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ま and マ

Pronunciation

“MA” sound in American English version of "Mom".

ま Memorization Story

We didn’t waste any time figuring out WHO took the the flower that けに was trying to grab. It was Kenny’s Mom. She’s now holding it further down on the stem, looking cheerfully at it. Finally, けに looks on from afar… Moooom… He shouts.

マ Memorization Story

The Katakana マ is MOM’S arms doing dumbbell rows. She’s one MAcho mom. 

Writing

 
 

Remember to keep the first stroke in the hiragana ま LONGER than the second. This is something even natives get wrong from time to time.

As for the katakana マ, make sure to keep the top line flat, stopping the cut back portion around the middle of the top line.

The main difference between マ and ア is this second stroke. アsweeps back to the left, while マ uses a straighter diagonal that goes to the right.

 

Font Examples

ま　　マ

ま　　マ

ま　　マ

ま　　マ

ま　　マ

Typing

Hiragana ま
Type the letters “ma”.

Katakana マ
Type “ma” and press the F7 key, or press spacebar until the katakana appears. 

Word(s)

ママ

mom, mommy

まほう

magic

 

Historical Form

Hiragana
末→ま

HISTORICAL VERSION

Katakana
末→マ

PART BORROWED

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ToKini Kana Introduction Page あ・ア い・イ う・ウ え・エ お・オ Consonant Vowel Combinations か・カ き・キ く・ク け・ケ こ・コ Kana Reading Practice 1 さ・サ し・シ す・ス せ・セ そ・ソ た・タ ち・チ つ・ツ て・テ と・ト Kana Reading Practice 2 な・ナ に・ニ ぬ・ヌ ね・ネ の・ノ は・ハ ひ・ヒ ふ・フ へ・ヘ ほ・ホ Kana Reading Practice 3 ま・マ み・ミ む・ム め・メ も・モ や・ヤ ゆ・ユ よ・ヨ Kana Reading Practice 4 ら・ラ り・リ る・ル れ・レ ろ・ロ わ・ワ を・ヲ ん・ン Kana Reading Practice 5 Dakuten, Han-Dakuten, and Sokuon Kana Reading Practice 6 Kana Combinations Kana Reading Practice 7 Special Katakana Combinations The End Kana Worksheets