Chart

To help you remember the characters, each one is paired with a mnemonic to make learning easier. Click on any Katakana character to learn more about its pronunciation, story, and stroke order!

Dakuten and Handakuten

Just like Hiragana, Katakana characters can be modified with Dakuten (゛) and Handakuten (゜) marks to create additional sounds. For example, "カ" (ka) becomes "ガ" (ga) with a Dakuten, and "ハ" (ha) becomes "パ" (pa) with a Handakuten. These modifications allow for voiced and semi-voiced sounds in words borrowed from other languages, expanding the range of Katakana’s use. By understanding these transformations, you'll be better equipped to read and write loanwords and names in Japanese.

Yōon

Yōon in Katakana follows the same principle as in Hiragana. A smaller "ャ" (ya), "ュ" (yu), or "ョ" (yo) is combined with a character to create blended sounds like "キャ" (kya) or "シュ" (shu). This is especially common in representing sounds from foreign languages that are not native to Japanese. Yōon combinations are crucial for accurately representing these sounds, making it important to grasp their use when reading and writing in Katakana.