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Katakana Chart & Quiz

Master all 46 katakana characters with audio pronunciation and quiz mode.

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	a	i	u	e	o

k
s
t
n
h
m
y
r
w
n

💡 Click any character to hear pronunciation. Katakana is used for: foreign words (コーヒー = coffee), foreign names, and emphasis.

Dakuten (濁点) - Voiced Sounds

g
z
d
b
p

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About Katakana Chart & Quiz

What Is Katakana?

Katakana (カタカナ) is one of the three Japanese writing systems, consisting of 46 basic characters that represent the same sounds as hiragana. Katakana characters are distinguished by their sharp, angular strokes compared to the more flowing curves of hiragana.

This writing system is essential for reading foreign loan words, brand names, country names, and scientific terminology in Japanese. For Nepali students living or working in Japan, katakana appears everywhere from restaurant menus to medicine labels.

When Is Katakana Used?

Katakana is primarily used for words borrowed from other languages (gairaigo). Common examples include コンピューター (computer), テレビ (television), and レストラン (restaurant). It is also used for onomatopoeia, animal and plant names in scientific contexts, and for emphasis similar to italics in English.

In daily life in Japan, you will encounter katakana on product packaging, signs, menus, and official documents. Recognizing katakana quickly is a practical survival skill for Nepali workers in Japan.

Katakana for Loan Words and Foreign Names

One of the most useful aspects of katakana is that many words are borrowed from English, making them recognizable once you can read the script. Words like ホテル (hotel), バス (bus), and アパート (apartment) are immediately understandable to English-aware Nepali speakers.

Your own name will be written in katakana in Japan. For example, Nepali names are transliterated into katakana on your residence card, bank documents, and workplace records. Learning katakana helps you recognize your name in official Japanese contexts.

Katakana in the JFT-Basic and JLPT Exams

Both the JFT-Basic and JLPT N5/N4 exams include katakana words in reading passages, listening scripts, and vocabulary questions. The JFT-Basic frequently tests katakana in everyday scenarios like shopping, transportation, and workplace communication.

Exam questions may ask you to identify the correct katakana spelling of a loan word or match a katakana word to its meaning. Practicing with our quiz mode builds the recognition speed you need under exam time pressure.

Katakana Tips for Nepali Speakers

Nepali speakers should watch out for katakana pairs that look very similar, such as シ (shi) and ツ (tsu), or ソ (so) and ン (n). The stroke direction is the key difference, so pay close attention to our stroke demonstrations for these confusing pairs.

A helpful strategy is to learn katakana alongside the English loan words they represent. When you associate カレー with curry or ネパール with Nepal, the characters become much easier to remember in context.

How to Use Katakana Chart & Quiz

Browse the katakana chart and tap any character to hear its audio pronunciation.

Switch to quiz mode to test your katakana recognition.

Answer the questions by matching characters to their readings.

Review your mistakes and practice the characters you got wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to learn katakana? +

Katakana is essential for reading foreign loan words, which make up a significant portion of modern Japanese vocabulary. In daily life in Japan, you will encounter katakana on product labels, restaurant menus, transportation signs, and workplace documents. The JFT-Basic exam also tests katakana reading ability.

What is the difference between katakana and hiragana? +

Both scripts represent the same 46 sounds, but they serve different purposes. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar, while katakana is used for foreign loan words, emphasis, and technical terms. Katakana characters have sharper, more angular shapes compared to the rounded curves of hiragana.

How many katakana characters are there? +

There are 46 basic katakana characters, matching the 46 hiragana characters exactly. Including dakuten and handakuten variations plus combination characters, the total extends to over 100. Modern katakana also includes special combinations like ティ (ti) and ファ (fa) for sounds not native to Japanese.

How is katakana used in daily life in Japan? +

Katakana appears constantly in Japanese daily life. You will see it on food packaging, medicine instructions, train station signs for foreign place names, restaurant menus for Western dishes, and in workplace documents. Your own name on official documents like your residence card will also be written in katakana.