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1 　46 Katakana Characters ▲　

 

Each hiragana symbol has a corresponding katakana symbol and represents a syllable in Japanese. Click on each symbol in the chart below to see how each one is pronounced. Try to associate the sounds and the picture with the shape of katakana.

 

nn wawo rarirurero yayuyo mamimumemo hahihuheho naninuneno tatituteto sasisuseso kakikukeko aiueo

 

The last symbol ン in the chart is considered as a syllable by itself and NEVER begins a Japanese word. To write the sound /na/, /ni/, /nu/, /ne/, and /no/, the characters ナ, ニ, ヌ, ネ, and ノ ("n" column) must be used rather than ンア, ンイ, etc. The sequences like ンア or ンイ are considered as two separate syllables: /nn/ + /a/ or /nn/ + /i/, etc. Katakana ヲ (bottom left in the table) is almost never used.

 

Culture

katakana

Japanese comic books are filled with sound expressions and onomatopoeias (e.g., footsteps, something moving quickly, something colliding, etc.). These are often written in katakana. Can you find the following katakana characters in the picture on the left?

ダダダダ…
ダンッ
ビッ
フワ…
ドビュ

The photo on the left is a comic book, 「らんま1/2」 (Vol. 1), authored by Rumiko Takahashi.

 
2 　Recommended Activities ▲　

 

Try to memorize the pronunciation of each katakana. You should learn to read and write your own name in katakana.

  1. Make flash cards using note cards. Write each カタカナ on the front of the card, write the reading of it in カタカナ in the back. You can keep this stack of cards with you and work with them whenever you have a chance!

  2. Write each カタカナ over and over on a separate sheet of paper. Unfortunately, this ancient mode of practice is the best way to learn them.

  3. If you need additional help, ask your instructor. (See also Genki Self Tutor.)
Sample Flash Cards

 
3 　Mnemonic Help ▲　
 

To help you memorize the shapes and sounds of katakana, a picture-based mnemonic help is provided on a separate page later.