Katakana (カタカナ) – Japanese Script for Foreign Words

カタカナ

Standard Katakana Chart (Gojūon)

Basic Katakana Characters & Romaji
ア (a)イ (i)ウ (u)エ (e)オ (o)
カ (ka)キ (ki)ク (ku)ケ (ke)コ (ko)
サ (sa)シ (shi)ス (su)セ (se)ソ (so)
タ (ta)チ (chi)ツ (tsu)テ (te)ト (to)
ナ (na)ニ (ni)ヌ (nu)ネ (ne)ノ (no)
ハ (ha)ヒ (hi)フ (fu)ヘ (he)ホ (ho)
マ (ma)ミ (mi)ム (mu)メ (me)モ (mo)
ヤ (ya)ユ (yu)ヨ (yo)
ラ (ra)リ (ri)ル (ru)レ (re)ロ (ro)
ワ (wa)ヲ (wo)
ン (n)

Usage & Pronunciation Notes

Katakana is used primarily for foreign loanwords (gairaigo), technical terminology, plant/animal names, and emphasis. Each character corresponds directly to the basic sounds found in Hiragana.

Common Katakana Loanwords in English