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Introduction ............................................................................ 3 Katakana Charts .................................................................. 11 Stroke Order Practice ..................................................... 14 Learning Japanese Words in Katakana .................. 85 Practicing Double Consonants ................................... 131 Using Modified Syllables .............................................. 133 Examples of Modified Syllables ............................... 139 Long Vowels ........................................................................ 141 More Modified Syllables .............................................. 142 Shortened Words ............................................................. 143 Hiragana and Katakana ................................................. 144 Mimetic Words .................................................................. 145
Introduction
There are 3 types of Japanese characters: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. The first two are called kana, and they are similar in that they are both sound-based characters. In addition, there is rmaji, which is Japanese that is written with the Latin alphabet. You dont really need to spend any time learning rmaji, since you already know it. Hiragana and katakana are the most simple and important characters to learn, which is why it is best to learn them first! Japanese sentences often contain a mix of hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
Hiragana
Hiragana is probably the most important form of writing that you will learn. Hiragana is a syllabary, a sound-based form of writing. Most hiragana are made up of 2 English letters, but one sound or syllable (e.g. ka, ma, na). Generally hiragana is used for particles and the ends of verbs and adjectives, while kanji is used for stems of verbs and adjectives and nouns. However, you can use hiragana to write anything in Japanese.
Katakana
Katakana, similar to hiragana, is a syllabary. Katakana is primarily used for words of foreign origin (words that come from English, Chinese, German, etc.). However, this is not a hard rule. There are other times when katakana is used, but 99% of the time you see katakana, it will be for foreign words. Japanese has a lot of foreign words, especially from English. Most Japanese billboards and magazines are full of Katakana.
Kanji
Kanji, the oldest form of Japanese writing, has its origin in China. Unlike hiragana and katakana, kanji each carry a meaning with them rather than a sound. There are usually multiple ways to read the same kanji, making it difficult for beginners. However, sometimes one can guess the meaning of the kanji based on its parts.
Romaji
Rmaji uses the Latin alphabet, making it so that even people who havent learned hiragana, katakana, or kanji can read and write in Japanese. However, only knowing rmaji can be very limiting. Rmaji can be helpful when you are first starting out, but since Japanese people dont really use it, it is important to learn how to read and write hiragana and katakana.
Furigana
Furigana (AKA rubi) is small hiragana that is written above (for horizontal text) or next to (for vertical text) kanji to indicate the pronunciation. For people who know hiragana but do not know many kanji yet, furigana is a very helpful reading tool. You can frequently see furigana in childrens books and manga.
Pronunciation Guide
There only 5 vowel sounds in Japanese, and they are always pronounced the same way! In this way, Japanese pronunciation is much easier than English!
a as in Ah! i as in Eek! u as in Moo! e as in Hey! o as in Oh! Example: Example: Example: Example: Example: ame isu usagi enpitsu ocha rain chair rabbit pencil tea
Long Vowels For the Katakana portion of this book, long vowels will be romanized in the following ways.
Pronunciation Guide
When two consonants are placed next to each other (double consonants, e.g. kk), there is a sort of pause before the consonant is pronounced. The best way to master this is to listen and repeat. Dont forget to listen to the audio that is included with this book and repeat it out loud to practice your pronunciation! Have fun!!
Katakana Chart 1 a i
shi
k n h y r s t
chi
tsu fu
m w n
ji
ji
k n h g j r c s
ya
sha
yu
cha
shu
yo
chu
sho
cho
ja
ju
jo
ch d f t
sh j
America
itaria Italy
uinn weiner
erebt elevator
sutoraria Australia
ka
karend calendar
ki
kisu kiss
ku
kurisumasu Christmas
ke
kki cake
ko
kh coffee
sa
sakk soccer
shi
shaw shower
su
supein Spain
se
st sweater
so
ssu sauce
ta
taiya tires
chi
chiketto ticket
tsu
tsu tour
te
tisshu tissue
to
tonneru tunnel
na
naifu knife
ni
nu
nunchaku nunchucks
ne
nekkuresu necklace
no
nto notebook
ha
hanbg hamburger
hi
ht heater
fu
fku fork
he
herikoput helicopter
ho
hsu hose
ma
macchi match
mi
misuter mystery
mu
me
mekishiko Mexico
mo
monsut monster
ya
yagi goat
yu
yunikn unicorn
yo
yotto yacht
ra
rmen ramen
ri
ribon ribbon
ru
rub ruby
re
remon lemon
ro
robotto robot
wa
wo
meron melon
ga
gasu gas
gi
git guitar
gu
gurpufurtsu grapefruit
ge
gmu game
go
gorira gorilla
za
piza pizza
ji
jnzu jeans
zu
chzu cheese
ze
zo
zonbi zombie
da
dtsu darts
ji
dojjibru dodgeball
zu
de
dto date
do
dnattsu donuts
ba
bi
bru beer
bu
btsu boots
be
beddo bed
bo
bru ball
pa
pan bread
pi
piasu piercing
pu
purin pudding
pe
pengin penguin
po
poketto pocket
Examples: 1.
airurando
IRELAND
3.
anime
ANIME
2.
amerika
AMERICA
4.
aisukurmu
ICECREAM
Examples: 1.
ENGLAND
igirisu
3.
indo
INDIA
2.
itaria
ITALY
Examples: 1.
WHISKEY
uisuk uinn
3.
uirusu
VIRUS
2.
WEINER
Examples: 1.
epuron
APRON
3.
ejiputo
EGYPT
2.
AIR CONDITIONER
eakon
4.
erebt
ELEVATOR
Examples: 1.
kesutora
ORCHESTRA
3.
sutoraria
AUSTRALIA
2.
OMELETTE RICE
omuraisu
Examples:
kamera
CAMERA
1. 2.
kdo
CARD
3.
karend
CALENDAR
ka
4.
gasu
GAS
Examples: 1.
kisu
KISS
3.
GUITAR
git
ki
2.
khorud
KEY HOLDER
4.
kiui
KIWI
Examples: 1.
kurpu
CREPE
3.
gurpufurtsu
GRAPEFRUIT
ku
2.
kurisumasu
CHRISTMAS
4.
guratan
GRATIN
Examples:
kki
CAKE
1. 2.
baketsu
BUCKET
3.
gmu
GAME
ke
4.
raketto
RACKET
Examples:
kra
cola
1. 2.
coffee
3.
gorufu
Golf
ko
kh
4.
Gorilla
gorira
Examples:
soccer
1.
sakk
3.
skasu
circus
sa
2.
sandoicchi
Sandwich
4.
piza
pizza
Examples: 1.
shaw jsu
JUICE SHOWER
3.
jnzu
JEANS
shi
2.
4.
shbetto
SHERBET
Examples:
Skiing
1.
suk
3.
supein
Spain
su
2.
spu
Soup
4.
chzu
cheese
Examples:
serori
Celery
1. 2.
Sweater
3.
zero
ZERO
se
st
4.
jelly (Jello)
zer
Examples:
sda
SODA
1. 2.
SAUCE
3.
z
so
ELEPHANT
ssu
4.
zonbi
ZOMBIE
Examples:
taiya
TIRES
1. 2.
tabako
TOBACCO
3.
dansu
DANCE
ta
4.
dtsu
DARTS
Examples:
chzu
cheese
* both and are pronounced ji, but in most cases, is used. is only used in a few specific cases.
1. 2.
cheetah
3.
chiketto
ticket
chi
cht
4.
dojjibru
dodgeball
Examples: 1.
tsuna
tuna
* both and are pronounced zu. However, there are no examples for because it is not really used.
3.
tshatsu
T-shirt
tsu
2.
tsu
tour
4.
shtsu
sheets
Examples:
terebi
1.
TELEVISION
3.
dto
DATE
te
2.
TISSUES
tisshu
4.
dezto
DESSERT
Examples:
tsuto
TOAST
1. 2.
tonneru
TUNNEL
3.
doitsu
Germany
to
4.
dnattsu
DONUTS
Examples:
naifu
KNIFE
1. 2.
NURSE
3.
naiagara
NIAGARA
na
nsu
Examples:
news
1.
nysu
3.
nyjrando
new zealand
ni
2.
nyyku
new york
Examples: 1.
nunchaku
nunchucks
3.
kappundoru
cup of noodles
nu
2.
kan
canoe
Examples: 1.
nekutai
necktie
3.
nekkuresu
necklace
ne
2.
screw
neji
4.
tonneru
tunnel
Examples:
NOTEBOOK
1.
nto
3.
domino
DOMINOES
no
2.
sunbdo
SNOWBOARD
Examples:
HAMBURGER
1.
hanbg hamu
HAM
3.
pma
PERM
ha
2.
4.
PART-TIME JOB
baito
Examples:
hr
HERO
1. 2.
HEATER
3.
PIERCING
piasu bru
BEER
hi
ht
4.
Examples:
fku
FORK
1. 2.
PHILIPPINES
3.
PUDDING
purin
fu
firipin
4.
btsu
BOOTS
Examples: 1.
herikoput
HELICOPTER
3.
beddo
BED
he
2.
heddohon
HEADPHONES
4.
pengin
PENGUIN
Examples:
hsu
HOSE
1. 2.
hocchikisu
STAPLER
3.
bru
BALL
ho
4.
poketto
POCKET
Examples:
macchi
MATCH
1. 2.
APARTMENT BUILDING
3.
marakasu
MARACAS
ma
manshon
4.
majikku
MAGIC
Examples:
MIXER
1.
mikis minto
MINT
3.
misuter
MYSTERY
mi
2.
4.
mtobru
MEATBALL
Examples: 1.
FLYING SQUIRREL
musasabi gmu
GAME
3.
hamu
HAM
mu
2.
4.
HAMSTER
hamusut
Examples:
meron
MELON
1. 2.
mru
E-MAIL
3.
memo
MEMO
me
4.
mekishiko
MEXICO
Examples:
moppu
MOP
1. 2.
monsut
MONSTER
3.
motemote
POPULAR
mo
4.
monburan
MONTBLANC
Examples: 1.
yagi
GOAT
3.
kyanpu
CAMP
ya
2.
shbetto
SHERBET
4.
shanp
SHAMPOO
Examples:
yro
EURO
1. 2.
jsu
JUICE
3.
yunikn
UNICORN
yu
Examples:
yotto
YACHT
1. 2.
yy
YOYO
3.
yguruto
YOGURT
yo
4.
yroppa
EUROPE
Examples:
TRUMPET
1.
rappa rajio
RADIO
3.
raion
LION
ra
2.
4.
rmen
RAMEN
Examples: 1.
risu
SQUIRREL
3.
RIBBON
ribon
ri
2.
risaikuru
RECYCLE
4.
LIP CREAM (CHAPSTICK)
rippukurmu
Examples:
LURE
1.
ru
3.
rru
RULE
ru
2.
rub
RUBY
4.
bru
BEER
Examples:
reshipi
RECIPE
1. 2.
remon
LEMON
3.
ORANGE
orenji
re
4.
resutoran
RESTAURANT
Examples: 1.
DONKEY
roba
3.
robotto
ROBOT
ro
2.
roshia
RUSSIA
4.
HALLOWEEN
harowin
Examples: 1.
wani
ALLIGATOR
3.
hawai
HAWAII
wa
2.
ONE-PIECE (DRESS)
wanpsu
This katakana is not used in modern Japanese. Japanese telegrams were written all in katakana. The first computers in Japan (in the 1980s) also used all katakana. This character has fallen out of use since then because it was only used for the direct object particle, and now katakana is not used in that way. There are several other katakana characters that are not used anymore. An example is ,pronounced wi. Practically speaking, there is no reason that you need to memorize these katakana, as they have become obsolete. But now you know something that not all students of Japanese know!
wo
Examples: 1.
BREAD
pan
3.
meron
MELON
2.
zonbi
ZOMBIE
4.
pengin
PENGUIN
Double Consonants
Words that have double consonants are written with a small which indicates the short pause that you take when pronouncing these words. Take a look at the examples below and pay close attention to the difference in pronunciation.
kk ss tt pp
macchi MATCH
batto BAT
Practice
Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.
1. 2.
kappu
CUP
baggu
BAG
Practice (continued)
Practice writing the following words, paying close attention to double consonants.
3. 4. 5. 6.
TRUMPET
rappa batto
BAT BED
suicchi
SWITCH
beddo
7. 9.
8.
SLIPPERS
surippa
raketto
RACKET
kicchin
KITCHEN
Modified Syllables
When a katakana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
kya
gyu gyo
Modified Syllables
When a katakana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
sha
shu sho ja ju jo
Modified Syllables
When a katakana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
cha
nyu nyo
Modified Syllables
When a katakana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
hya
byu byo
Modified Syllables
When a katakana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
pya
pyu pyo
mya
myu myo
Modified Syllables
When a katakana has a small or next to it, they are pronounced together as a single syllable. The small or are about a quarter the size of a regular character, and should be written in the lower left corner of the practice square.
rya
ryu ryo
EXAMPLES
shatsu jazu
jazz
shirt
chance
cabbage camp
EXAMPLES
jogingu jsu
jogging juice
manshon meny
pajama
pajamas
mansion menu
LONG VOWELS
When writing in katakana, the symbol is used to represent a long vowel sound. This symbol extends the amount of time that you use to pronounce the vowel by two times. Practice writing the words below and listen to the audio to hear the pronunciation.
EXAMPLES
suk
pru
ski
gmu st
pool
game
kten
sweater curtain
fairu
file
vkaru
vocal
SHORTENED WORDS
A lot of foreign words are shortened in Japanese so that they are easier to say. Here are some examples of English words that have been shortened.
remote control personal computer digital camera air conditioner convenience store famiresu family restaurant konbini eakon dejikame pasokon
rimokon
HIRAGANA&KATAKANA
Some Japanese words are actually composed of both hiragana and katakana. This is because part of the word originally came from another country, while the other part was originally Japanese.
For example, (panya) is composed of the word (pan, bread), which came from Portuguese, and (ya) which means store in Japanese.
panya
bakery eraser
MIMETIC WORDS
Japanese has a lot of mimetic words. This category includes but is not limited to onomatopoeias (sound words). For example (wanwan) has the same meaning as bark or woof in English (the sound a dog makes). However, there are many other words that English does not have. A good example is (nikoniko). This word represents the action of smiling. Mimetic words in Japanese tend to repeat the same sound twice.
wanwan
bow-wow gorogoro piyopiyo sound of thunder tweet-tweet gokugoku sound of drinking nyny meow-meow
giggling smiling
shaking
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