Learn Katakana: the complete guide for Japanese beginners
All 46 characters on one page, each with pronunciation, stroke-by-stroke writing tips and the everyday borrowed words you'll spot all over Japan.
Characters you mark as learned turn blue.
Same sounds, new shapes
Katakana covers exactly the same 46 sounds as Hiragana, so if you've already learned Hiragana you know how every character here is pronounced. The job now is matching each sound to a new, sharper shape. Most Katakana come from simplified pieces of Kanji, which is why each entry below shows its original Kanji too.
Hiragana
Smooth, curvy lines. Used for native Japanese words, grammar endings and particles.
Katakana
Sharp, angular lines. Used for borrowed words, foreign names, sound effects and emphasis.
Kanji
The busy-looking characters that came from Chinese. Each one carries a meaning.
The vowels
Same five sounds as Hiragana, just a sharper, more angular look. Once these click, every other row follows the pattern.
Katakana アa
Like the "ah" in "father".
ア is the first character in every Katakana chart, and you'll see it in loads of borrowed words, from アニメ to アイス.
How to write ア
Start with a horizontal line that turns down into a short hook to the left. Then, from just under the middle of that line, draw a stroke that curves down to the left.
Words using ア
- アイスaisu - ice cream
- アメリカamerika - America
- アニメanime - anime
Don't mix it up: マ has the same top, but its second stroke is a short dash going right, not a long tail going left.
Katakana イi
Like the "ee" in "feet".
イ is the left half of the Kanji 伊, which it comes from.
How to write イ
Draw a short diagonal line down to the left. From its middle, draw a straight vertical line down.
Words using イ
- イギリスigirisu - the UK
- インクinku - ink
- イヤホンiyahon - earphones
Katakana ウu
Like the "oo" in "flew", with relaxed lips.
ウ and う look alike: both have a dash on top and a curve underneath.
With a small ィ or ェ after it, ウ makes the sounds wi and we, as in ウェブ (web).
How to write ウ
Start with a short vertical dash at the top. Then a short vertical line on the left. Finish with a horizontal line across the top that turns and sweeps down to the left.
Words using ウ
- ウイスキーuisukī - whisky
- ウールūru - wool
- ウェブwebu - the web
Don't mix it up: ワ is ウ without the dash on top. フ has neither the dash nor the little left line.
Katakana エe
Like the "e" in "elephant".
エ looks exactly like the Kanji 工 (craft). Context tells you which one it is.
How to write エ
Draw a short horizontal line at the top, then a vertical line down from its middle, then a longer horizontal line along the bottom.
Words using エ
- エアコンeakon - air conditioner
- エレベーターerebētā - lift, elevator
- エンジンenjin - engine
Katakana オo
Like the "o" in "so".
オ and お share the same cross shape on the left, which makes this pair easy to link.
How to write オ
Draw a horizontal line. Cross it with a vertical line that ends with a small hook to the left. Finish with a diagonal stroke from the crossing point down to the left.
Words using オ
- オレンジorenji - orange
- オムレツomuretsu - omelette
- オフィスofisu - office
The K row
Add a K sound to each vowel. Two small strokes (dakuten) turn every one into a G sound, so カ becomes ガ.
Katakana カka
Like the "ca" in "car".
カ is almost identical to か, just without the extra dash. It also looks like the Kanji 力 (power).
How to write カ
Draw a horizontal line that turns down and ends with a hook to the left. Then a vertical line that crosses it and curves down to the left.
Words using カ
- カメラkamera - camera
- カレーkarē - curry
- カードkādo - card
Katakana キki
Like the word "key".
キ is き without the curve at the bottom.
How to write キ
Draw two horizontal lines, the bottom one a little longer. Then a vertical line that crosses both, slanting slightly.
Words using キ
- キスkisu - kiss
- キロkiro - kilo
- キャンプkyanpu - camping
Katakana クku
Like the "coo" in "cool".
ク is one of the most common Katakana. You'll see it in クラス, クッキー and many more.
How to write ク
Draw a short diagonal line down to the left. From its top, draw a horizontal line to the right that turns and sweeps down to the left.
Words using ク
- クラスkurasu - class
- クッキーkukkī - cookie
- クリスマスkurisumasu - Christmas
Don't mix it up: ク, ケ and タ all start the same way. ケ has a flat top line with a tail from its middle, and タ has an extra dash inside.
Katakana ケke
Like the letter K, "kay".
A small ヶ also appears in counting words, read "ka", as in 3ヶ月 (sankagetsu, three months).
How to write ケ
Draw a short diagonal line down to the left. From its middle, draw a horizontal line to the right. Finish with a long stroke from the middle of that line sweeping down to the left.
Words using ケ
- ケーキkēki - cake
- ケチャップkechappu - ketchup
- ケースkēsu - case
Katakana コko
Like the "co" in "Coca-Cola".
Picture こ with its right ends joined up and you get コ.
How to write コ
Draw a horizontal line that turns straight down at the right. Then a horizontal line along the bottom to close the shape.
Words using コ
- コーヒーkōhī - coffee
- コーラkōra - cola
- コンビニkonbini - convenience store
Don't mix it up: ロ is a fully closed box with an extra line on the left. ユ has a longer bottom line that sticks out past the side.
The S row
Home to Katakana's most famous trouble pair: シ and ツ. Take this row slowly.
Katakana サsa
Like the "sa" in "satin".
サ looks a bit like the grass radical 艹 you'll meet later in Kanji.
How to write サ
Draw a horizontal line. Cross it with a short vertical line on the left. Finish with a longer line on the right that crosses it and curves down to the left.
Words using サ
- サラダsarada - salad
- サッカーsakkā - football
- サイズsaizu - size
Katakana シshi
Like the word "she".
Like し, there is no "si". Add dakuten and you get ジ (ji).
How to write シ
Draw two short dashes on the left, one above the other, slanting down to the right. Finish with a long stroke that starts at the bottom left and sweeps up to the right.
Words using シ
- シャツshatsu - shirt
- シャワーshawā - shower
- システムshisutemu - system
Don't mix it up: シ has its dashes stacked on the left and its long stroke sweeps UP. ツ has its dashes across the top and its long stroke sweeps DOWN.
Katakana スsu
Like the name "Sue".
ス is one of the easiest to spot: it looks like a little running person.
How to write ス
Draw a horizontal line that turns sharply and sweeps down to the left. Then a short diagonal dash from its middle down to the right.
Words using ス
- スープsūpu - soup
- スキーsukī - skiing
- スマホsumaho - smartphone
Don't mix it up: ヌ has a similar first stroke, but its second stroke crosses right through it.
Katakana セse
Like the word "say".
セ and せ look very alike. セ just has one fewer stroke.
How to write セ
Draw a horizontal line that turns down into a small hook. Then a vertical line on the left that comes down and curves along the bottom to the right.
Words using セ
- セーターsētā - jumper, sweater
- セールsēru - sale
- センターsentā - centre
Katakana ソso
Like the "so" in "soda".
ソ is short and simple, which is exactly why it's easy to confuse.
How to write ソ
Draw a short dash at the top left, slanting down to the right. Then a long stroke from the top right sweeping down to the left.
Words using ソ
- ソファsofa - sofa
- ソースsōsu - sauce
- ソフトsofuto - software
Don't mix it up: ソ has its dash on top and its long stroke goes DOWN. ン has its dash on the left and its long stroke sweeps UP.
The T row
Same pattern as Hiragana: ta, chi, tsu, te, to. The small ッ (a small ツ) doubles the next consonant.
Katakana タta
Like the "ta" in "tall", said short.
タ looks like the Kanji 夕 (evening). It's ク with an extra dash inside.
How to write タ
Draw a short diagonal line down to the left. From its top, a horizontal line that turns and sweeps down to the left. Finish with a short dash inside, going down to the right.
Words using タ
- タクシーtakushī - taxi
- タオルtaoru - towel
- タイtai - Thailand
Katakana チchi
Like the "chee" in "cheese".
チ comes from the Kanji 千 (thousand), and still looks a lot like it.
How to write チ
Draw a short stroke at the top from right to left. Then a horizontal line across the middle. Finish with a vertical line from the top stroke down, curving to the left.
Words using チ
- チーズchīzu - cheese
- チームchīmu - team
- チケットchiketto - ticket
Don't mix it up: テ has two separate horizontal lines at the top and no slanted stroke.
Katakana ツtsu
Like the "tsu" in "tsunami".
ツ comes from 川 (river): three strokes flowing down.
A small ッ doubles the next consonant, as in ベッド (beddo, bed).
How to write ツ
Draw two short dashes along the top, slanting down to the right. Finish with a long stroke from the top right sweeping down to the left.
Words using ツ
- ツアーtsuā - tour
- ツインtsuin - twin room
- シャツshatsu - shirt
Don't mix it up: ツ has its dashes across the top and its long stroke sweeps DOWN, like a river flowing. シ has its dashes on the left and sweeps UP.
Katakana テte
Like the "te" in "ten".
Don't confuse テ with the Japanese postal mark 〒.
How to write テ
Draw a short horizontal line at the top, then a longer one below it. Finish with a vertical line from the middle of the second line, curving down to the left.
Words using テ
- テレビterebi - TV
- テストtesuto - test
- テニスtenisu - tennis
Katakana トto
Like the word "toe".
ト and と both have a short vertical line with something coming off it.
How to write ト
Draw a vertical line. From its middle, draw a short dash down to the right.
Words using ト
- トイレtoire - toilet
- トマトtomato - tomato
- トーストtōsuto - toast
The N row
Short, simple shapes. Watch ヌ and ネ, which have a few more strokes than their neighbours.
Katakana ナna
Like the last "na" in "banana".
ナ is the left part of な on its own.
How to write ナ
Draw a horizontal line. Then a vertical line that crosses it and curves down to the left.
Words using ナ
- ナイフnaifu - knife
- バナナbanana - banana
- ナンバーnanbā - number
Don't mix it up: メ has two strokes that cross like an X. ナ's horizontal line is flat.
Katakana ニni
Like the word "knee".
ニ is the same shape as the Kanji 二 (two).
How to write ニ
Draw a short horizontal line, then a longer one below it.
Words using ニ
- ニュースnyūsu - news
- テニスtenisu - tennis
- ニットnitto - knitwear
Katakana ヌnu
Like the word "new".
ヌ is rare in everyday words, so it's easy to forget. Give it extra practice.
How to write ヌ
Draw a horizontal line that turns sharply and sweeps down to the left. Then a short stroke that crosses through its middle, going down to the right.
Words using ヌ
- ヌードルnūdoru - noodles
- カヌーkanū - canoe
- ヌガーnugā - nougat
Don't mix it up: ス's second stroke starts from the first stroke; ヌ's second stroke crosses right through it.
Katakana ネne
Like the word "nay".
ネ is the Kanji radical for "spirit" (礻) that you'll see in words like 神社 (shrine).
How to write ネ
Start with a short dash at the top. Then a horizontal line that turns and sweeps down to the left. Add a vertical line down the middle, and finish with a short dash to the right.
Words using ネ
- ネクタイnekutai - tie
- ネットnetto - internet
- ネックレスnekkuresu - necklace
Katakana ノno
Like the word "no".
ノ is a single, simple stroke, the easiest character in the chart.
How to write ノ
One stroke: a curve from the top right sweeping down to the left.
Words using ノ
- ノートnōto - notebook
- ノックnokku - knock
- ピアノpiano - piano
The H row
フ is a soft "fu", not "hu". Dakuten turns this row into B, and the small circle (handakuten) into P: ハ, バ, パ.
Katakana ハha
Like the "ha" in "hard".
ハ looks like the Kanji 八 (eight). It sounds "ha" in a laugh: ハハハ!
How to write ハ
Draw a short stroke down to the left, then a separate stroke down to the right.
Words using ハ
- ハンバーガーhanbāgā - hamburger
- ハンカチhankachi - handkerchief
- ハートhāto - heart
Katakana ヒhi
Like the word "he".
ヒ is the right half of the Kanji 比, which it comes from.
How to write ヒ
Draw a short horizontal line going right. Then a vertical line on the left that comes down and turns right along the bottom.
Words using ヒ
- ヒーターhītā - heater
- ヒーローhīrō - hero
- コーヒーkōhī - coffee
Katakana フfu
A soft, breathy "fu", made with both lips (no teeth).
It sits between "hoo" and "foo". Blow gently as if cooling soup.
With small vowels after it, フ makes fa, fi, fe and fo: ファ, フィ, フェ, フォ.
How to write フ
One stroke: a horizontal line that turns and sweeps down to the left.
Words using フ
- フランスfuransu - France
- フォークfōku - fork
- フルーツfurūtsu - fruit
Don't mix it up: ワ has an extra line on the left, and ラ has an extra line on top.
Katakana ヘhe
Like "hey".
ヘ and へ are basically identical. One less thing to learn!
How to write ヘ
One stroke: a short line up to the right, then a longer line down to the right, like a small mountain.
Words using ヘ
- ヘリコプターherikoputā - helicopter
- ヘアhea - hair
- ヘルメットherumetto - helmet
Katakana ホho
Like the "ho" in "hold".
ホ looks like the Kanji 木 (tree) with its bottom strokes separated.
How to write ホ
Draw a horizontal line. Cross it with a vertical line that ends with a small hook. Finish with a short stroke on the left going down-left and one on the right going down-right.
Words using ホ
- ホテルhoteru - hotel
- ホットドッグhottodoggu - hot dog
- ホームhōmu - platform
The M row
Katakana マma
Like the "ma" in "mama".
マ is a common start for loanwords, from マスク to マンガ.
How to write マ
Draw a horizontal line that turns and sweeps down to the left. Then a short dash from its middle going down to the right.
Words using マ
- マスクmasuku - mask
- マンガmanga - manga
- マラソンmarason - marathon
Don't mix it up: ム points the other way: its main stroke goes down and then turns right along the bottom.
Katakana ミmi
Like the word "me".
ミ comes from 三 (three). Three short strokes, just tilted.
How to write ミ
Draw three short dashes, one below the other, each slanting down to the right.
Words using ミ
- ミルクmiruku - milk
- ミスmisu - mistake
- ミュージックmyūjikku - music
Katakana ムmu
Like the "moo" of a cow.
ム is the shape you see in many Kanji, like 私 (I).
How to write ム
Draw a stroke that goes down to the left and then turns right along the bottom. Finish with a short dash near its right end.
Words using ム
- ゲームgēmu - game
- ハムhamu - ham
- ムードmūdo - mood
Katakana メme
Like the "me" in "met".
メ comes from the Kanji 女 (woman), and you'll see it at the start of メール and メニュー.
How to write メ
Draw a long stroke from the top right down to the left. Then a short stroke that crosses it, going down to the right.
Words using メ
- メールmēru - email
- メニューmenyū - menu
- メロンmeron - melon
Don't mix it up: ノ is just the first stroke of メ on its own.
Katakana モmo
Like the "mo" in "more".
モ looks like も with the curve straightened out.
How to write モ
Draw two horizontal lines, the bottom one a little longer. Then a vertical line from the top that comes down and turns right along the bottom.
Words using モ
- モデルmoderu - model
- メモmemo - memo
- モーターmōtā - motor
The Y row
Only three characters. Small versions (ャ ュ ョ) combine with other sounds to make kya, shu, cho and more.
Katakana ヤya
Like the "ya" in "yacht".
ヤ looks like や without the small dash.
How to write ヤ
Draw a line that goes right and then hooks down to the left. Then a long diagonal stroke from the top crossing through it.
Words using ヤ
- タイヤtaiya - tyre
- ダイヤモンドdaiyamondo - diamond
- ヤードyādo - yard
Katakana ユyu
Like the word "you".
A small ュ makes combined sounds like ミュ (myu) in ミュージック.
How to write ユ
Draw a horizontal line that turns straight down at the right. Then a longer horizontal line along the bottom that sticks out past the side.
Words using ユ
- ユニフォームyunifōmu - uniform
- ユーモアyūmoa - humour
- ユーロyūro - euro
Don't mix it up: コ's bottom line stops at the corner. ユ's bottom line runs right past it.
Katakana ヨyo
Like the "yo" in "yoga".
ヨ looks like a backwards capital E.
How to write ヨ
Draw a horizontal line that turns straight down. Add a horizontal line across the middle, then one along the bottom.
Words using ヨ
- ヨーグルトyōguruto - yoghurt
- ヨットyotto - yacht
- ヨーロッパyōroppa - Europe
The R row
The Japanese R is a light tap of the tongue. Foreign L sounds are written with this row too, so "lemon" becomes レモン.
Katakana ラra
A light, tapped "ra".
Words with an L sound in English use this row, like ライオン (lion).
How to write ラ
Draw a short horizontal line at the top. Then a horizontal line below it that turns and sweeps down to the left.
Words using ラ
- ラジオrajio - radio
- ラーメンrāmen - ramen
- ライオンraion - lion
Don't mix it up: フ is ラ without the top line.
Katakana リri
A light, tapped "ree".
リ and り look almost the same. リ is just straighter.
How to write リ
Draw a short vertical line on the left. Then a longer vertical line on the right that curves down to the left.
Words using リ
- リモコンrimokon - remote control
- リストrisuto - list
- リボンribon - ribbon
Katakana ルru
A light, tapped "roo".
Many English words ending in L or LL end in ル, like ホテル (hotel).
How to write ル
Draw a line on the left that curves down to the left. Then a vertical line on the right that flicks up to the right at the bottom.
Words using ル
- ルールrūru - rule
- ルビーrubī - ruby
- ホテルhoteru - hotel
Katakana レre
A light, tapped "reh".
レ is just one stroke, the right half of ル.
How to write レ
One stroke: a vertical line down that turns and flicks up to the right.
Words using レ
- レモンremon - lemon
- レストランresutoran - restaurant
- レシートreshīto - receipt
Katakana ロro
A light, tapped "roh".
ロ looks exactly like the Kanji 口 (mouth). Katakana ロ is usually a little smaller.
How to write ロ
Draw a vertical line on the left. Then a horizontal line across the top that turns down. Close the box with a line along the bottom.
Words using ロ
- ロボットrobotto - robot
- ロックrokku - rock music
- ロンドンrondon - London
The W row and ン
The final stretch. ヲ is very rare in Katakana, and ン completes the chart.
Katakana ワwa
Like the "wa" in "wander".
ワ is at the start of lots of borrowed words, from ワイン to ワールドカップ.
How to write ワ
Draw a short vertical line on the left. Then a horizontal line across the top that turns and sweeps down to the left.
Words using ワ
- ワインwain - wine
- ワイシャツwaishatsu - dress shirt
- ワールドカップwārudo kappu - World Cup
Don't mix it up: ウ has an extra dash on top. フ has no line on the left.
Katakana ヲwo (o)
Pronounced "o", just like オ.
ヲ is almost never used. It only appears where Hiragana would use the particle を, such as on some signs or in text written all in Katakana.
How to write ヲ
Draw two horizontal lines, one above the other. Finish with a long stroke from the right end of the top line sweeping down to the left.
Don't mix it up: ヲ is フ with a line through the middle. ヨ has three lines and a straight side.
Katakana ンn
Like the "n" in "bun", or "ng" before k and g.
ン never starts a word, but it ends plenty of them.
How to write ン
Draw a short dash at the top left, slanting down to the right. Finish with a long stroke that starts at the bottom left and sweeps up to the right.
Words using ン
- パンpan - bread
- ペンpen - pen
- レモンremon - lemon
Don't mix it up: ン's long stroke sweeps UP from the bottom. ソ's long stroke goes DOWN from the top.
Modified Katakana
The same tricks you learned for Hiragana work here too. Katakana also has a few extra combinations that exist only to write foreign sounds.
Dakuten ゛
Two small strokes at the top right turn K into G, S into Z, T into D and H into B. カ (ka) becomes ガ (ga).
Handakuten ゜
A small circle turns H into P. ハ (ha) becomes パ (pa).
Yōon ャ ュ ョ
Small ャ, ュ and ョ blend with the character before them, as in ジュース (jūsu, juice).
Chōonpu ー
This dash is everywhere in Katakana. It stretches the vowel before it, so you hold the sound for twice as long. Written vertically, it becomes a vertical line.
Sokuon ッ
A small ツ doubles the consonant that follows it, which creates a short pause.
Extended Katakana
Japanese doesn't naturally have sounds like fa, ti or v. Katakana creates them by adding small vowels (ァ ィ ゥ ェ ォ), or dakuten on ウ to make ヴ. You'll see these in names and newer borrowed words.