Hiragana "Cha" Coloring Pages

The "Cha" in "Chawan"

The letter on this coloring page is the hiragana Hiragana "Cha".
The word is "chawan" (rice bowl). In the picture on the left, a rice bowl for your meal is drawn from a angle looking down.
The outside of the rice bowl has a pattern of cherry blossom flowers.
It has 5 petals with tiny splits at the tips, which shows they are cherry blossoms.
It is a familiar bowl that you use every day for meals.

One Sound Made of "Chi" and a Small "Ya"

You write Hiragana "Cha" by placing a small "ya" after "chi".
It is made of two letters, but when you read it, you do not split it into "chi" and "ya". You read it as one sound: "cha".
Sounds like this are called youon (contracted sounds).
If you write the "ya" big, it becomes "chiyawan," and the way you read it changes.
"Chi" came from simplifying the kanji "知", and "ya" came from the kanji "也".
In the hiragana chart, contracted sounds using small "ya," "yu," and "yo" are grouped in sets of three, like "cha," "chu," and "cho."
Say them out loud with a fun rhythm: "cha, chu, cho!"

Tips to Write It Nicely

"Chi" is written in 2 strokes.
The 1st stroke is a short horizontal line.
The 2nd stroke goes down at a slant from above the horizontal line. After it cuts through the line, turn back and make a big curve to the right.
At the end of the curve, sweep smoothly down to the left to make a pretty "chi".
The small "ya" has 3 strokes. Write it small in the next box, tucked toward the bottom left.
A good guide is to make it about half the size of "chi".
When you finish writing, compare the sizes of "chi" and "ya" to make sure you can clearly see the difference!

Let's Find Words with "Cha"

Words that start with "cha" include chairo (brown), chawan (rice bowl), and chanto (properly).
There are also many words with "cha" in the middle or at the end, like omocha (toy), kabocha (pumpkin), akachan (baby), and obaachan (grandma).
You also use "cha" when you add "-chan" to a friend's name!
How many "cha" sounds can you find around you?
Try looking for them together with someone in your family!

Color the big "Hiragana "Cha"" in any color you like

First, try coloring the big outlined "Hiragana "Cha"" at the top right in your favorite colors.
To match the cherry blossom pattern, you can color "ち" pink and "ゃ" red. Or you can color them brown because "cha" is in "chairo" (brown)!
To keep inside the lines, color slowly near the edges. Then you can color the middle freely!

The teacups and cherry blossom patterns

If you color the outside of the teacup with gentle colors like white, cream, or light blue, the cherry blossoms will really stand out!
Color the petals light pink, and make the centers a little darker pink. That will make the flowers look soft and pretty!
Color the inside of the teacup a little lighter than the outside. That makes it look deep!
Try coloring the bottom ring light brown or gray.
Pretend you are making your very own teacup, and pick your favorite colors for the pattern!

Tracing practice: two boxes make one set

In the bottom right boxes, there are 4 sets of light gray "Hiragana "Cha"" lined up.
"ち" is in the left box, and a small "ゃ" is in the right box. The two boxes make one set.
Pencils like B or 2B work best—not too dark and not too light!
Use the up-and-down and side-to-side lines in the middle of the boxes as guideposts. Check where the letter starts before you write!
After you trace one set, say "cha" out loud!
When you trace all 4 sets carefully, try writing it all by yourself in the white space outside the boxes!

"Chawan" was originally a tea bowl

"Chawan" is written as "茶碗" in kanji.
At first, it meant a bowl for drinking green tea.
Over time, people started calling rice bowls "chawan" too.
Today, bowls for drinking tea are usually called "Yunomi."

Hold Hiragana "Cha" in your hand to eat

In Japan, it is good manners to hold Hiragana "Cha" in your hand when you eat rice.
The raised bottom part of Hiragana "Cha" is called "Kodai." It makes it easier to hold and keeps your hand safe from hot rice.
Try touching it the next time you hold Hiragana "Cha"!

Big and small "Meoto-jawan"

A set of two Hiragana "Cha" with the same pattern but slightly different sizes is called "Meoto-jawan."
Married couples use them as a matching set.
It is fun how "chawan" changes its sound to "jawan," isn't it?

Pottery Hiragana "Cha"

Most Hiragana "Cha" are pottery made by shaping clay or stone powder and baking it in a kiln at high heat.
Things made from clay are called earthenware, and things made from stone powder are called porcelain.
Which type is Hiragana "Cha" at your home?