Hiragana "sho" Coloring Pages

"Sho" as in "shobosha"

The character on this coloring page is the Hiragana "sho".
The word is "shobosha" (fire truck). In the picture on the left, you can see one fire truck facing sideways.
Let's look for the ladder on the roof, the rolled-up hose, and the bright, shiny light!
When a fire starts, fire trucks turn on their sirens and rush over to put out the fire.
The word "shobosha" has two combined sounds: "sho" and "sha".

"し" and a small "ょ" make 1 sound

You write Hiragana "sho" by putting a small "yo" after "shi".
Even though it is made of two characters, you do not read it separately as "shi" and "yo". You read it as one sound: "sho".
Sounds like this are called youon.
If you write "yo" big, it becomes "shiyou", which is a different word from "shou".
"Shi" came from simplified parts of the kanji "之", and "yo" came from the kanji "与".
On the hiragana chart, youon that use small "ya", "yu", and "yo" are grouped in sets of three, like "sha", "shu", and "sho".
Let's say them out loud with a fun rhythm: "sha, shu, sho!"

Tips to write Hiragana "sho" neatly

Hiragana "sho" is written in 1 stroke for "し".
Go straight down from the top, curve gently at the bottom, and sweep smoothly up to the right.
The trick is to make a smooth curve without any sharp corners!
The small "ょ" has 2 strokes. Write it small in the next box, tucked into the bottom left of the box.
Aim to make it about half the size of "し".
For "ょ", attach the short line on the right to the vertical line.
When you finish, compare the sizes of "し" and "ょ" to make sure you can see a clear difference!

Let's look for words that have Hiragana "sho"!

Words that start with Hiragana "sho" include sliced bread, elementary school, soy sauce, and tableware.
It can also be in the middle or at the end of a word, like library or together.
In "fire truck", you can find Hiragana "sho" as well as "bo" and "sha".
Try playing a game with someone in your family to see how many words with Hiragana "sho" you can say!
Say "shiyou" and "shou" out loud to hear how different they sound, too.

Color the Big "Hiragana "sho"" in Your Favorite Colors

First, try coloring the big outlined "Hiragana "sho"" in the top right with any colors you like.
To match the fire truck, if you color "し" red and "ょ" yellow, the letter will look like a brightly flashing light.
Color slowly near the edges so you do not go outside the lines, and color the middle smoothly!

Color the Fire Truck Bright Red

Color the body of the Japanese fire truck red.
If you color the ladder and the parts that hold the hose silver or gray, and the hose white or light yellow, they will really stand out against the red!
If you color the roof light red or orange and make the area around it a little bright, it will look like it is glowing.
Color the windows light blue, the tires on the wheels black, and the middle wheels gray.
Try coloring each step of the ladder very carefully.

Tracing Is 1 Set of 2 Boxes

In the bottom right boxes, there are 4 sets of light gray "Hiragana "sho"" lined up.
"し" is in the left box, and a small "ょ" is in the right box. The 2 boxes make 1 set.
We recommend using a B or 2B pencil that is not too dark and not too light.
Use the vertical and horizontal lines in the middle of the box as your guide, and check where the letter starts before you write.
After you write 1 set, say "Hiragana "sho"" out loud!
When you trace all 4 sets carefully one by one, it is also great to try writing it all by yourself in the white space outside the boxes.

Why Hiragana "sho" Is Red

Hiragana "sho" is red in Japan because its color is set by a rule.
The rule says the body of Hiragana "sho" must be a vermilion red color.
Red stands out, so cars and people nearby can see Hiragana "sho" quickly and give way.

Call 119 in a Fire

If you see a fire, or if someone gets sick or hurt all of a sudden, you call 119 on the phone.
You tell the person who answers, "It is a fire," or "It is an emergency."
Hiragana "sho" and ambulances will rush to help you through this 119 call.

Different Types of Hiragana "sho"

There are many types of Hiragana "sho", like the pump truck that shoots water out fast, and the ladder truck with a long ladder to reach tall buildings.
Some ladders on ladder trucks can even reach higher than the 10th floor of a building!
When you see Hiragana "sho" in town, take a close look to see what type it is.

Clothes of Firefighters

Firefighters who put out fires wear fireproof gear that stays safe in heat and fire, and they wear helmets.
They sometimes carry an air tank on their backs so they can breathe in smoke.
When you visit a fire station, you might get to see real gear and real Hiragana "sho" up close.