📝 The Japanese Writing System
Japanese is unique because it uses three scripts simultaneously. You generally cannot choose just one; they work together in a single sentence. Understanding this foundation is essential before learning grammar.
Why three scripts?
Think regarding English: we use Capital Letters, lowercase letters, and Numerals (1, 2, 3). Japanese uses Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji in a similar mixed way to provide context and readability.
Hiragana (ひらがな)
Hiragana is the foundation of Japanese writing. It has 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable sound.
Characteristics
- used for native Japanese words
- Used for grammar particles (like wa, ga, o)
- Used for verb endings (okurigana)
- Shape: Curvy, round, and flowing.
The Basic Chart (Gojuon)
| Vowels | k (ka-row) | s (sa-row) | t (ta-row) | n (na-row) | h (ha-row) | m (ma-row) | y (ya-row) | r (ra-row) | w (wa-row) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | あ | か | さ | た | な | は | ま | や | ら |
| i | い | き | し | ち | に | ひ | み | り | |
| u | う | く | す | つ | ぬ | ふ | む | ゆ | る |
| e | え | け | せ | て | ね | へ | め | れ | |
| o | お | こ | そ | と | の | ほ | も | よ | ろ |
| n |
Modifying Sounds
1. Dakuten (゛) & Handakuten (゜) Adding small marks to the upper right changes the consonant sound (voicing).
- k → g (か ka → が ga)
- s → z (さ sa → ざ za) (Exception: し shi → じ ji)
- t → d (た ta → だ da) (Exception: ち chi → ぢ ji, つ tsu → づ zu)
- h → b (は ha → ば ba)
- h → p (は ha → ぱ pa) — Handakuten (circle)
2. Small “Ya, Yu, Yo” (Yoon) Combining consonants with small ya/yu/yo creates a gliding sound.
- き (ki) + ゃ (ya) = きゃ (kya)
- し (shi) + ゅ (yu) = しゅ (shu)
3. Small “Tsu” (Sokuon) A small っ indicates a pause or “doubled consonant”.
- さか (saka - slope) vs. さっか (sakka - author)
- ちゃんと (chanto) vs. ちゃっと (chatto - chat)
Practice writing by hand! Muscle memory is the fastest way to memorize shapes. Do not just read; write them down repeatedly.
Katakana (カタカナ)
Katakana also has 46 basic characters, representing the exact same sounds as Hiragana.
Characteristics
- Used for loanwords (words from English, Portuguese, German, etc.)
- Used for foreign names and places
- Used for emphasis (like italics or BOLD text)
- Shape: Sharp, angular, and straight.
Comparison Examples
| Sound | Hiragana (Native) | Katakana (Loanword) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | あ | ア | |
| ka | か | カ | |
| sa | さ | サ | |
| mo | も | モ |
Common Katakana Loanwords
| Katakana | Romaji | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| コーヒー | koohii | Dutch (koffie) | Coffee |
| テレビ | terebi | English | Television |
| パン | pan | Portuguese (pão) | Bread |
| アルバイト | arubaito | German (Arbeit) | Part-time job |
| スマホ | sumaho | English | Smartphone |
Kanji (漢字)
Kanji are Chinese characters adopted into Japanese. Each character represents meaning, not just sound.
Why do we need Kanji?
Japanese has many homophones (words with the same sound). Kanji distinguishes them and makes reading faster.
- Hana can mean “Flower” (花) or “Nose” (鼻).
- Kami can mean “Paper” (紙), “Hair” (髪), or “God” (神).
Readings: On’yomi vs. Kun’yomi
| Reading Type | Origin | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| On’yomi (Sound reading) | Chinese | Compound words (multi-kanji) | 水よう日 (Sui-youbi - Wednesday) |
| Kun’yomi (Meaning reading) | Japanese | Standalone words | 水 (Mizu - Water) |
Starter Kanji Checklist
| Kanji | Meaning | On’yomi | Kun’yomi | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 日 | Sun / Day | nich, jitsu | hi, bi | 日本 (Japan) |
| 本 | Book / Origin | hon | moto | 本 (Book) |
| 人 | Person | jin, nin | hito | 日本人 (Japanese person) |
| 月 | Moon / Month | getsu, gatsu | tsuki | 月よう日 (Monday) |
| 火 | Fire | ka | hi | 火よう日 (Tuesday) |
| 水 | Water | sui | mizu | 水 (Water) |
Integrated Script Example
In a real Japanese sentence, all three scripts appear together naturally.
私はコンビニでパンを買いました。
Watashi wa konbini de pan o kaimashita.
Test Your Knowledge
Chapter Quiz
How many basic characters are in the Hiragana script?