Make friends with
katakana.
Meet the angular, expressive script used for borrowed words, foreign names, emphasis and more. If you already know hiragana, the sounds will feel reassuringly familiar.
Explore the katakana chart, listen to each sound, then practise recalling it by typing the romaji. No account needed.
Katakana chart
The basics
Start with ア・イ・ウ・エ・オ (a, i, u, e, o), then try the first five cards. ヲ is written wo in this chart and is usually pronounced o. ン takes a beat of its own.
Voiced sounds
Two small marks change カ→ガ (ka→ga). A small circle changes ハ→パ (ha→pa). In modern standard Japanese, ジ/ヂ and ズ/ヅ generally share pronunciations; spelling still matters.
Combinations
キヤ (ki-ya) has two beats. キャ (kya) has one: the small ャ joins the preceding character. Small ュ and ョ work the same way.
Practise katakana
The romaji typing practice and pronunciation buttons need JavaScript. The complete chart and learning guide remain available without it: cover each romaji label and try to recall the sound before checking.
A few sound tips
Romaji is a guide to Japanese pronunciation written with English letters, not an exact English sound. Read the short note above each chart for its sound group.
The long-vowel mark ー extends the preceding vowel: コーヒー (kōhī). Small ッ marks a brief pause before the next consonant, as in カップ (kappu).
Pronunciation uses your device’s Japanese voice. Voice quality and availability vary by browser and device.
Bring your kana into kanji.
When you can recognise basic hiragana and katakana, you have a useful starting point for the kanji course. You don’t need perfect recall: these guides stay available whenever you want more practice.
MasterKanji introduces simple shapes, then kanji meanings and readings, followed by vocabulary using those characters. Practise recalling both meanings and readings, with reviews organised for you.
Everyone begins at level one, including returning learners. Try the first three levels free, with no time limit or card required. Build a reading foundation alongside grammar and other Japanese practice.
Try the free kanji course