Meet Katakana
Katakana 1
Chapter 1 Β· Meet Katakana: A I U
πΏ Meet Katakana β γ«γΏγ«γ
You already know hiragana, so you know how Japanese syllables work. Katakana is the second kana script: exactly the same sounds, but with sharper, angular shapes. By the end of this chapter you'll know what katakana is for, how it relates to hiragana, and your first three characters (γ’ γ€ γ¦). Romaji is shown for everything, as before.
π― What Is Katakana For? β δ½γ«δ½ΏγοΌ
Hiragana is for Japanese grammar and native words. Katakana does a different job:
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Loanwords from other languages (mostly English) | γ³γΌγγΌ kΕhΔ« | coffee |
| Foreign place names | γ’γ‘γͺγ« Amerika | America |
| Foreign personal names | γγ€γ― Maiku | Mike |
| Sound effects and animal cries | γ―γ³γ―γ³ wan wan | woof woof |
| Emphasis, a bit like italics in English | Writers sometimes use katakana to make a word stand out. | |
π€ Same Sounds, New Shapes β γγͺγι³
Everything you learned about hiragana still applies: one character is one syllable and one beat, with the same 46 basic sounds in the same gojΕ«on grid. Only the shapes change. Some are close twins and some look nothing alike.
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (vowels) | γ’ | γ€ | γ¦ | γ¨ | γͺ |
| k | γ« | γ | γ― | γ± | γ³ |
| s | γ΅ | γ· | γΉ | γ» | γ½ |
| t | γΏ | γ | γ | γ | γ |
| n | γ | γ | γ | γ | γ |
| h | γ | γ | γ | γ | γ |
| m | γ | γ | γ | γ‘ | γ’ |
| y | γ€ | γ¦ | γ¨ | ||
| r | γ© | γͺ | γ« | γ¬ | γ |
| w | γ― | γ² | |||
| n | γ³ |
The three highlighted characters are today's. The rows are in the same order as the hiragana grid, so this course follows the same path as Hiragana 1.
β¨ Your First Three Characters β γ’ γ€ γ¦
Each katakana has a hiragana twin with the same sound. Here the pairs are γβγ’, γβγ€ and γβγ¦. Say each aloud: clean, short vowels, as before.
π Read It β First Look
Three characters make very few real words, and that's normal for the vowel row: most loanwords need consonants. For now, practise recognising and saying the sounds. Real words start very soon:
| # | Characters | Romaji | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γ’ | a | a single beat, "ah" |
| 2 | γ’γ€ | ai | slide quickly from "ah" to "ee"; this is the start of γ’γ€γΉ (ice) in Chapter 5 |
| 3 | γ€γ’ | ia | a sound drill: "ee-ah" |
| 4 | γ¦γ€ | ui | a sound drill: "oo-ee" |
| 5 | γ’γ¦γ€ | aui | a three-beat drill |
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Which sound does γ’ make: a, i or u?
Show answer
a ("ah").
2. Read these aloud: γ€ Β· γ¦ Β· γ’
Show answer
i Β· u Β· a
3. Match each hiragana to its katakana twin: γ, γ, γ.
Show answer
γβγ’ Β· γβγ€ Β· γβγ¦
4. Read aloud: γ’γ€ Β· γ¦γ€ Β· γ’γ¦γ€
Show answer
ai Β· ui Β· aui
5. Write these in katakana: i Β· u Β· ai (check the stroke order as you write).
Show answer
γ€ Β· γ¦ Β· γ’γ€
6. Which script would you use to write the word "taxi" borrowed from English, and which for a Japanese verb ending?
Show answer
Loanword: katakana (γΏγ―γ·γΌ). Verb ending: hiragana.