Katakana (カタカナ) is the second Japanese syllabic alphabet. Its 46 characters mirror hiragana exactly in sound — the difference is their shape and usage. Katakana is used primarily for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, onomatopoeia, and emphasis.
The Full Katakana Chart
| Row | a | i | u | e | o |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vowels | ア | イ | ウ | エ | オ |
| K | カ | キ | ク | ケ | コ |
| S | サ | シ(shi) | ス | セ | ソ |
| T | タ | チ(chi) | ツ(tsu) | テ | ト |
| N | ナ | ニ | ヌ | ネ | ノ |
| H | ハ | ヒ | フ(fu) | ヘ | ホ |
| M | マ | ミ | ム | メ | モ |
| Y | ヤ | — | ユ | — | ヨ |
| R | ラ | リ | ル | レ | ロ |
| W | ワ | — | — | — | ヲ |
| N (alone) | ン | ||||
When to Use Katakana
- Foreign loanwords: テレビ (terebi, TV), コーヒー (koohii, coffee), スマホ (sumaho, smartphone)
- Foreign names: アメリカ (Amerika), マリア (Maria), ジョン (Jon)
- Scientific/technical terms: ウイルス (uirusu, virus), タンパク質 (tanpakushitsu, protein)
- Onomatopoeia: ドキドキ (dokidoki, heart pounding), ワクワク (wakuwaku, excitement)
- Emphasis: Like italics in English — コレが正解 (THIS is the answer)
The Long Vowel Mark ー
In katakana, long vowels are written with a horizontal dash called chōonpu (ー). It extends the previous vowel sound by one beat.
- コーヒー (koohii) — coffee [ko-o-hi-i]
- スーパー (suupaa) — supermarket
- ケーキ (keeki) — cake
- ノート (nooto) — notebook
Common English Words in Katakana
| Katakana | Word | Original |
|---|---|---|
| テレビ | terebi | television |
| スマホ | sumaho | smartphone |
| アイスクリーム | aisukuriimu | ice cream |
| レストラン | resutoran | restaurant |
| コンビニ | konbini | convenience store |
| バス | basu | bus |
| タクシー | takushii | taxi |
| デパート | depaato | department store |
Yuka & Rei Start Katakana
Learning kana feels abstract until you see how real learners talk about it. Here is Yuka working through the tricky parts — and Rei making the explanations click. Their questions are probably the same ones you have.
YukaRei, I just finished hiragana and now I have to learn katakana too? They look so similar but different!
ReiGood news: katakana represents the same sounds as hiragana — you already know the phonetics! You just need to learn new shapes for the same sounds. Think of it like learning a second font. The logic is identical; only the visual appearance differs.
YukaWhich katakana do people mix up most?
ReiThe classic confusing pairs: ソ (so) vs ン (n), シ (shi) vs ツ (tsu), ア (a) vs マ (ma). The angles of the small strokes make all the difference. Stroke direction matters — always practise writing, not just reading.
YukaWhen is katakana actually used in real life?
ReiThree main uses: 1. Foreign loanwords — コーヒー (coffee), テレビ (TV). 2. Foreign names and place names — アメリカ (America), ニューヨーク (New York). 3. Emphasis/style — like italics in English. Menus, product packaging, and tech terms are full of katakana.
5 Practice Examples — Read These Aloud
These examples use the characters from this article in real words. Say each one aloud and try to recall the article’s rules as you read.
- コーヒー (koohii) — coffee (long vowel marked with ー)
- テレビ (terebi) — television
- アメリカ (Amerika) — America
- スマートフォン (sumaatofon) — smartphone
- レストラン (resutoran) — restaurant
Your Turn! Write Your Own Example in the Comments
The fastest way to remember kana is to write words you already know in Japanese script. Try writing your name, your hometown, or your favourite food using the characters from this article.
Share what you wrote in the comments — other learners will see it, and writing for an audience makes the learning stick twice as fast. Log in to save your comment history and join the Top Commenters ranking!
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