が

Hiragana 3: two dots and a circle make new sounds (が, ぱ…)

Dakuten ゛ and handakuten ゜ turn 20 kana into 25 new kana.

要点The idea

Two small dots ゛ (dakuten) voice a sound (k → g, s → z, t → d, h → b), and a small circle ゜ (handakuten) turns h into p.

Two quirks: the H row turns into b and p because, long ago, it was said with a p sound; and じ and ぢ are both ji, ず and づ both zu.

gohanrice, a mealこ ko → ご go.

kazewind; also a coldせ se → ぜ ze.

denwatelephoneて te → で de.

tebukuroglovesふ fu → ぶ bu.

sanpoa walkほ ho → ぽ po, with the circle.

Afutalid

Bbutapig

Two tiny dots change the word completely. Always check for them.

Akakipersimmon

Bkagikey

Same idea on the second kana: き ki → ぎ gi.

確認Check yourself