Welcome! Today we'll learn how to write the hiragana character あ, which represents the sound 'a' in Japanese. This is one of the fundamental characters in the Japanese writing system. Let's see how to construct it with three basic strokes.
Let's start with the first stroke. Begin at the left side and draw a horizontal line moving to the right. The stroke should be confident and smooth, with a slight downward curve at the end. This horizontal stroke forms the foundation of the character あ.
Now for the second stroke. Starting from the right side of the horizontal line, draw a vertical stroke downward. This stroke should cross through the horizontal line and curve gently to the left as it reaches the bottom. This creates the main vertical element of the character.
The final stroke is the most distinctive part of あ. Starting from the right side of the vertical stroke, draw a curved line that goes down and loops around to the left, then curves back up ending with a small tail. This creates the characteristic loop that gives あ its unique appearance.
Perfect! You now know how to write the hiragana character あ. Remember the three steps: first the horizontal stroke from left to right, then the vertical stroke crossing down and curving left, and finally the distinctive loop stroke. With practice, you'll be able to write あ smoothly and confidently. This character represents the sound 'a' and is fundamental to Japanese writing.