Hiragana "Hya" Coloring Pages

The "Hya" in "Hyakkaten"

The character on this coloring page is the Hiragana "Hya".
The word is "hyakkaten". That means a big store, which is also called a department store.
The picture on the left shows the front of a hyakkaten building.
Try to find the entrance, the big show windows where items are displayed, and the flags fluttering on the roof.
A hyakkaten has all kinds of items, like clothes, toys, and food.

"Hi" and a small "ya" make 1 sound

Hiragana "Hya" is written by putting a small "ya" after "hi".
It uses two characters, but when you read it, you do not split it into "hi" and "ya". You read it as 1 sound: "hya".
This kind of sound is called Youon.
If you write "ya" big, it becomes "hiyakkaten" and changes how you read it.
"Hi" came from the kanji character 「比」, and "ya" came from the kanji character 「也」.
The Youon that use small "ya", "yu", and "yo" are grouped by threes on the hiragana chart, like "hya", "hyu", and "hyo".
Say them out loud with a fun rhythm: "hya, hyu, hyo!"

Tips to write it neatly

"Hi" is written with 1 stroke.
You write a shape like a bowl all in 1 stroke.
Start at the top left, curve down smoothly, bring it up on the right side, and then slide down to the bottom right and stop.
Take your time and write it while looking at the balance between the left and right sides.
The small "ya" has 3 strokes. Write it small in the next box, tucked into the bottom left.
Aim to make it about half the size of "hi".
"Hyakkaten" also has a small "tsu". Write the "tsu" small in the bottom left of its box, too.
When you finish writing, compare the sizes of "hi" and "ya" to make sure you can clearly see the difference.

Let's find words with "hya"

There are not many words that start with "hya".
The most common one is the number "hyaku" (100).
There are many words with "hyaku" in them, like hyakuen (100 yen) and hyakuten (100 points).
It also pops up in sound words, like "hya!" when you touch cold water, or "hyahoo!" when you feel happy.
If you get "hyakuten" on a test, you might want to shout "hyahoo!"

Color the Big Hiragana "Hya" in Your Favorite Colors

First, try coloring the big outlined Hiragana "Hya" at the top right in any color you like.
To match the busy shops, making "ひ" red and "ゃ" gold or yellow gives it a bright, festive look.
To keep inside the lines, go slowly near the edges, then fill in the middle with nice, smooth strokes!

Make the Department Store Fun and Colorful

Color the walls of the department store cream, light brown, or light gray to make it look big and grand.
Color the windows and display cases light blue, leaving a little white space to show the sparkle of the glass.
Color each rooftop flag a different color—like red, blue, and yellow—to make it look bright and lively!
It also looks stylish if you color stripes on the awning over the entrance.
Try drawing clothes or toys inside the shop windows to make your very own store!

Tracing Hiragana "Hya": Use 2 Boxes for 1 Set

In the bottom right boxes, there are 4 sets of light gray Hiragana "Hya".
"ひ" goes in the left box, and a small "ゃ" goes in the right box. The two boxes make 1 set!
We recommend using a B or 2B pencil that is 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 to check where the letter starts before you write.
When you finish writing 1 set, say "Hya" out loud!
If you can trace all 4 sets neatly one by one, try writing Hiragana "Hya" all by yourself in the white space outside the boxes!

"Hyakka" Means Many Goods

In kanji, department store is written as 「百貨店」.
"Hyaku" means many, and "ka" means goods. So it means a shop that sells many kinds of goods.
It doesn't mean it has exactly 100 kinds of things!

How Japanese Department Stores Began

Many department stores in Japan were originally shops that sold cloth for kimono.
Near the end of the Meiji period, they changed into big shops that sold many other things, not just kimono cloth.
Shops with a long history still remain today.

Rooftops Were Playgrounds for Kids

Long ago, many department store rooftops had amusement parks with small rides and games.
After shopping, playing on the rooftop with family was a big treat for children.
There are fewer now, but some department stores still have gardens and open plazas on their rooftops.

The Small "っ" in "Hyakka"

The kanji for 100 is usually read as "hyaku," but in "hyakkaten," it changes to "hyakka" with a small "っ".
When "ka" comes after "hyaku," the sound pauses to make it easier to say.
"Hyakkai" (100 times) is read this way, too.
Try saying them out loud to compare!