Table of Contents

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

shi

chi

tsu

fu

Chart 2: Voiced Syllables

g
z
d
b
p

ji

ji

u
zu

Chart 3: Modified Syllables

The following katakana are simply modifications of the katakana
listed in the first two figures. They are pronounced as one syllable,
and the , , or is written smaller than normal.

ya

yu

sha

shu

yo

cha

ja

chu

ju

sho

cho

jo

Chart 4: Additional Modified Syllables

In order to come closer to the correct pronunciation of foreign
words, these combinations were created. Notice that they use a
smaller ,,,or to modify the sound of the katakana
before it.

sh

d
f

ch
t

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

nyjrando
New Zealand

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

musasabi
flying squirrel

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

wanpsu
one piece (dress)

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

zer
jelly (jello)

zo

zonbi
zombie

da

dtsu
darts

ji

dojjibru
dodgeball

zu

de

dto
date

do

dnattsu
donuts

ba

baito
part-time job

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.

3.

2.

4.

airurando
IRELAND

amerika
AMERICA

anime
ANIME

aisukurmu
ICECREAM


Examples:

1.
igirisu

ENGLAND

2.
itaria
ITALY

3.
indo
INDIA


Examples:

1.
uisuk

WHISKEY

2.
uinn

WEINER

3.
uirusu
VIRUS


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

epuron
APRON

eakon

AIR CONDITIONER

ejiputo
EGYPT

erebt

ELEVATOR


Examples:

1.
kesutora
ORCHESTRA

2.
omuraisu

OMELETTE RICE

3.
sutoraria
AUSTRALIA


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

kamera
CAMERA

kdo
CARD

karend
CALENDAR

gasu
GAS

ka


Examples:
1.

3.

2.

4.

kisu
KISS

khorud
KEY HOLDER

git

GUITAR

kiui
KIWI

ki


Examples:

ku

1.

3.

2.

4.

kurpu
CREPE

kurisumasu
CHRISTMAS

gurpufurtsu
GRAPEFRUIT

guratan
GRATIN


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

kki
CAKE

baketsu
BUCKET

gmu
GAME

raketto
RACKET

ke


Examples:

1.
kra

3.

2.

4.

cola

kh

coffee

gorufu
Golf

gorira

Gorilla

ko


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

sakk
soccer

sandoicchi
Sandwich

skasu
circus

piza
pizza

sa


Examples:

shi

1.

3.

2.

4.

shaw

SHOWER

jsu
JUICE

jnzu
JEANS

shbetto
SHERBET


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

suk

Skiing

spu
Soup

supein
Spain

chzu
cheese

su


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

serori
Celery

st

Sweater

zero
ZERO

zer

jelly (Jello)

se


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

sda
SODA

ssu

SAUCE

ELEPHANT

zonbi
ZOMBIE

so


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

taiya
TIRES

tabako

TOBACCO

dansu
DANCE

dtsu
DARTS

ta


Examples:

chi

* both and are pronounced ji, but in most cases, is used. is only used in a few specific cases.

1.

3.

2.

4.

chzu

cheese

cht

cheetah

chiketto
ticket

dojjibru
dodgeball


Examples:

tsu

* both and are pronounced zu. However, there are no examples for because it is not really used.

1.

3.

2.

4.

tsuna
tuna

tsu
tour

tshatsu
T-shirt

shtsu
sheets


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

terebi

TELEVISION

tisshu

TISSUES

dto
DATE

dezto

DESSERT

te


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

tsuto
TOAST

tonneru
TUNNEL

doitsu
Germany

dnattsu
DONUTS

to


Examples:

1.
naifu
KNIFE

2.
nsu

NURSE

3.
naiagara
NIAGARA

na


Examples:

1.
nysu
news

2.
nyyku
new york

ni

3.
nyjrando
new zealand


Examples:

1.
nunchaku
nunchucks

2.
kan
canoe

nu

3.
kappundoru
cup of noodles


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

nekutai
necktie

neji

screw

nekkuresu
necklace

tonneru
tunnel

ne


Examples:

1.
nto

NOTEBOOK

2.
sunbdo
SNOWBOARD

3.
domino

DOMINOES

no


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

hanbg

HAMBURGER

hamu
HAM

pma
PERM

baito

PART-TIME JOB

ha


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

hr
HERO

ht

HEATER

piasu

PIERCING

bru
BEER

hi


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

fku
FORK

firipin

PHILIPPINES

purin

PUDDING

btsu
BOOTS

fu


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

herikoput
HELICOPTER

heddohon
HEADPHONES

beddo
BED

pengin
PENGUIN

he


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

hsu
HOSE

hocchikisu
STAPLER

bru
BALL

poketto
POCKET

ho


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

macchi
MATCH

manshon

APARTMENT BUILDING

marakasu
MARACAS

majikku
MAGIC

ma


Examples:

mi

1.

3.

2.

4.

mikis
MIXER

minto
MINT

misuter
MYSTERY

mtobru
MEATBALL


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

musasabi

FLYING SQUIRREL

gmu
GAME

hamu
HAM

hamusut

HAMSTER

mu


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

meron
MELON

mru
E-MAIL

memo
MEMO

mekishiko
MEXICO

me


Examples:

mo

1.

3.

2.

4.

moppu
MOP

monsut
MONSTER

motemote
POPULAR

monburan
MONTBLANC


Examples:
1.

3.

2.

4.

yagi
GOAT

shbetto
SHERBET

kyanpu
CAMP

shanp
SHAMPOO

ya


Examples:

1.
yro
EURO

2.
jsu
JUICE

3.
yunikn
UNICORN

yu


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

yotto
YACHT

yy
YOYO

yguruto
YOGURT

yroppa
EUROPE

yo


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

rappa

TRUMPET

rajio
RADIO

raion
LION

rmen
RAMEN

ra


Examples:

ri

1.

3.

2.

4.

risu

SQUIRREL

risaikuru
RECYCLE

ribon

RIBBON

rippukurmu

LIP CREAM (CHAPSTICK)


Examples:

1.
ru

3.

2.

4.

LURE

rub
RUBY

rru
RULE

bru
BEER

ru


Examples:

1.

3.

2.

4.

reshipi
RECIPE

remon
LEMON

orenji

ORANGE

resutoran
RESTAURANT

re


Examples:
1.

3.

2.

4.

roba

DONKEY

roshia
RUSSIA

robotto
ROBOT

harowin

HALLOWEEN

ro


Examples:
1.
wani

ALLIGATOR

2.
wanpsu

ONE-PIECE (DRESS)

3.
hawai
HAWAII

wa

wo

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!


Examples:
1.

3.

2.

4.

pan

BREAD

zonbi
ZOMBIE

meron
MELON

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

kappu
CUP

batto
BAT

beddo
BED

macchi
MATCH

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.

7.

8.

9.

rappa

TRUMPET

batto
BAT

beddo
BED

suicchi
SWITCH

kicchin
KITCHEN

raketto
RACKET

surippa

SLIPPERS

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

kyu
kyo
gya

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

chu
cho
nya

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

hyu
hyo
bya

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

shirt

jazu

jazz

kyabetsu

cabbage

kyanpu

camp

chansu

chance

EXAMPLES

jogingu

jogging

pajama

pajamas

jsu

manshon
meny

juice

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

ski

gmu

game

pru

st

kten

pool

sweater
curtain

MORE MODIFIED SYLLABLES

Another way that syllables can be modified using katakana is by adding
a small ,,, or after a katakana. This is done in an attempt to
come closer to the actual pronunciation of the words that they are
borrowing from other languages. Refer to the chart for the full list.

fairu

file

pt

party

chekku

check

fku

fork

ofisu

vkaru

office

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.

rimokon

remote control
pasokon

personal computer
dejikame

digital camera
eakon

air conditioner
konbini

convenience store
famiresu
family restaurant

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

keshigomu

bakery
eraser

kanadajin
Canadian

basunoriba
bus station

doitsugo
German (language)

rmaji
romanization
of japanese

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

gorogoro

piyopiyo

gokugoku

nyny
meow-meow

bow-wow
sound of thunder
tweet-tweet
sound of drinking

MIMETIC WORDS
(CONTINUED)

kusukusu

giggling

nikoniko

smiling

buruburu

shaking
iraira

become irritated
berabera

fluently, chatter
tonton

knock-knock

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