Convert hiragana to romaji
This tool converts hiragana (like とうきょう) into romaji (toukyou) directly in your browser. Type or paste hiragana, pick a romanization style, and the romaji appears instantly; nothing is uploaded.
How it works
Each kana is looked up in a syllable table, checking two-character yoon (like きゃ) before single kana so palatalized sounds map as one unit. Any stray katakana is folded to hiragana first, so mixed input still works. Characters that aren't kana — spaces, punctuation, digits — pass through unchanged.
Steps
- Type or paste your hiragana into the left panel.
- Choose Hepburn or Kunrei romanization.
- Read the romaji in the right panel — it updates as you type — then click Copy.
Example: がっこう → gakkou.
Hepburn vs Kunrei
| Kana | Hepburn | Kunrei | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| し | shi | si | Hepburn matches English sound |
| ち | chi | ti | |
| つ | tsu | tu | |
| ふ | fu | hu | |
| じ | ji | zi | |
| しゃ | sha | sya | Yoon |
Use Hepburn for names, signage, and anything read by English speakers. Use Kunrei when you need the systematic Japanese standard (taught in schools, used in some official documents).
Special cases
| Feature | Hiragana | Romaji | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small tsu (sokuon) | がっこう | gakkou | っ doubles the next consonant |
| Sokuon + ch | まっちゃ | matcha | Hepburn writes the doubled ch as tch |
| Long vowel | らーめん | raamen | The chouon mark ー repeats the previous vowel |
| Syllabic n before vowel | しんあい | shin'ai | ん is written n' to avoid ambiguity |
When to use this vs Kana → Romaji
This tool is the hiragana-first shortcut. If you regularly convert katakana loanwords and names, the Kana → Romaji tool is the general-purpose version (it still accepts both). Either way, conversion runs entirely in your browser, so your text is never uploaded — safe for names, drafts, and anything private.
