Learn Katakana

Learn Japanese katakana and build your own katakana chart at the same time.

Learn it the same way you learned hiragana.

Katakana are used mainly for foreign words. The Japanese use a lot of them, especially in their daily conversation.

Use the same quick and easy method that I showed you while learning the hiragana chart.

The sounds are the same as in hiragana. It's just a different symbol.

Once again I will give them to you five symbols at a time in groups of three.
This means that I will first write the five sounds phonetically, then
underneath I will write the same five sounds in katakana and finally
underneath the katakana I will write the five sounds in romaji.

In this way you will memorise them one set at a time or five symbols at a time, making ten sets.

First Step

  1. Look at the first katakana symbol and pronounce it, as it is written, phonetically, just above it.
  2. Go on to the next Japanese symbol and do the same, until you have done all five symbols.
  3. Repeat this three times.     

     ah  ee  oo  eh  oh    

     ア　 イ　 ウ　 エ　  オ

        a       i       u      e        o

Now practice writing these Japanese symbols.

Don’t worry about them being perfect.

This trying to write them will help you to differentiate, remember and recognise them when you see them.

At this point you are not learning to write Japanese.

Second Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

     kah  kee  koo keh  koh

      カ　   キ　   ク　  ケ　   コ

          ka          ki           ku        ke          ko


Third Step

  1. Without looking at the above katakana symbols, look at the below two sets of romaji symbols and write the katakana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

                 a     i    u     e     o           

                 ka   ki   ku   ke   ko

Fourth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

     sah  shee   soo  seh  soh

       サ　    シ　    ス　   セ　  ソ

          sa           shi            su           se        so

Fifth Step

  1. Without looking at the above katakana symbols, look at the below three sets of romaji symbols and write the katakana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so   

Sixth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

     nah  nee   noo  neh  noh

      ナ　   ニ　    ヌ　   ネ　   ノ

           na           ni           nu         ne          no


Seventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below four sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne    no

Eighth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.
  2. Note that these are closer to an "L" sound, rather than an "R" sound.

     rah  ree   roo  reh  roh

      ラ　   リ　   ル　  レ　  ロ

           ra          ri           ru         re         ro

Ninth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below five sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

Tenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.
  2. Notice that where you would expect a "HOO" sound, it is actually a "FOO" sound.

     hah  hee   foo  heh  hoh

      ハ　   ヒ　    フ　   ヘ　  ホ

          ha          hi            fu          he         ho


Eleventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below six sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

Twelfth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

     tah  chee   tsoo  teh  toh

      タ　   チ　     ツ　    テ　  ト

          ta          chi            tsu            te        to


Thirteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below seven sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

Fourteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.
  2. The "o" of this character indicates the particle "o," as in hon o tabemasu.

     wah       oh      ehn

     ワ　　　　ヲ        ン

         wa                     o                n


Fifteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below eight sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

                 wa    o     n

Sixteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

     yah       yoo      yoh

    ャ　     ュ　    ョ

           ya                  yu                yo


Seventeenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below nine sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

                 wa    o     n

                 ya           yu            yo

Eighteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

     mah  mee   moo  meh  moh

     マ　     ミ　      ム　   メ　    モ

          ma           mi               mu         me            mo


Nineteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below ten sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

                 a     i      u      e     o           

                 ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

                 sa    shi   su    se    so 

                 na    ni    nu    ne   no

                 ra     ri    ru     re    ro

                 ha    hi    fu     he   ho

                 ta    chi   tsu    te    to

                 wa    o     n

                 ya           yu            yo

                 ma   mi   mu   me   mo 

First Step

  1. Look at the first katakana symbol and pronounce it, as it is written, phonetically, just above it.
  2. Go on to the next Japanese symbol and do the same, until you have done all five symbols.
  3. Repeat this three times.     

ah  ee  oo  eh  oh    

ア　 イ　 ウ　 エ　  オ

 a       i      u       e        o

Now practice writing these Japanese symbols.

Don’t worry about them being perfect.

This trying to write them will help you to differentiate, remember and recognise them when you see them.

At this point you are not learning to write Japanese.

Second Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

kah  kee  koo keh  koh

カ　    キ　  ク　   ケ　   コ

ka            ki         ku        ke           ko


Third Step

  1. Without looking at the above katakana symbols, look at the below two sets of romaji symbols and write the katakana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

a     i    u     e     o           

ka   ki   ku   ke   ko

Fourth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

sah shee  soo seh  soh

サ　  シ　   ス   セ　   ソ

sa        shi          su       se         so

Fifth Step

  1. Without looking at the above katakana symbols, look at the below three sets of romaji symbols and write the katakana.
  2. Check above to see how many you got correct.
  3. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember.
  4. Start again at the beginning.
  5. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes. On any mistakes return to the beginning and start again.      

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so   

Sixth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

nah  nee   noo  neh  noh

ナ　    ニ　    ヌ　   ネ　   ノ

na            ni           nu          ne         no

Seventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below four sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne    no

Eighth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.
  2. Note that these are closer to an "L" sound, rather than an "R" sound.

rah  ree   roo  reh  roh

ラ　   リ　    ル　  レ　  ロ

ra          ri             ru         re        ro

Ninth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below five sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e      o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

Tenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.
  2. Notice that where you would expect a "HOO" sound, it is actually a "FOO" sound.

hah  hee   foo  heh  hoh

ハ　    ヒ　    フ　  ヘ　   ホ

ha            hi            fu        he          ho


Eleventh Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below six sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

Twelfth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

tah  chee   tsoo  teh  toh

タ　    チ　     ツ　    テ　  ト

ta           chi            tsu            te       to


Thirteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below seven sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

Fourteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.
  2. The "o" of this character indicates the particle "o," as in hon o tabemasu.

wah       oh      ehn

ワ　　　　ヲ       ン

wa                     o              n


Fifthteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below eight sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

wa    o     n

Sixteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

yah       yoo      yoh

ャ　     ュ　    ョ

 ya                  yu                yo

Seventennth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below nine sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

wa    o     n

ya           yu           yo

Eighteenth Step

  1. Repeat First Step on the new set of katakana symbols.

mah  mee   moo  meh  moh

マ　     ミ　      ム　   メ　    モ

 ma           mi               mu         me            mo


Nineteenth Step

  1. Now do the fifth step and without looking, see if you can do the katakana for the below ten sets of romaji symbols.
  2. Correct and practice any that were incorrect or that you couldn't remember and start again at the beginning.
  3. Do this until you can write them all without any mistakes.     

a     i      u      e     o           

ka    ki    ku    ke    ko

sa    shi   su    se    so 

na    ni    nu    ne   no

ra     ri    ru     re    ro

ha    hi    fu     he   ho

ta    chi   tsu    te    to

wa    o     n

ya           yu            yo

ma   mi   mu    me   mo

So that completes all of the basic katakana symbols.

For a few extra sounds, like "B" and "P," plus a few others, the Japanese use some of the symbols we've covered and just add an additional small symbol to it. See the next page for this.