Katakana

1: Katakana Chart

Katakana represents the same Japanese sounds as hiragana. For every hiragana character, there is a corresponding katakana character that represents the same syllable. Click on each column in the chart below to hear its pronunciation. As you practice, try to connect the sound and the shape of the katakana.

The same caution we discussed in hiragana ん applies here, too. 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. As explained in the hiragana section, the sequences like ンア or ンイ... are considered as two separate syllables. Katakana ヲ (bottom left in the table) is almost never used in modern Japanese.

Cultural Note

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. Ask your instructor how to write your name in katakana. 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.)

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.