ÿþThe word "kana" refers to hiragana and katakana collectively. Whereas kanji letters tend to represent entire words and have multiple pronounciations each, kana letters are phonetic (they form words based on pronounciation) like our own alphabet. Each letter always has the same pronounciation (a convinience Engish lacks).



Katakana is the most important to know if you're learning Japanese to play games. Katakana is usually used for 

<ul>

  <li>Character names

  <li>Item names

  <li>Some place names (especially towns)

  <li>Some skill names

  <li>A pronounciation guide for skill names that aren't already katakana.

  <li>Other words in English

  <li>Words in some other non-Japanese language

  <li>Emphesis

  <li>Sound effects

</ul>



In both alphabets, the vowels are always pronounced like so:<br>

a = f<b>a</b>ther<br>

i = s<b>ee</b>n<br>

u = <b>oo</b>ps<br>

e = d<b>ay</b><br>

o = <b>o</b>pen<br><br>



Katakana letters have a less complicated appearence than hiragana, so it's easier to remember which letter is which. However, since the words katakana are needed to form are so unlike Japanese, there some rules you have to know for forming those.



<a href="katakana01.gif">Here's an easily downloaded chart for study</a>.<br><br>



<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="1" width=560>

<tr><td colspan=6>Basic Kana</td></tr>

<tr>

 <td valign="top" align="center">&#12450;<br>

a<br></td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12452;<br>

i<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12454;<br>

u<br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12456;<br>

e<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12458;<br>

o<br>

            </td><td rowspan=10 valign=top>Here are all the basic letters. Watch out for the <b>bolded</b> ones because they break the pattern. Keep in mind that some people will romanize shi, chi, tsu, and fu as si, ti, tu, and hu respectively, but I won't be.<br><br>



Here are some example words:<br>

<b>ß0ë0¯0 : miruku : milk</b> - Note how there are no kana that are just a consonant with no vowel. So when you write English(/Greek/Latin/Spanish/whatever) words in kana, you're going to have to throw in extra vowels. With some exceptions (described below), always use a "u" for this. (The logic here is that the "u" often isn't pronounced even in real Japanese words.) Since there isn't an L in Japanese, use the R instead.<br>

<b>ï0ë0Ä0 : warutsu : waltz</b> - This is just to show that tsu is sometimes used for "ts" and "tz" sounds.<br>

<b>¿0¤0È0 : taito : tight</b> - Use combination of vowels to form vowel sounds that don't exist on their own. In this case, "ai" for the "eye" sound. Also note the "to" on the end. Since there isn't a "tu" sound, you use "to" when you want T with no vowel after it.<br>



<b>Ä0ü0 : tsu- : two</b> : Sometimes tsu is used when you need an actual "tu" sound (not a "t" sound). We'll go into the ü0 more below.<br></td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12459;<br>



ka<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12461;<br>

ki<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12463;<br>

ku<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12465;<br>



            ke<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12467;<br>

            ko<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12469;<br>



sa<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12471;<br>

            <b>shi</b><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12473;<br>

            su<br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12475;<br>

            se<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12477;<br>

            so<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>



            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12479;<br>

ta<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12481;<br>

            <b>chi</b><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12484;<br>

            <b>tsu</b><br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12486;<br>

            te<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12488;<br>

            to<br>

            </td>

          </tr>



          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12490;<br>

            na<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12491;<br>

            ni<br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12492;<br>

            nu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12493;<br>

            ni<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12494;<br>

            no<br>



            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12495;<br>

ha<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12498;<br>

            hi<br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12501;<br>

            <b>fu</b><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12504;<br>

            he<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12507;<br>



            ho<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12510;<br>

ma<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12511;<br>



            mi<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12512;<br>

            mu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12513;<br>

            me<br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12514;<br>

            mo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12516;<br>

ya<br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12518;<br>

yu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12520;<br>



            yo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">       

 &#12521;<br>

ra<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12522;<br>



ri<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12523;<br>

ru<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12524;<br>

re<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12525;<br>



ro<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12527;<br>

wa<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top" align="center"><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><br>

            <br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><font

 color="#33ccff">&#12530;<br>

 wo</font><br>

            </td>



          </tr>

        </tbody>

      </table>

<br>

<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="1" width=560>



        <tbody><tr><td colspan=6>Tenten and maru mark</td></tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12460;<br>

ga<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12462;<br>

gi<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12464;<br>



gu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12466;<br>

ge<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12468;<br>

go<br>

            </td><td rowspan=5>The G/Z/D/B groups are just K/S/T/H with a little quotation mark thing in the corner. (It's called a tenten, dakuten, or nigori; don't feel obliged to remember that.) Here's a way to help you remember which is which: Make a K sound outloud right now. Now make a G sound. You'll notice your mouth does the same thing for both except you use your vocal cords for the G. S/Z and T/D follow the same patter, and H/B is the one left over. :3<br><br>



P is H with a circle mark (maru mark or handakuten).<br><br>



<b>Ï0í0ë0É0 : harorudo : Harold</b> - Use the "do" for a "d" sound, just like with to.<br>



<b>Ô0ü0Á0Ñ0¤0 : pi-chipai : peach pie</b> - Yum.</td>

          </tr>



          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12470;

 <br>

za<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12472;<br>

            <b>ji</b><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12474;<br>



zu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12476;<br>

ze<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12478;<br>

zo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>



          <tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12480;<br>

da<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><font color="#33ccff">

 &#12482;<br>

ji</font><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center"><font color="#33ccff">

 &#12485;<br>

dzu</font><br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12487;<br>

de<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12489;<br>

do<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>



            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12496;<br>

ba<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12499;<br>

bi<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12502;<br>

bu<br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12505;<br>

be<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12508;<br>

bo<br>

            </td>

          </tr><tr>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12497;<br>

pa<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12500;<br>



pi<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12503;<br>

pu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12506;<br>

pe<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" align="center">&#12509;<br>



po<br>

            </td></tr>

        </table>

    <br>  

<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="1" width=560>

<tr><td colspan=5>Weirdo things (not official term!)</td></tr>

<tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12531;<br>

 n<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top" colspan=2>         &#12540;<br>

            <small>see note</small><br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top" colspan=2>&#12483;<br>

 <small>see note</small><br><br>

            </td>

          </tr><tr><td colspan=5>The ü0 has no sound of its own but is just used to make the previous vowel sound longer. It has some special uses in katakana. It can be romanized by repeating the vowel or with a hyphen. I use a hyphen because that's how it's you type it with an IME.<br><br>



The Ã0 is usually used before K, T, or P (sometimes others). It's used to shorten the vowel sound. It's romanized by repeating the next consonent.<br><br>



<b>Ö0é0Ã0¯0 : burakku : black</b> - the Ã0 is used often for "ck"<br>

<b>¯0ë0ü0 : kuru- : clue</b> - If you want to make sure the "u" sound DOES get pronounced, use ü0.<br>

<b>«0ü0¿0ü00: ka-ta- : carter</b> - Long "a" is used for all of the following sounds: "ar", "er", and "ir" or "ur" that sounds like "er".<br>

<b>½0ü0¹0 : so-su : source</b> - Long "o" is used for the "or" sound.<br></td></tr></table>

<br>

<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="1" width=560>

        <tbody><tr><td colspan=4>Combination Letters I</td></tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12461;

&#12515;<br>



            kya<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12461;

&#12517;<br>

 kyu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12461;

&#12519;<br>

 kyo<br>



            </td><td rowspan=11 valign="top">These syllables are a combination of one of the "-i" letters plus a miniature version of one of the "y-" letters. Make sure you don't use the big Y's or you'll get kiya instead of kya, etc.<br><br>



These are all one syllable each. Not pronounced like kia, etc.<br><br>



You'll also see the italicized ones romanized like this:<br>

sya syu syo<br>

tya tyu tyo<br>

zya zyu zyo</td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12471;

&#12515;<br>

            <i>sha</i><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12471;

&#12517;<br>

 <i>shu</i><br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12471;

&#12519;<br>

 <i>sho</i><br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12481;&#12515;<br>

            <i>cha<br>



            </i></td>

            <td valign="top">&#12481;

&#12517;<i><br>

 chu</i><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12481;

&#12519;<i><br>

 cho</i><br>

            </td>

          </tr>



          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12491;

&#12515;<br>

nya<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12491;

&#12517;<br>

 nyu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12491;

&#12519;<br>



 nyo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12498;

&#12515;<br>

hya<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12498;

&#12517;<br>



 hyu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12498;

&#12519;<br>

 hyo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12511;

&#12515;<br>



mya<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12511;

&#12517;<br>

 myu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12511;

&#12519;<br>

 myo<br>

            </td>



          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12522;

&#12515;<br>

rya<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12522;

&#12517;<br>

 ryu<br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top">&#12522;

&#12519;<br>

 ryo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12462;

&#12515;<br>

gya<br>

            </td>



            <td valign="top">&#12462;

&#12517;<br>

 gyu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12462;

&#12519;<br>

 gyo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>



            <td valign="top">&#12472;

&#12515;<br>

            <i>ja</i><br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12472;

&#12517;<br>

 <i>ju<br>

            </i></td>

            <td valign="top">&#12472;

&#12519;<br>

            <i> jo</i><br>



            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12499;

&#12515;<br>

bya<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12499;

&#12517;<br>

 byu<br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12499;

&#12519;<br>

 byo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>

          <tr>

            <td valign="top">&#12500;

&#12515;<br>

pya<br>



            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12500;

&#12517;<br>

 pyu<br>

            </td>

            <td valign="top">&#12500;

&#12519;<br>

 pyo<br>

            </td>

          </tr>



        </tbody><br>

      </table>

<br>

<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="1" width=560>

<tr><td colspan=6>Combination Letters II</td></tr>

<tr><td>ô0¡0<br>va</td><td>ô0£0<br>vi</td><td>ô0<br>vu</td><td>ô0§0<br>ve </td><td>ô0©0<br>vo</td><td rowspan=9 valign="top">The gray letters are already in the charts above and are only placed here for reference.<br><br>These letter combinations are only in katakana (or hiragana being used as katakana) so as to better allow non-Japanese words to be writting in kana.<br><br>



<b>ô0¡0ó0Ñ0¤0¢0 : vanpaia : vampire</b> - B can also be used for V.<br>

<b>¦0©0ü0 : wo- : war</b> - Don't use the "wo" listed above; it's only for hiragana.<br>

<b>Õ0§0¤0¹0 : feisu : faith/face</b> - S or Z works for TH.<br>

<b>Õ0©0ü0¹0 : fo-su : force</b><br>

<b>Ç0£0ü0×0 : di-pu : deep</b></td></tr>

<tr><td>Õ0¡0<br>fa</td><td>Õ0£0<br>fi</td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>Õ0<br>fu</font></td><td>Õ0§0<br>fe </td><td>Õ0©0<br>fo</td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¿0<br>ta</font></td><td>Æ0£0<br>ti</td><td>Æ0å0<br>tu</td><td>   <font color=#BBBBBB>Æ0<br>te</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>È0<br>to</font></td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>À0<br>da</font></td><td>Ç0£0<br>di</td><td>Ç0å0<br>du</td><td>   <font color=#BBBBBB>Ç0<br>de</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>É0<br>do</font></td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>Á0ã0<br>cha</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>Á0<br>chi</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>Á0å0<br>chu</font></td><td>Á0§0<br>che</td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>Á0ç0<br>cho</font></td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>·0ã0<br>sha</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>·0<br>shi</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>·0å0<br>shu</font></td><td>·0§0<br>she</td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>·0ç0<br>sho</font></td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¸0ã0<br>ja</font>  </td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¸0<br>ji</font>  </td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¸0å0<br>ju</font></td><td>¸0§0<br>je </td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¸0ç0<br>jo</font></td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>ï0<br>wa</font></td><td>¦0£0<br>wi</td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¦0<br>(w)u</font></td><td>¦0§0<br>we </td><td>¦0©0<br>wo</td></tr>

<tr><td><font color=#BBBBBB>ä0<br>ya</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>¤0<br>(y)i</font></td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>æ0<br>yu</font></td><td>¤0§0<br>ye </td><td><font color=#BBBBBB>è0<br>yo</font></td></tr>

</table>

<br>



<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" border="1" width=560>

<tr><td colspan=10>Converting English Pronounciations into Katakana</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=3>Vowels</td><td></td><td colspan=6>Consonents</td></tr>

<tr><td rowspan=3>A</td><td>pl<b>ay</b></td><td>ei, e-, e</td><td></td><td><b>b</b>at </td><td>b </td><td><b>m</b>ilk</td><td>m   </td><td><b>w</b>imp</td><td>w, u</td></tr>

<tr><td>c<b>a</b>t </td><td>a*, a    </td><td></td><td><b>c</b>at </td><td>k </td><td>bu<b>m</b>p</td><td>n   </td><td><b>y</b>es </td><td>y, i</td></tr>

<tr><td>b<b>a</b>ll</td><td>a, a-    </td><td></td><td><b>c</b>ity</td><td>s </td><td><b>n</b>ail</td><td>n   </td><td><b>z</b>it </td><td>z   </td></tr>

<tr><td rowspan=2>E</td><td>b<b>e</b>t </td><td>e*, e    </td><td></td><td><b>ch</b>ip</td><td>ch</td><td><b>p</b>ill</td><td>p   </td><td colspan=2>Mixed</td></tr>

<tr><td>b<b>ee</b>p</td><td>i-, i    </td><td></td><td><b>d</b>ate</td><td>d </td><td><b>qu</b>it</td><td>ku  </td><td><b>ar</b>  </td><td>a-, aru   </td></tr> 

<tr><td rowspan=2>I</td><td><b>i</b>ce </td><td>ai       </td><td></td><td><b>f</b>ish</td><td>f </td><td><b>r</b>ip </td><td>r   </td><td><b>air</b> </td><td>ea-, ea</td></tr>

<tr><td>p<b>i</b>ll</td><td>i*, i    </td><td></td><td><b>g</b>oat</td><td>g </td><td><b>s</b>ip </td><td>s   </td><td><b>er</b>  </td><td>a-, eru</td></tr>

<tr><td rowspan=2>O</td><td>p<b>o</b>p </td><td>a, a-    </td><td></td><td><b>g</b>ist</td><td>j </td><td><b>sh</b>ip</td><td>sh  </td><td><b>ear</b> </td><td>ia, ia-</td></tr>

<tr><td>p<b>o</b>pe</td><td>o, o-, ou</td><td></td><td><b>h</b>at </td><td>h </td><td><b>t</b>in </td><td>t   </td><td>d<b>ir</b>t</td><td>a-</td></tr>

<tr><td rowspan=3>U</td><td>p<b>u</b>p </td><td>a        </td><td></td><td><b>j</b>ump</td><td>j </td><td><b>th</b>in</td><td>s, t</td><td>f<b>ire</b></td><td>aia, aia-</td></tr>

<tr><td>p<b>oo</b>p</td><td>u-, u    </td><td></td><td><b>k</b>eep</td><td>k </td><td><b>th</b>at</td><td>z, t</td><td>f<b>ur</b> </td><td>a-</td></tr>

<tr><td>c<b>u</b>te</td><td>yu-      </td><td></td><td><b>l</b>ip </td><td>r </td><td><b>v</b>an </td><td>v, b</td><td>c<b>ure</b></td><td>yua-, yua, yuaru</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=10>This chart is to show you how to make up for the limits of katakana. For the sound made by bolded letter, use the katakana corresponding to the romaji to the right. In some cases, there are multiple "correct" options. I listed my recommendations first.<br><br>



If you need si/ci/thi, using ·0 (shi) is fine. Same for zi/thi and ¸0. Don't worry about trying to invent a "si" or "zi". :3<br><br>



* = Ã00<br>

- = ü0<br><br>



Don't use Ã0 before R, F, V, Y, W, or vowel.<br><br>



About M: If it comes before B or P, you can use an N (ó0) for M, because N's are pronounced like M's in that case. (Say "bunp" and see if it doesn't sound like "bump"!)



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