- Katakana has 46 basic characters that represent exactly the same sounds as hiragana.
- It is mainly used for foreign loanwords (コーヒー, coffee), foreign names, and for emphasis.
- A long dash ー makes the previous vowel long: ケーキ (kēki, cake).
- Learn it after hiragana. Most learners manage it in about a week because the sounds are already familiar.
What is katakana used for?
Katakana (カタカナ) is the second Japanese syllabary. Where hiragana handles grammar and native words, katakana is mostly used for:
- Loanwords from other languages: テレビ (terebi, TV), パン (pan, bread, from Portuguese), アルバイト (arubaito, part-time job, from German).
- Foreign names and places: アメリカ (Amerika), ロンドン (Rondon, London).
- Emphasis, a bit like italics in English, and in manga and advertising.
- Sound effects and many animal and plant names in scientific contexts.
Because modern Japanese borrows so many words, katakana appears on every menu, shop sign and product label. It’s essential for getting around in Japan.
The complete katakana chart
The layout is identical to the hiragana chart: consonants in rows, vowels in columns. Tap any character to hear it.
ヲ (wo) is very rare in katakana. In practice, you’ll almost only see it in stylised text.
Voiced sounds
The same two marks as in hiragana work here: the dakuten ゛ voices a consonant, the handakuten ゜ turns h into p.
The long vowel mark ー
This is the one thing katakana does differently. Instead of adding another vowel like hiragana does, katakana uses a dash, ー, to make a vowel long. In vertical text, it becomes a vertical line.
- コーヒーkōhīcoffee
- ケーキkēkicake
- スーパーsūpāsupermarket
- ビールbīrubeer
Extended sounds for foreign words
Some foreign sounds don’t exist in traditional Japanese. Katakana handles them by combining a character with a small vowel. You don’t need to memorise these right away, but you’ll see them in names and newer loanwords.
- パーティーpātīparty
- フォークfōkufork
- ウェブサイトwebusaitowebsite
Look-alikes: the tricky pairs
Katakana’s simple strokes make a few characters very similar. The trick is in the direction of the strokes:
| Pair | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| シ shi / ツ tsu | シ’s short strokes are stacked on the left and the long stroke rises from the bottom. ツ’s short strokes sit on top and the long stroke falls from above. |
| ソ so / ン n | ソ’s short stroke is on top, and the long stroke falls from above. ン’s short stroke sits on the left, and the long stroke rises from the bottom. |
| ク ku / ケ ke / タ ta | ク is the basic shape. ケ’s stroke passes through and out the side. タ adds a small stroke inside. |
| ウ u / ワ wa | ウ has a small stroke on top; ワ doesn’t. |
| ス su / ヌ nu | ヌ has an extra little stroke crossing the bottom. |
Practise with real loanwords
The fastest way to learn katakana is reading words you already know, in disguise. Can you guess these before tapping?
- アイスクリームaisukurīmuice cream
- コンビニkonbiniconvenience storeShort for コンビニエンスストア.
- スマホsumahosmartphoneShort for スマートフォン.
- ハンバーガーhanbāgāhamburger
- タクシーtakushītaxi
- カメラkameracamera
- ホテルhoteruhotel
Notice how Japanese adds vowels between consonants, because almost every Japanese syllable ends in a vowel. That’s why camera has three clear syllables: ka-me-ra.
Write your name in katakana
Foreign names are written in katakana based on how they sound, not how they are spelled. A few examples:
| Name | Katakana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Anna | アンナ | Anna |
| David | デイビッド | Deibiddo |
| Emma | エマ | Ema |
| Michael | マイケル | Maikeru |
| Sophie | ソフィー | Sofī |
There’s often more than one accepted spelling. Pick the one that sounds closest to how you say your name.
How to learn katakana in a week
| Day | Rows | Practise with |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ア, カ, サ rows | アイス, ケーキ |
| 2 | タ, ナ rows | テニス, ナイフ |
| 3 | ハ, マ rows | ホテル, メモ |
| 4 | ヤ, ラ, ワ rows, ン | ラーメン, ワイン |
| 5 | Voiced sounds + ー | ゲーム, パン |
| 6 | Look-alikes | シャツ, ソース |
| 7 | Review + your name | Menus and signs |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hiragana and katakana?
They represent the same sounds, but are used differently. Hiragana is used for grammar and native Japanese words; katakana is used mainly for foreign loanwords, foreign names and emphasis. Katakana shapes are more angular.
How long does it take to learn katakana?
If you already know hiragana, most learners can read katakana after about one week of daily practice, because the sounds are identical.
Why does katakana use a dash?
The dash ー is the long vowel mark. It makes the preceding vowel last twice as long, for example in コーヒー (kōhī, coffee).
Is katakana used for Japanese words?
Sometimes. Besides loanwords, katakana is used for emphasis, sound effects, and some plant and animal names. But most native words are written in hiragana or kanji.