noun
Japanese syllabary table; gojūon chart
Refers to the traditional grid of kana arranged by consonant and vowel, used as a reference for Japanese phonology and writing.
五十音図を覚えるのは日本語学習の第一歩です。
Learning the gojūon chart is the first step in studying Japanese.
五十音 refers to the set of basic kana sounds themselves, while 五十音図 is the chart or table that organizes them.
From 五十 (gojū, 'fifty') + 音 (on, 'sound') + 図 (zu, 'chart'), referring to the traditional arrangement of the basic kana syllables.