Na Ni Nu

Katakana 1

Chapter 9 Β· Na Ni Nu

🌿 The N Row Begins β€” γƒŠ ニ γƒŒ

Three new characters: γƒŠ (na), ニ (ni) and γƒŒ (nu). Don't confuse this "n" row with the lone character ン (n) that you'll meet in Chapter 18. Romaji is shown for everything.

✨ Your Three New Characters β€” γƒŠ ニ γƒŒ

γƒŠ
na
like "na" in nacho ("nah")
2 strokes Β· stroke order β–Έ
Memory hook: a nature-trail signpost: a post with a crossbar near the top. Hiragana twin: γͺ.
ニ
ni
like "knee", short ("nee")
2 strokes Β· stroke order β–Έ
Memory hook: the number two: two bars. In Japanese the word for two is ni, and ニ comes from the kanji 二 (two). Hiragana twin: に.
γƒŒ
nu
like "noo" in noon, relaxed ("noo")
2 strokes Β· stroke order β–Έ
Memory hook: a noodle twirled on chopsticks: a hook and a crossing swirl. Hiragana twin: ぬ.
KatakanaHiragana twinRomaji
na
ni
nu
Look-Alikes: γƒŒ and γ‚Ή, ニ and γƒŸ γƒŒ (nu) is close to γ‚Ή (su), which you met in Chapter 5: γƒŒ has an extra small tail where its lines cross, which γ‚Ή does not have. Compare them on the stroke-order pages. And ニ (ni) is two horizontal lines, whereas γƒŸ (mi), which comes in Chapter 13, is three slanting lines. Horizontal and two means ni; slanting and three means mi.

πŸ“– Read It β€” Real Words

#WordRomajiEnglishNote
1tsunatunatsu-na
2nāsunursena-a-su
3tenisutenniste-ni-su
4naisunice ("Nice one!")na-i-su; said when someone does well
5naitonight; knightna-i-to
6KeniaKenyake-ni-a
7kanΕ«canoeka-nu-u
8tenātenorte-na-a
Borrowed Meanings Look at γƒŠγ‚€γ‚Ή: it's the English word nice, but Japanese uses it as a casual cheer, something like "Nice one!" or "Well done!" when a friend scores in a game. Katakana words sometimes drift from their English meaning, so treat the English as a hint, not a guarantee: γƒŠγƒΌγ‚Ή is a nurse, but a γƒŠγ‚€γƒˆ can be a night or a knight.

✍️ Try It Yourself β€” γ‚Œγ‚“γ—γ‚…γ†

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

1. Read aloud: Β· Β·

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na Β· ni Β· nu

2. Read aloud and translate: Β· Β·

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tsuna (tuna) · nāsu (nurse) · tenisu (tennis)

3. Read aloud and translate: Β·

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naisu (nice) Β· naito (night; knight)

4. Read aloud and translate: Β·

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Kenia (Kenya) Β· kanΕ« (canoe)

5. How can you tell (ni) from (mi, coming in Chapter 13)?

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ニ is two horizontal lines; γƒŸ is three slanting lines.

6. Write in katakana: tenisu · tsuna · nāsu (check the stroke order).

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Β· Β·

Coming Up in Chapter 5 Two more N sounds: ネ (ne) and γƒŽ (no). You'll read γƒŽγƒΌγƒˆ (notebook) and ネクタむ (necktie), and see how simple γƒŽ is, a single stroke.