Katakana
The katakana syllabary — used for loanwords, foreign names, onomatopoeia, and emphasis
Can read and write katakana for loanwords, foreign names, and onomatopoeia
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
コーヒーをください。
Coffee, please.
テレビを見ます。
I watch television.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
カタカナ — Katakana
Katakana has the same sounds as hiragana but angular shapes. It is used for:
- Loanwords: コーヒー (coffee), パソコン (personal computer), テレビ (television)
- Foreign names: マイク (Mike), ロンドン (London)
- Onomatopoeia: ワンワン (woof-woof), ニャーニャー (meow-meow)
- Emphasis: like italics in English
Long vowels use the chōon mark ー: コーヒー (kōhī), ケーキ (kēki = cake).
Extra sounds for foreign words: ティ(ti), ディ(di), ファ(fa), フィ(fi), ヴァ(va). These don't exist in native Japanese.
Common pairs to confuse: シ(shi)/ツ(tsu), ソ(so)/ン(n) — pay attention to stroke direction!
コーヒーをください。
Coffee, please.
コーヒー (kōhī, from English 'coffee') + を (object particle) + ください (please give me)
テレビを見ます。
I watch television.
テレビ (terebi, from English 'television') — loanwords always use katakana
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises