Hiragana "Gyu" Coloring Pages

The "Gyu" in "Gyuniu" (Milk)

The character on this coloring page is the Hiragana "Gyu".
The word here is "gyuniu" (milk). In Kanji, it is written as "牛乳", and it means milk from a cow.
In the picture on the left, there is 1 carton of milk and 1 glass filled with milk.
The carton has a picture of a cute cow on it.
Besides Hiragana "Gyu", the word "gyuniu" also has another combined sound called "nyu".

Two Characters for One Sound

You write Hiragana "Gyu" by combining two characters: "Gi" and a small "yu".
Even though you write two characters, you do not read them as separate sounds like "gi" and "yu". You say them together as one sound.
Sounds like this are called youon (contracted sounds).
If you write it with a big "yu" as "gi-yu", it becomes two sounds and can change the word into something else.
Having a small character or not changes the sound!

How Hiragana "Gyu" Was Made

The character "gi" is "ki" with two dots (dakuten) added to it.
Hiragana was created long ago when people simplified the shapes of Kanji characters.
The character "ki" came from simplifying the Kanji character "幾".
The small "yu" is just a smaller version of the normal "yu", which came from simplifying the Kanji character "由".
Kanji from a very long time ago changed over many years to become the friendly shapes we use today.

Tips for Writing

You write "ki" in 4 strokes.
First, write 2 lines going across that slant up a little to the right. For the 3rd stroke, write a slanting line that crosses them from above.
The 4th stroke is the rounded part at the bottom.
After you finish writing the character, add the two dots as 2 short marks on the top right.
When writing side-to-side, write the small "yu" in the bottom left of the box. When writing top-to-bottom, write it small in the top right.
Be careful not to put the two dots and the "yu" in the wrong places!

Words That Start with Hiragana "Gyu"

Many words that start with Hiragana "Gyu" are related to cows, like "gyuniku" (beef) and "gyudon" (beef bowl).
This is because the Kanji for "cow" (牛) can be read as "gyu".
There are other words too, like "gyu" for giving a tight hug, or "gyu-gyu" for when a place is tightly packed full of things.
Try saying Hiragana "Gyu" while getting a big "gyu" hug from someone in your family!

Color the Big Hiragana "Gyu" with Gentle Colors

Try coloring inside the lines of the big Hiragana "Gyu" in the top right with your favorite colors.
If you use light blue or blue to match the milk, your letters will look nice and fresh.
It is also fun to try different colors for "gi", "yu", and the dots.

Milk Carton and Glass

Milk is white, so leave the milk inside the glass white without coloring it. Then it will look like real milk!
For the glass, color just the edges with light sky blue. It will look like clear glass.
Color the milk carton with fresh colors like blue, light blue, or green.
For the cow picture on the carton, add black spots to its white body. Now you have a black-and-white dairy cow!
Color around the cow's nose with light pink to give it a cute face.
If you draw grass under the carton with yellow-green, it will look like a picture of a farm.

Trace the Letters with a Pencil

In the boxes on the bottom right, there are 4 sets of light gray Hiragana "Gyu".
Hold your pencil the right way. Trace over the gray lines slowly so you do not go outside the lines.
Use the vertical and horizontal center lines in the box as a guide. This helps you see how big the letters should be and where to put them.
Be careful with where things go! Put the dots in the top right, and place the small "yu" in the bottom left of the box.
Every time you trace one set, say "Gyu" out loud.
When you trace all 4 sets, try writing it by yourself outside the boxes, too!

The Little Notch on a Milk Carton

Take a close look at the top of a milk carton.
On cartons labeled "Milk," there is a tiny half-circle notch on the side opposite the opening spout.
It is there so visually impaired people can tell it is milk just by touching it, and also know which side opens!

Most of Milk Is Water

Milk looks like a white, rich drink, but actually, almost 90 percent of it is water.
The rest has calcium to build strong bones and teeth, and protein to help your body grow!

Black and White Cows

Most cows raised for milk in Japan are black-and-white cows called Holsteins.
Every cow has a different pattern of black and white spots.
Just like human faces, you can tell them apart by their spots!

How Milk Is Made

Mother cows start making milk after they give birth to a baby calf.
The milk collected at the farm is heated at a factory to get rid of germs before it goes into cartons.
It passes through many people's hands to reach your glass!