyuuman) — human
How to Write ヒ (hi) in Katakana
The katakana character ヒ is romanized as "hi" and is written with 2 strokes. Like "hee" in "heat". Example word: ヒーター (hiitaa) — heater.
Stroke Order for ヒ
When writing ヒ, follow the numbered stroke order shown in the reference character above. Japanese characters are generally written from left to right and top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability and writing speed.
Practice Tips
- Print this sheet on standard 8.5" × 11" letter paper
- Start by tracing the light grey guide characters in the first column
- Then practice writing ヒ freehand in the empty squares
- Pay attention to stroke direction and order — follow the numbered guide
- For interactive practice with animations, visit the main study page
About Katakana
Katakana is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, and emphasis. Learning correct stroke order is essential for proper Japanese handwriting.