Learn Katakana: Chart, Loanwords and Practice
Learn the 46 basic katakana, compare lookalikes, and check loanword spellings with a flexible practice plan.
What katakana is for
Katakana and hiragana have corresponding basic readings, but their written uses differ. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords and many foreign place and personal names. It also appears in emphasis, sound effects and other writing choices.
A name can have an established or preferred spelling. Confirm it with the person or organization rather than converting its English letters with a universal rule. The official loanword notation guidance distinguishes commonly used spellings from forms closer to a source-language sound or spelling.
The 46-character chart
The chart shows the 46 basic katakana in row order. Extended combinations are covered below; the basic chart is not every katakana spelling you will meet.
Compare each character with its hiragana counterpart, but learn the individual shape instead of using angularity as a script rule. For more reference, see the katakana topic hub.
Katakana loanword patterns
Katakana spelling is not a reversible code for English. Learn the established Japanese word, check its meaning and listen to a model. The following are spelling observations, not conversion rules.
Check the whole word
Compare キャット (きゃっと, kyatto, cat), バス (ばす, basu, bus) and デスク (ですく, desuku, desk). Do not strip vowels and assume the remaining English letters prove the Japanese meaning.
The long-vowel mark (ー)
A long vowel is normally written with ー in loanwords. Compare コーヒー (こーひー, kōhī, coffee), カード (かーど, kādo, card) and スーパー (すーぱー, sūpā, supermarket). Learn the spelling with the word. The official notation guidance also lists customary exceptions.
Source spelling does not give one conversion
Check a dictionary or course model for an unfamiliar word instead of replacing an English letter group with a guessed kana. Different established words can use different spellings.
Use Japanese audio for the r-row
レモン (れもん, remon, lemon) uses the r-row. Its Japanese pronunciation is not established by placing an English L and R halfway between each other. Listen to the Japanese word model.
Some words have spelling variants
The notation guidance includes extended combinations such as ヴァ (va, a kana sound label). Writing that form does not guarantee an English-like V pronunciation. Check the established spelling and audio for the particular word.
Confirm the Japanese meaning
Reading a word aloud is a useful check of its kana. It does not establish its meaning or source language. Confirm both with a dictionary or your course material.
Try a short menu task
Choose three katakana items from a menu with a reliable translation or audio model. Read them, check them and return to the items you missed. This is a practice task, not a claim that menus outperform another study method.
A flexible three-part practice plan
Each part can take several sessions. Review before adding more characters, and repeat a part when you need it. Knowing hiragana does not guarantee a katakana completion time.
Part 1: first 21 characters
Study the a, ka, sa and ta rows plus ン (n): 21 characters. Compare the shapes and audio, then try a shuffled recognition drill.
Part 2: next 15 characters
Review the first set, then add the na, ha and ma rows: 15 more characters, 36 in total.
Part 3: last 10 characters
Add the ya row (three), ra row (five), and ワ (wa) and ヲ (wo): ten more, 46 in total. Review lookalikes and try short words with checked readings. Continue with long vowels and small kana.
The confusables
Compare these sets against a numbered chart. Shape nicknames can help recall, but they do not replace the actual stroke model.
シ (shi) and ツ (tsu)
Compare the short marks and the numbered long stroke in the model. Do not choose by the overall outline alone.
ン (n) and ソ (so)
Compare both strokes with the model rather than treating these characters as interchangeable.
ク (ku) and ワ (wa)
Both have two strokes. Compare the first stroke and its connection with the second. ワ is not one continuous box-like stroke.
ナ (na) and メ (me)
Compare each shape with the numbered NHK kana chart. Practice recalling the two characters separately after looking at them side by side.
Extended katakana combinations
Loanword notation uses combinations beyond the 46 basic characters. The smaller following kana is part of the spelling. These romanizations are kana labels, not English pronunciation instructions.
- ファ, フィ, フェ, フォ: fa, fi, fe, fo.
- ヴァ, ヴィ, ヴ, ヴェ, ヴォ: va, vi, vu, ve, vo.
- ティ, ディ: ti, di.
- チェ, ジェ: che, je.
- ウィ, ウェ, ウォ: wi, we, wo.
Check the established form for the word you need. A spelling choice does not by itself prove how every speaker pronounces it.
How to practice katakana in context
Use words from a source you can check. Try reading first, then compare the spelling, audio and Japanese meaning. Keep a list of the words or characters you miss.
Signs and menus
Choose a short sign or menu item with a reliable reading or translation. Do not assume the whole sign uses katakana or that every word is borrowed from English.
Product labels
Read a short label and check the word against its context. Brand spellings and ordinary vocabulary can follow different conventions.
Write your name
Check your preferred or established katakana name spelling before practicing it. Ask the person concerned when writing another person's name rather than applying an English-letter rule.
Common questions
Should I learn katakana before or after hiragana?+
Many beginner courses start with hiragana, then add katakana. Follow the order your course needs and review both scripts. Their basic charts have corresponding readings, but each set of shapes needs practice.
Why does katakana look so different from hiragana?+
They are two distinct kana scripts. Learn each character from a checked model rather than assuming all katakana are angular or all hiragana are looping.
Can I live in Japan knowing only hiragana?+
Hiragana alone does not cover everyday written Japanese. Katakana appears in loanwords, names and other uses, while signs and documents also use kanji. The reading task and available support matter more than knowing one chart.
Which katakana are the hardest to tell apart?+
Pairs worth comparing include シ (shi) and ツ (tsu), ン (n) and ソ (so), ク (ku) and ワ (wa), and ナ (na) and メ (me). These romanizations name kana sounds. Check a numbered chart and practice the pairs you miss.
Is it true that katakana is harder than hiragana?+
Difficulty varies by learner and task. If you can recognize the chart but cannot understand a katakana word, check its established spelling, audio and Japanese meaning. A word need not be English, and sounding it out does not prove its meaning.
Next step: start building vocabulary, or jump to the full learning roadmap. If you want to see both hiragana and katakana drilled in one app, start learning with Inku.
