Hiragana and Katakana Chart: A Beginner’s Guide to the Japanese Writing System
Learning Japanese begins with understanding its writing system. Hiragana and katakana are the two phonetic alphabets that every beginner should master before moving on to kanji. This guide explains how both kana systems work, provides an easy-to-read chart, and shares practical ways to start reading and writing Japanese.
What Are Hiragana and Katakana?
Hiragana and katakana are kana, or Japanese syllabic characters. Each character usually represents one sound, such as か (ka) or ミ (mi). Unlike the alphabet used in English, kana generally represent complete syllables rather than individual consonants and vowels.
The two systems represent the same basic sounds but serve different purposes. Hiragana is commonly used for grammar, word endings, and native Japanese words. Katakana is mainly used for foreign loanwords, names, emphasis, and some technical or onomatopoeic expressions.
Basic Hiragana and Katakana Chart
The chart below pairs the most important basic hiragana and katakana characters. Study each row by sound rather than trying to memorize the symbols randomly.
| Sound | Hiragana | Katakana | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | あ | ア | あさ / アジア |
| i | い | イ | いす / イタリア |
| u | う | ウ | うみ / ウール |
| e | え | エ | えき / エアコン |
| o | お | オ | おちゃ / オレンジ |
| ka–ko | か き く け こ | カ キ ク ケ コ | かさ / カメラ |
| sa–so | さ し す せ そ | サ シ ス セ ソ | すし / ソファ |
| ta–to | た ち つ て と | タ チ ツ テ ト | たこ / テレビ |
| na–no | な に ぬ ね の | ナ ニ ヌ ネ ノ | なに / ノート |
| ha–ho | は ひ ふ へ ほ | ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ | はな / ホテル |
| ma–mo | ま み む め も | マ ミ ム メ モ | みみ / メニュー |
| ya–yo | や ゆ よ | ヤ ユ ヨ | やま / ヨガ |
| ra–ro | ら り る れ ろ | ラ リ ル レ ロ | さくら / レストラン |
| wa–wo | わ を | ワ ヲ | わたし / ワイン |
| n | ん | ン | ほん / パン |
The examples are included to help you recognize each script in context. Some sounds, such as し (shi), ち (chi), つ (tsu), and ふ (fu), do not match a simple English spelling exactly, so listening practice is useful.
When to Use Hiragana
Hiragana is the rounded-looking script often introduced first. It is used for grammatical particles, verb and adjective endings, and many Japanese words that are not written with kanji. For example, the sentence わたしは学生です contains hiragana alongside kanji.
Hiragana also appears above or beside difficult kanji as furigana, helping readers understand pronunciation. Learning it gives you an immediate way to read beginner-level Japanese materials.
When to Use Katakana
Katakana has sharper, more angular shapes and is frequently used for words borrowed from other languages. Examples include コンピューター (computer), コーヒー (coffee), and テレビ (television).
Katakana can also highlight a word, represent certain sounds, or write foreign names. Because loanwords are common in menus, advertisements, and everyday conversation, recognizing katakana is an important part of Japanese reading.
Dakuten, Handakuten, and Combined Sounds
Small marks change some kana sounds. Dakuten, the two short strokes in ぎ or ガ, can turn k sounds into g sounds, s sounds into z sounds, and so on. The small circle in ぱ or パ changes h sounds into p sounds.
Small や, ゆ, and よ combine with characters such as き to create sounds like きゃ (kya). A small っ indicates a doubled consonant, as in がっこう (school), while long vowels are especially important in katakana words.
A Simple Study Strategy
Start with the five vowels, then learn one consonant row at a time. Write each character while saying its sound aloud, and review old rows before adding new ones. Short, consistent sessions are usually more effective than trying to memorize the entire chart in one day.
After learning the basic forms, practice dakuten, handakuten, combined sounds, and small っ. Read simple words instead of studying isolated symbols forever. This helps connect recognition, pronunciation, and meaning.
Practice Kana with Type Japanese
Typing is another effective way to reinforce the Japanese writing system. Type Japanese for iOS and Type Japanese for Android can help you practice kana input while becoming more familiar with Japanese sounds and spelling.
Use the chart as a reference, then practice reading and typing a few words every day. With regular review, hiragana and katakana become the foundation for learning vocabulary, grammar, and kanji.
Conclusion
Hiragana and katakana are essential building blocks of Japanese. Hiragana supports grammar and native words, while katakana helps you read loanwords and foreign names. Learn the sounds systematically, practice them in real words, and use regular typing and reading exercises to build confidence.