Be Bo
Hiragana 2
Chapter 8 · Be Bo
🌸 Finishing the B Row — べ ぼ
Two characters complete the B row: べ (be) and ぼ (bo), the voiced forms of へ and ほ. They give you the verb たべる ("to eat") and the lunch-box word おべんとう, both of which turn up everywhere in Japan. Romaji is shown for everything.
| Plain | With ゛ | Sound before | Sound now |
|---|---|---|---|
| へ | べ | he | be |
| ほ | ぼ | ho | bo |
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| h | は | ひ | ふ | へ | ほ |
| b (h + ゛) | ば | び | ぶ | べ | ぼ |
The two highlighted characters are today's; the B row is now complete.
✨ Two New Characters — べ ぼ
📖 Read It — New Words
Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji.
| # | Word | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | たべる | taberu | to eat | ta-be-ru: dictionary form |
| 2 | たべもの | tabemono | food | ta-be-mo-no: lit. "eating thing" |
| 3 | おべんとう | obentō | boxed lunch | o-be-n-to-u: the とう is a long o |
| 4 | べんり | benri | convenient | be-n-ri: a favourite word for shops and gadgets |
| 5 | べつ | betsu | different; separate | be-tsu |
| 6 | かべ | kabe | wall | ka-be |
| 7 | ぼく | boku | I (used by boys and men) | bo-ku: casual |
| 8 | ぼうし | bōshi | hat; cap | bo-u-shi |
| 9 | ぼうけん | bōken | adventure | bo-u-ke-n |
| 10 | ぼんやり | bon'yari | vaguely; absent-mindedly | bo-n-ya-ri: a good word for a Monday morning |
✍️ Try It Yourself — れんしゅう
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Read aloud: べ · ぼ · ば · び · ぶ
Show answer
be · bo · ba · bi · bu
2. Read aloud and translate: たべる · たべもの · おべんとう
Show answer
taberu (to eat) · tabemono (food) · obentō (boxed lunch)
3. Read aloud and translate: べんり · かべ · ぼうし
Show answer
benri (convenient) · kabe (wall) · bōshi (hat)
4. Which word for "I" is safest for a learner: ぼく or わたし?
Show answer
わたし (watashi): polite and neutral for everyone. ぼく is casual and male.
5. What is the polite form of たべる?
Show answer
たべます (tabemasu).
6. Write in hiragana: taberu · obentō · boku (check the stroke order).
Show answer
たべる · おべんとう · ぼく