Katakana chart: learn the 46 basic characters
If hiragana is your first Japanese kana set, katakana is the natural second step. The sounds are largely the same; what changes is the shape. Katakana appears especially in loanwords, foreign names, brand-like terms, sound effects and some kinds of emphasis.
The 46 basic katakana
Connect katakana to sounds you already know
Do not learn each symbol as a completely new sound. γ’ is a, just like γ. γ« is ka, just like γ. This reduces the task to learning new visual forms for familiar syllables.
γ β γ« = ka
γ β γ· = shi
γ€ β γ = tsu
Why katakana matters immediately
Many everyday Japanese words borrowed from other languages are written in katakana:
γγ¬γ β television
γ’γ‘γͺγ« β America
γγγ« β hotel
That means katakana quickly turns into practical reading, not just alphabet practice.
Watch the confusing pairs
Beginners often mix up γ· / γ and γ½ / γ³. Their stroke direction and angle are important. Practice them side by side instead of waiting to confuse them repeatedly inside words.
γ½ so Β· γ³ n
Three marks you will meet soon
- γΌ extends a vowel, common in loanwords such as γ³γΌγγΌ.
- γ is a small tsu that helps mark a doubled consonant.
- Small γ£, γ₯, γ§ combine with other kana for sounds such as γγ£.
You do not need to master every extended katakana combination before you can start reading simple words.
A better practice routine
- learn 5β10 symbols at a time;
- say each sound aloud;
- compare it to its hiragana equivalent;
- read short real words;
- review recognition in spaced repetition.
Once kana recognition is stable, continue with the Japanese N5 Anki deck guide and the broader Japanese N5βN1 learning path. If you are comparing deck types, see best Japanese Anki decks.
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