The so-called Japanese alphabet includes two sets of phonetic signs: the hiragana it's the katakana. The two generally represent the same sounds, but are used in different contexts. This page brings together the basic tables, romanization, and the main reading rules for kana.
In a technical sense, hiragana and katakana are not alphabets like the Latin one. They are kanasystems: each sign typically represents a mora, a rhythmic unit of Japanese. The term “Japanese alphabet” remains useful as a search expression and as an initial explanation, as long as this difference is clear.
If you don't yet know how kana and kanji appear together, start with the overview of the Japanese writing systems. Here, the focus is on consulting and understanding hiragana and katakana side by side.
To learn about the historical context, read the origin of japanese alphabet.
What is the difference between hiragana and katakana?
O hiragana appears in particles, grammatical endings, words often written without kanji, and supporting readings called furigana. The katakana is common in loanwords from other languages, foreign names, onomatopoeia, technical terms, and emphasis effects.
To consult each set separately, see the Complete Hiragana Chart and the complete katakana table.
Basic hiragana and katakana table
The traditional order follows the vowels a, i, u, e, o. Then come the rows formed by combining these vowels with consonants. The spaces in the table indicate sounds that are not part of the modern basic set.
| Row | Romanization | hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vowels | a, i, u, e, o | あ い う え お | ア イ ウ エ オ |
| K | ka, ki, ku, ke, ko | か き く け こ | カ キ ク ケ コ |
| s | sa, shi, su, se, so | さ し す せ そ | Sa, Shi, Su, Se, So |
| T | ta, chi, tsu, te, to | Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To | Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To |
| N | na, ni, nu, ne, no | Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No | Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No |
| H | ha, hi, fu, he, ho | Ha, Hi, Fu, He, Ho | Ha, Hi, Fu, He, Ho |
| M | ma, mi, mu, me, mo | Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo | Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo |
| Y | ya, yu, yo | Ya, Yu, Yo | Ya, Yu, Yo |
| R | ra, ri, ru, re, ro | Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro | Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro |
| W | wa, o | Wa, O | Wa, O |
| Final N | no | ん | ン |
There is no modern basic kana corresponding to “wu”. The historical forms ゐ/ヰ (wi) and ゑ/ヱ (we) are also not part of the current everyday usage table. を/ヲ is romanized as wo in some input methods, but in contemporary Japanese, it is usually pronounced O when it functions as a particle.
How to pronounce the kana
Romanization helps at the beginning, but it doesn't reproduce the pronunciation. Use audio and real words to associate each character with its sound. Four readings deserve attention: し is shi, ち is chi, つ is tsu and ふ is fu, with a softer friction than the common “f” in Portuguese.
The R row — ら, り, る, れ, ろ — uses a quick tap of the tongue, different from the strong R and the L in Portuguese. The sound of ん varies depending on the following sound; learn it in words.
THE official kana table from Irodori, by the Japan Foundation, brings together the basic characters, combinations, and examples with long vowels and geminate consonants. It was used to check the forms and romanization on this page.
Dakuten and handakuten: modified sounds
The mark ゛ is called dakuten and modifies some rows. The small circle ゜ is the handakuten and creates the P row. They are not graphic accents like those in Portuguese; they are marks that change the sound value of the kana.
| Transformation | Romanization | hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|---|
| K → G | ga, gi, gu, ge, go | が ぎ ぐ げ ご | ガ ギ グ ゲ ゴ |
| S → Z | za, ji, zu, ze, zo | ざ じ ず ぜ ぞ | ザ ジ ズ ゼ ゾ |
| T → D | da, ji, zu, de, do | だ ぢ づ で ど | ダ ヂ ヅ デ ド |
| H → B | ba, bi, bu, be, bo | ば び ぶ べ ぼ | バ ビ ブ ベ ボ |
| H → P | pa, pi, pu, pe, po | ぱ ぴ ぷ ぺ ぽ | パ ピ プ ペ ポ |
In the current standard pronunciation, じ and ぢ usually sound like ji, while ず and づ usually sound like zu. This does not make the spellings interchangeable: each word preserves its writing. The forms with ぢ and づ are less frequent and appear in specific words and in certain morphological combinations.
Yōon: combinations with small ゃ, ゅ and ょ
O yōon combines a kana from the I column with small ゃ, ゅ or ょ. The reading forms a single sequence, not two separate syllables. Compare きや (kiya) with きゃ (kya).
| Group | hiragana | Katakana | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | kya kyu kyo | kya kyu kyo | kya, kyu, kyo |
| s | sha shu sho | sha shu sho | sha, shu, sho |
| T | cha chu cho | cha chu cho | cha, chu, cho |
| N | nya nyu nyo | nya nyu nyo | nya, nyu, nyo |
| H | hya hyu hyo | hya hyu hyo | hya, hyu, hyo |
| M | mya myu myo | mya myu myo | mya, myu, myo |
| R | rya ryu ryo | rya ryu ryo | rya, ryu, ryo |
| G | gya gyu gyo | gya gyu gyo | gya, gyu, gyo |
| J | ja ju jo | ジャ ジュ ジョ | ja, ju, jo |
| B | びゃ びゅ びょ | ビャ ビュ ビョ | bya, byu, byo |
| FOR | ぴゃ ぴゅ ぴょ | ピャ ピュ ピョ | pya, pyu, pyo |
Small っ, ッ and geminate consonants
The small っ or ッ indicates a brief pause before the following consonant. In romanization, this consonant is usually doubled. Thus, きって is kitte (“stamp”) and カップ is kappu (“cup”). The small sign must be distinguished from つ/ツ in normal size.
How to represent long vowels
In hiragana, the long vowel can be written in different ways depending on the word. Long E sounds often appear with い, and long O sounds often with う, but there are exceptions that need to be learned with the spelling of the word. For example, せんせい (Sensei) contains a long E and がっこう (gakkō) contains a long O.
In katakana, the dash ー is often used: コーヒー (kōhī, “coffee”) and ケーキ (kēki, “cake”). Do not ignore the length: a short and a long vowel can distinguish words.
In what order should you study hiragana and katakana?
Courses present hiragana first, but this is not a rule. The Marugoto states that the order between hiragana and katakana can vary and recommends relating writing, speech, and known vocabulary.
- Learn the five vowels and recognize the rhythm of each mora.
- Study one row at a time, reading and writing short words.
- Practice hiragana and katakana without relying only on romaji.
- Add dakuten, handakuten, yōon, っ/ッ, and long vowels.
- Review with audio, reading, and typing in real sentences.
O hiragana and katakana study guide organizes the detailed lessons. Then, use the free Japanese course for beginners to integrate reading, vocabulary, grammar, and practice.
Common mistakes when starting
- Treating romanization as exact pronunciation and never listening to real Japanese.
- Inventing a full row for Y or W, including forms that do not exist in the modern set.
- Confusing や with ゃ, ゆ with ゅ, よ with ょ, or つ with っ.
- Swapping じ for ぢ or ず for づ just because they can sound the same.
- Memorizing the entire table without reading words and sentences.
To understand how the signs are distributed in real texts, continue with the article about how to use the Japanese alphabet.
Frequently asked questions about the Japanese alphabet
What is the Japanese alphabet called?
The expression Japanese alphabet is used informally. Hiragana and katakana are kana systems, and each sign usually represents a mora. Japanese writing also uses kanji and, in certain contexts, Latin letters.
How many letters are there in hiragana and katakana?
Each basic modern table has 46 signs, counting ん or ン. Dakuten, handakuten, combinations with small kana, and signs for foreign sounds expand the possibilities, but derive from this main set.
Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?
Many materials start with hiragana, but the order can vary. The most important thing is to relate the characters to known sounds and words, practice reading with audio, and learn both sets without permanently relying on romaji.
What is the difference between hiragana and katakana?
The two represent practically the same phonetic base. Hiragana is frequent in grammatical elements and Japanese words; katakana is common in loanwords, foreign names, onomatopoeia, technical terms, and emphasis effects.
What are dakuten and handakuten?
Dakuten is the mark ゛ that modifies lines like K to G and H to B. Handakuten is the circle ゜ that transforms the H line into P. These marks change the sound of the kana and do not work like Portuguese accents.
Conclusion
Hiragana and katakana share the same sound base, but they fulfill different functions. Use the table as a reference and practice words with audio until you recognize the signs naturally in real texts.