Tricky Hiragana: は, ほ, ま, も, and よ

Just when you think you're getting the hang of Hiragana, a new set of characters comes along to challenge you. A second common group of easily confused characters are は (ha), ほ (ho), ま (ma), も (mo), and よ (yo).

Why do they look similar?

These characters can be split into two groups. The first group, は (ha) and ほ (ho), both have a distinct vertical line on the left side. The second group, ま (ma), も (mo), and よ (yo), lack this feature but share similar loop-like structures.

Let's break down the differences.

The は (ha) and ほ (ho) Pair

At first glance, は (ha) and ほ (ho) are nearly identical. The key is to count the horizontal lines and check if they connect.

• は (ha): This character has only one horizontal line. The vertical stroke crosses through the horizontal line, forming a shape that resembles a cross or the letter "t".
• ほ (ho): This character has two horizontal lines. The vertical stroke stops at the top horizontal line and does not cross it.

Think of ほ (ho) as being "more" than は (ha) because it has an extra line.

The ま (ma), も (mo), and よ (yo) Group

This group is tricky because they all have a rounded or hooked shape at the bottom. The main difference lies in the number of top horizontal lines and the shape of the bottom stroke.

• ま (ma): This character has two, often slightly longer, horizontal lines at the top. Unlike ほ (ho), the vertical stroke crosses through both of these horizontal lines. The bottom part is a full, closed loop that finishes by stroking downwards and to the right.

• も (mo): Like ま (ma), this character starts with two horizontal strokes. However, its bottom section is not a loop. It’s more of a large, open C-shaped hook that sweeps upwards.

• よ (yo): This character has only one short horizontal line at the top. The vertical line does not cross this line; instead, it touches it at its leftmost point before dropping down to form the bottom loop. The bottom part is a closed loop, similar to ま (ma).

In summary, here's how you can easily distinguish them:

• は (ha): Has a vertical line on the left; one horizontal line that is crossed by the vertical line.
• ほ (ho): Has a vertical line on the left; two horizontal lines, and the vertical line does not cross the top one.
• ま (ma): Two horizontal lines crossed by a vertical line; features a bottom loop.
• も (mo): Two horizontal strokes on top; features a bottom hook that goes up.
• よ (yo): One short horizontal line (touched on the left by the vertical line); features a bottom loop.

With a bit of practice, you'll spot these differences effortlessly!

Further Resources for Your Hiragana Practice

To master your Hiragana reading skills, use these dedicated charts to practice the full sets where these challenging characters belong to:

• H-Chart (Includes は & ほ): Practice the full ha, hi, fu, he, ho set.
• M-Chart (Includes ま & も): Review the entire ma, mi, mu, me, mo set.
• Y-Chart (Includes よ): Solidify your understanding of the ya, yu, yo set.