What is Katakana? Understanding Japan's Second Writing System

March 23, 20258 min read

Introduction to Katakana

Katakana (カタカナ) is one of the three main writing systems used in Japanese, alongside hiragana and kanji. Like hiragana, katakana is a phonetic script where each character represents a specific sound rather than a meaning. However, katakana serves different purposes in Japanese writing and has a distinct, angular appearance that makes it easily recognizable.

Katakana consists of 46 basic characters, mirroring the sound system of hiragana but with a more geometric, straight-lined style. While hiragana is used primarily for native Japanese words and grammatical elements, katakana is mainly used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, emphasis, and onomatopoeia (sound words).

History and Development

Like hiragana, katakana was developed around the 9th century during the Heian period. While hiragana evolved from the cursive, flowing style of kanji, katakana was created by taking fragments or parts of kanji characters.

Katakana was primarily developed by Buddhist monks as a shorthand for reading and annotating Chinese texts. The monks would use parts of complex kanji to create simplified characters that could be written quickly in the margins of documents as pronunciation guides.

For example, the katakana character 'カ' (ka) was derived from the left side of the kanji '加' (ka, meaning "add"). Similarly, 'ト' (to) comes from the top-right portion of the kanji '止' (to, meaning "stop").

Over time, katakana evolved into a standardized script used alongside hiragana and kanji in Japanese writing. As Japan began to adopt more foreign words in the modern era, particularly after opening to the West in the 19th century, katakana became the designated script for writing these loanwords.

The 46 Katakana Characters

Katakana, like hiragana, consists of 46 basic characters representing various syllables in Japanese. Here is the complete katakana chart:

Basic Katakana Chart

aiueo
-
a

i

u

e

o
k
ka

ki

ku

ke

ko
s
sa

shi

su

se

so
t
ta

chi

tsu

te

to
n
na

ni

nu

ne

no
h
ha

hi

fu

he

ho
m
ma

mi

mu

me

mo
y
ya
 
yu
 
yo
r
ra

ri

ru

re

ro
w
wa
   
wo
n
n

Modified Katakana (with Dakuten "゛" and Handakuten "゜")

aiueo
g
ga

gi

gu

ge

go
z
za

ji

zu

ze

zo
d
da

ji

zu

de

do
b
ba

bi

bu

be

bo
p
pa

pi

pu

pe

po

Katakana also has special combinations for foreign sounds that don't exist in traditional Japanese. These include additional vowel combinations and consonant sounds that are necessary for accurately representing foreign words:

Special Katakana for Foreign Sounds

Extended Vowels:

ファ (fa)
フィ (fi)
フェ (fe)
フォ (fo)
ウィ (wi)
ウェ (we)

Additional Consonant Sounds:

ティ (ti)
ディ (di)
トゥ (tu)
ドゥ (du)
シェ (she)
ジェ (je)

How Katakana is Used in Japanese

Katakana serves several specific functions in Japanese writing:

  • Foreign Loanwords: The primary use of katakana is for writing foreign loanwords, particularly those borrowed from Western languages. Examples include:
    • コンピューター (konpyūtā) - computer
    • スマートフォン (sumātofon) - smartphone
    • アイスクリーム (aisukurīmu) - ice cream
  • Scientific and Technical Terms: Many scientific, medical, and technical terms are written in katakana, even when they have Japanese equivalents.
  • Emphasis: Similar to how italics are used in English, katakana is sometimes used to emphasize certain words or phrases in a text.
  • Onomatopoeia: Sound effects and mimetic words (words that mimic sounds or actions) are often written in katakana. For example:
    • ワンワン (wan-wan) - woof-woof (dog barking)
    • ドキドキ (doki-doki) - heartbeat sound (also means nervous or excited)
  • Animal and Plant Names: Many animal and plant names, especially non-native species, are written in katakana.
  • Brand Names and Foreign Places: Foreign company names, product brands, and place names are typically written in katakana.
  • Telegrams and Legal Documents: Historically, katakana was used for official documents like telegrams due to its clear, distinct characters.

The use of katakana for foreign words often involves adapting the pronunciation to fit Japanese phonology, which can make some words challenging to recognize. For example, "McDonald's" becomes マクドナルド (makudonarudo) in Japanese.

Katakana vs. Hiragana

While katakana and hiragana represent the same sounds, they differ in appearance and usage:

Katakana

  • Angular, geometric appearance
  • Used for foreign loanwords
  • Used for emphasis
  • Used for technical and scientific terms
  • Used for onomatopoeia and sound effects
  • Used for foreign names and places

Hiragana

  • Cursive, flowing appearance
  • Used for native Japanese words
  • Used for grammatical elements
  • First script taught to Japanese children
  • Used for words without kanji or with uncommon kanji
  • Used as furigana (reading aids for kanji)

To learn more about hiragana and its uses, check out our detailed guide:What is Hiragana? A Complete Guide for Beginners

For a more detailed comparison between hiragana and katakana, visit:Hiragana vs Katakana: Key Differences Explained

Learning Katakana: Tips and Strategies

After mastering hiragana, learning katakana is a natural next step in your Japanese language journey. Here are some effective approaches to learning katakana:

Learning Strategy

  1. Compare with hiragana: Since katakana represents the same sounds as hiragana, making connections between the two scripts can be helpful.
  2. Focus on the differences: Pay special attention to characters that look similar but represent different sounds, such as シ (shi) and ツ (tsu), or ソ (so) and ン (n).
  3. Learn in groups: Study related characters together, such as those in the same row (e.g., アイウエオ) or those with similar shapes.
  4. Use mnemonics: Create visual associations or stories to help remember each character's shape and sound.
  5. Identify English loanwords: Practice by trying to read katakana words that are borrowed from English, as you'll often be able to guess their meaning.
  6. Practice regularly: Consistent practice is key. Try reading katakana words daily, even if you don't understand all of them at first.
  7. Write by hand: Writing katakana characters by hand helps reinforce memory and improves recognition.

Practice Resources

Here are some valuable resources to help you practice and master katakana:

Conclusion

Katakana is an essential component of the Japanese writing system, particularly in modern Japanese with its many loanwords and technical terms. While it may seem challenging at first, especially with some characters looking similar, consistent practice will help you become proficient.

With the resources provided in this guide and regular practice, you can master katakana and take another significant step in your Japanese language learning journey.

Related Articles

What is Hiragana? A Complete Guide for Beginners

Learn about hiragana, the most basic Japanese writing system used for native words and grammar.

Read Article

Hiragana vs Katakana: Key Differences Explained

Understand when to use each Japanese script and how they differ in appearance and function.

Read Article