Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Katakana (カタカナ) is one of the three scripts in the Japanese writing system, alongside Hiragana and Kanji. While Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, Katakana is mainly used for foreign words, names, and onomatopoeia. If you’ve ever seen the word “コーヒー” (coffee) or “アイスクリーム” (ice cream), you’re already looking at Katakana!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔ What Katakana is and when to use it
✔ The 46 basic Katakana characters
✔ Special Katakana combinations and sounds
✔ How to write foreign names in Katakana
✔ Practice examples and reading tips
Let’s unlock the world of Japanese loanwords together!
1. What is Katakana?
Katakana is a phonetic syllabary, just like Hiragana, with 46 basic characters. While both systems represent the same sounds, Katakana is mainly used to:
- Transcribe foreign loanwords
- Write non-Japanese names
- Represent sounds (e.g. bang! → ドン!)
- Highlight or stylize words (like italics in English)
💡 Examples of Katakana in daily life:
- コンビニ (konbini) – convenience store
- テレビ (terebi) – television
- バス (basu) – bus
- カメラ (kamera) – camera
2. The 46 Basic Katakana Characters
| Vowels | A | I | U | E | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | ア | イ | ウ | エ | オ |
| K-row | カ | キ | ク | ケ | コ |
| S-row | サ | シ | ス | セ | ソ |
| T-row | タ | チ | ツ | テ | ト |
| N-row | ナ | ニ | ヌ | ネ | ノ |
| H-row | ハ | ヒ | フ | ヘ | ホ |
| M-row | マ | ミ | ム | メ | モ |
| Y-row | ヤ | – | ユ | – | ヨ |
| R-row | ラ | リ | ル | レ | ロ |
| W-row | ワ | – | – | – | ヲ |
| N | ン | – | – | – | – |
📝 Notes
- シ (shi), チ (chi), ツ (tsu), and フ (fu) have special romanizations to match actual pronunciation.
- A long vowel is written using ー, e.g. コーヒー (koohii) for “coffee”.
- ヲ (wo) is usually pronounced as “o” in modern Japanese.
3. Special Katakana Sounds
3.1 Voiced & Plosive Sounds
By adding ゛(dakuten) or ゜(handakuten) to certain characters, you can create 23 more sounds:
| Base | With ゛ | With ゜ |
|---|---|---|
| カ | ガ (ga) | – |
| サ | ザ (za) | – |
| タ | ダ (da) | – |
| ハ | バ (ba) | パ (pa) |
Examples:
- バス (basu) – bus
- ゴハン (gohan) – rice
- パーティー (paatii) – party
3.2 Contracted Sounds (Small ヤ, ユ, ヨ)
Like Hiragana, Katakana can combine with small characters to form blended sounds:
| Combo | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| キャ | kya | キャンプ (kyanpu) – camp |
| シュ | shu | シューズ (shuuzu) – shoes |
| チョ | cho | チョコレート (chokoreeto) – chocolate |
| ニュ | nyu | ニュース (nyuusu) – news |
These are single syllables, not two.
3.3 Transcribing Foreign Sounds
Some foreign sounds don’t exist in native Japanese. So, small vowels (ァ, ィ, ゥ, ェ, ォ) are added to approximate them.
Examples:
- ウィンドウ (window)
- ティーシャツ (t-shirt)
- ファイル (file)
- ジェル (gel)
- チェック (check)
These combinations are crucial for foreign names and English loanwords!
4. Writing Foreign Names in Katakana
Katakana is used to write non-Japanese names, using sounds that closely match the original.
Basic Rules:
- Use the closest Katakana sounds to mimic pronunciation
- Add a dot (・) between first and last names
- Use ー to stretch long vowels
Examples:
- Emily Clark → エミリー・クラーク
- David Lee → デイビッド・リー
- Arthur Paul → アーサー・ポール
- Vivian Wong → ビビアン・ウォン
💡 Tip: There’s no one “correct” way to romanize names—pick the version that sounds best in Japanese!
5. Practice Time!
Try reading these Katakana words aloud:
ホテル (hoteru) – hotel
トイレ (toire) – toilet
レストラン (resutoran) – restaurant
ケーキ (keeki) – cake
メール (meeru) – email
スポーツ (supootsu) – sport
バーベキュー (baabekyuu) – BBQ
ウェブサイト (webusaito) – website
🎧 Challenge: Listen to native pronunciation and repeat each word three times.
6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QHow is Katakana different from Hiragana?
- A
Hiragana is for native words and grammar. Katakana is for foreign words, names, borrowed terms, and sometimes emphasis.
- QDo I need to memorize all 46 Katakana at once?
- A
No! Start with vowels (ア, イ, ウ, エ, オ), then build row by row.
- QWhy does Katakana use a dash (ー) in words like コーヒー?
- A
That dash indicates a long vowel. So コーヒー sounds like “koohii.”
- QCan Katakana be handwritten, or is it just for typing?
- A
It can definitely be handwritten! Stroke order and neatness matter, especially if you want to read and write Japanese clearly.
- QIs Katakana only for English words?
- A
No! Katakana is used for words from any foreign language, including French (ワイン = wine), Chinese (チャーハン = fried rice), and even made-up anime terms.
7. Conclusion: Ready to Katakana?
Katakana might look sharp and angular, but it’s an essential and fun part of Japanese! Mastering Katakana helps you read menus, recognize brand names, and pronounce foreign words naturally in Japanese.
📘 Quick Tips to Remember:
- Learn a few characters daily
- Practice with real loanwords
- Write your name in Katakana
- Listen, repeat, and write often
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
