Katakana · beginner

Learn Katakana Basics — Japanese Writing System for Foreign Words

Start learning Katakana, the Japanese alphabet used for foreign words. Master ア イ ウ エ オ and understand when to use Katakana vs Hiragana.

Katakana is the second Japanese phonetic alphabet. While Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, onomatopoeia, and emphasis. It has the same 46 basic characters as Hiragana, with the same sounds but different shapes. Katakana characters tend to be more angular and geometric.

Key Vocabulary

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
アafirst katakana vowel
イisecond katakana vowel
ウuthird katakana vowel
エefourth katakana vowel
オofifth katakana vowel

Example Sentences

  • アメリカ
    Amerika
    America
  • イギリス
    Igirisu
    England
  • エアコン
    eakon
    air conditioner
  • オレンジ
    orenji
    orange

Study Tips

  • 1Katakana is mainly used for foreign loanwords
  • 2Each katakana has a matching hiragana with the same sound
  • 3Katakana strokes are more angular than hiragana
  • 4Practice by writing foreign words you know in katakana

Next Topic

Learn Katakana KA Row — カ キ ク ケ コ

Continue Learning

HiraganaLearn Hiragana Basics — Your First Japanese AlphabetKatakanaLearn Katakana KA Row — カ キ ク ケ コVocabularyJapanese N5 Numbers — Count from 1 to 100 in Japanese

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