Hiragana Word Builder

Tokyo the cow had a box of wooden blocks.

"Each block has a hiragana symbol," she said. "Hiragana is one way to write Japanese. Each symbol is a sound."

Little Thunder picked up a block. "What does this say?"

"That's i," said Tokyo. She picked up another. "And this is nu."

"Put them together," said Suzy.

"I... nu... inu!" said Little Thunder.

"Inu means dog," said Tokyo.

Spike wagged his tail. "That's us!"

Next, Tokyo held up three blocks. "Sa, ka, na."

Little Thunder sounded them out slowly. "Sa-ka-na. Sakana!"

"Sakana means fish," said Tokyo.

They all looked at the dam, where a little fish jumped. Splash!

"Can I build a word for you, Tokyo?" asked Little Thunder.

Tokyo smiled. "Try u and shi. Ushi."

"Ushi!" said Little Thunder. "What does it mean?"

"Cow," said Tokyo.

Little Thunder laughed. "Inu, sakana, ushi. Dog, fish, cow. I'm building Japanese words!"