Katakana
Katakana writes many borrowed words, foreign names and sound effects. It represents the same basic sounds as hiragana with different shapes.
Read each character aloud, then try to recognise it without looking at the romaji. The chart below covers the basic characters; voiced and combined sounds come later.
A good way to practise
- Learn one row of sounds, such as a–i–u–e–o.
- Cover the romaji and say each character aloud.
- Mix the rows so you recognise the shape, not just its place in the chart.
The katakana chart
Choose a few characters to learn today; return to the rest once those feel familiar.
アa
イi
ウu
エe
オo
カka
キki
クku
ケke
コko
サsa
シshi
スsu
セse
ソso
タta
チchi
ツtsu
テte
トto
ナna
ニni
ヌnu
ネne
ノno
ハha
ヒhi
フfu
ヘhe
ホho
マma
ミmi
ムmu
メme
モmo
ヤya
ユyu
ヨyo
ラra
リri
ルru
レre
ロro
ワwa
ヲo
ンn