Sa Shi Su

Katakana 1

Chapter 5 · Sa Shi Su

🌿 The S Row Begins — サ シ ス

Three new characters: サ (sa), シ (shi) and ス (su). Note that the middle one is shi, not si, exactly as in hiragana. With them you can read nine real words today, from ice to circus. Romaji is shown for everything.

✨ Your Three New Characters — サ シ ス

サ
sa
like "sa" in safari ("sah")
3 strokes · stroke order ▸
Memory hook: a sailboat: a mast with a crossbar, and the sail line beside it. Hiragana twin: さ.
シ
shi
like "she", short ("shee")
3 strokes · stroke order ▸
Memory hook: a she crying: two tears falling sideways and a long swoop for her hair. Hiragana twin: し.
ス
su
like "su" in suit, relaxed ("soo")
2 strokes · stroke order ▸
Memory hook: a superhero's cape: a short bar for the shoulders and a long swoop flapping behind. Hiragana twin: す.
KatakanaHiragana twinRomaji
sa
shi
su
Warning: シ Has a Look-Alike Twin You'll meet ツ (tsu) in Chapter 7, and it looks very like シ. The usual trick: in シ the two short strokes are lying down, nearly horizontal like sideways eyes (and the long stroke sweeps up), while in ツ the short strokes stand upright (and the long stroke sweeps down). Keep that picture in mind: we'll practise it properly in Chapter 7.

📖 Read It — Nine Real Words

#WordRomajiEnglishNote
1aisuice; ice creama-i-su: three beats
2sukīski; skiingsu-ki-i
3suisuSwitzerlandsu-i-su
4sukaiskysu-ka-i
5kisukisski-su
6kēsucaseke-e-su: a phone case, a suitcase…
7kōsucourseko-o-su: a golf course, a meal course
8sākasucircussa-a-ka-su: four beats
9shīsāshisathe lion-dog guardians of Okinawa
Extra Vowels English has many S sounds that Japanese bends into su. In スキー and スカイ the English word starts with a bare "s" (ski, sky), but Japanese needs a vowel after every consonant, so it adds su: su-kī, su-kai. Whenever an English word has a lonely consonant, expect an extra vowel.

✍️ Try It Yourself — れんしゅう

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Read aloud: · ·

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sa · shi · su

2. Read aloud and translate: · ·

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aisu (ice) · sukī (ski) · sukai (sky)

3. Read aloud and translate: · ·

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suisu (Switzerland) · kisu (kiss) · kōsu (course)

4. Why does Japanese write ski as スキー (su-ki-i)?

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Japanese syllables need a vowel after each consonant, so the English "s" gets an extra su, and ー stretches the final vowel.

5. How many beats are in ?

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Four: サ · ー · カ · ス (sa-a-ka-su).

6. Write in katakana: aisu · suisu · sākasu (check the stroke order).

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· ·

Coming Up in Chapter 5 Two more S sounds: セ (se) and ソ (so). You'll be able to read ソース (sauce) and シーソー (seesaw). Watch out for the look-alike pair ソ and ン, which you'll meet again in Chapter 18.