Learning Guide
Katakana

Katakana カタカナ is a Japanese writing system used to write words of foreign origin, foreign proper names, onomatopoeia, and animal sounds. Katakana is one of three Japanese writing systems, along with hiragana and kanji.

カタカナ

Introduction

Katakana were developed in Japan in the 9th century, originally to facilitate the reading of Buddhist texts imported from China. However, their use has evolved over time, and katakana are now used to write foreign words and sounds that have no equivalent in hiragana or kanji.

Katakana also consist of 46 characters, each representing a Japanese syllable. The characters are similar to hiragana, but they have more angular and upright strokes. Katakana are often written in large sizes and are used to draw attention to particular words or to give texts a modern, western look.

Although katakana are mainly used to write foreign words, they also have cultural and emotional connotations for Japanese people. Katakana characters are often used to express excitement, surprise, and modernity, and are often associated with Japanese popular culture.

Syllabary