Katakana and loanwords
What katakana is for and how foreign words become Japanese.
Katakana spells the same sounds as hiragana with straighter, sharper shapes. Its main job is writing words borrowed from other languages, most of them from English.
What katakana is used for
- Loanwords: テレビ terebi "TV", コーヒー kōhī "coffee", パン pan "bread", which came from Portuguese.
- Foreign names and places: アメリカ Amerika "America", ロンドン Rondon "London", スミス Sumisu "Smith".
- Sound words, especially in manga: ワンワン wanwan "woof", ドキドキ dokidoki for a pounding heart. Many sound words are written in hiragana too.
- Emphasis, much as English uses italics, or a casual feel: ダメ dame "no good" instead of だめ.
- Names of animals and plants in science writing: ヒト hito "human", ネコ neko "cat", サクラ sakura "cherry tree".
Most katakana words are nouns. Add する to use one as a verb: コピーする kopī suru "copy", メールする mēru suru "email".
How foreign words change
Nearly every Japanese beat ends in a vowel or ん, and Japanese has fewer sounds than English, so loanwords are reshaped to fit:
| Change | Examples |
|---|---|
| A vowel after a consonant: usually u, but o after t and d | ミルク miruku "milk", テスト tesuto "test" |
| i after a final ch or j sound | マッチ matchi "match", オレンジ orenji "orange" |
| l and r both become the r row | ライト raito "light" or "right" |
| v becomes b | テレビ terebi "TV", ビデオ bideo "video" |
| th becomes s or z | スリー surī "three", スムーズ sumūzu "smooth" |
| Long vowels, and r after a vowel, become ー | カード kādo "card", コンピューター konpyūtā "computer" |
| A short vowel before a final consonant brings ッ | ベッド beddo "bed", カップ kappu "cup" |
| Small vowel kana make new sounds | パーティー pātī "party", フォーク fōku "fork" |
The last group of the katakana chart shows these extra combinations, such as ファ fa and ティ ti.
Shortened words
Long loanwords are often cut down, sometimes to the first part of each word:
| Word | Short for |
|---|---|
| パソコン pasokon | personal computer |
| スマホ sumaho | smartphone |
| コンビニ konbini | convenience store |
| エアコン eakon | air conditioner |
| リモコン rimokon | remote control |
| デパート depāto | department store |
Made-in-Japan English
Some words look English but were made up in Japan, or changed their meaning on the way. This is called wasei-eigo, "Japan-made English".
| Word | Looks like | Means |
|---|---|---|
| サラリーマン sararīman | salary man | office worker |
| マンション manshon | mansion | apartment in a large building |
| コンセント konsento | consent | power outlet |
| ノートパソコン nōtopasokon | notebook PC | laptop |
| ガソリンスタンド gasorin sutando | gasoline stand | gas station |
| ペットボトル petto botoru | PET bottle | plastic drinks bottle |
- Konbini de kōhī o kaimashita.I bought coffee at a convenience store.
- Sumaho o ie ni wasuremashita.I left my phone at home.
- Eki no chikaku no manshon ni sunde imasu.I live in an apartment near the station.
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Getting started cards.
How is a foreign name like Smith written in Japanese?
In katakana, spelled by sound: スミス (Sumisu).
Why might a Japanese word like だめ (no good) be written in katakana as ダメ?
For emphasis or a casual feel.
How do you turn a katakana noun like コピー (kopī, copy) into a verb?
Add する: コピーする.
Which vowel is usually added after a consonant with no vowel when an English word becomes katakana?
u, as in ミルク (miruku, milk), but o after t and d.
What do English l and r both become in katakana?
The r row: ラ リ ル レ ロ.
What sound usually replaces English v in a katakana word?
b: 'video' is ビデオ (bideo).
What happens to an r after a vowel, as in 'card', when an English word becomes katakana?
The r drops and the vowel is lengthened with ー: カード (kādo).
Why does 'bed' become ベッド (beddo), with a small ッ?
A short vowel before a final consonant brings ッ.
What is コンビニ (konbini) short for?
Convenience store.
What does マンション (manshon) mean in Japanese?
An apartment in a large building.