Practice Katakana - Japanese Learning Journey Podcast

こんいちは

• さよなら

• こんいちは

• Wha？

Is Katakana used when people don't know a word in Japanese?

• No, It is used mostly to represent a foreign word and the Onyomi version.

• Yes, when they don't know the word they use Katakana to show they are not sure.

• Sometimes, it can depend on the situation.

ク

• Ke

• Fu

• Ku

• Wa

Answer explanation

ク　and く have the same sound.
ク is usually used to pronounce and say foreign/western words.

Example:

AISUKURI-MU

アイスクリーム

Ice cream

サ is pronounced as SE

• True

• False

Answer explanation

If you're confused it's probably because you were thinking of the Hiragana character of SE.

Hiragana:

せ

Katakana:

セ

What was just shown was SA. SA in both Hiragana and Katakana will try and trick you by using a mirrored or similar version of another character. (CHI, and SE)

Hiragana:

さ

Katakana:

サ

Please create the character A in Katakana.

Answer explanation

What does パン?

Answer explanation

This is pronounced as PAN. It means bread. Although Katakana is used (mostly) for English words there are a few words that are in katakana meaning different things from how they sound.

し has the same pronunciation as シ

• True

• False

Answer explanation

If you have trouble differentiating between Katakana SHI (シ）and TSU (ツ) remember the phrase:
Shi (she) looked up at tsu.

There are many phrases and mnemonics to remember the character position. Try and find or create some that help you remember. Another way is to remember the shape.

Draw the Katakana SO

Answer explanation

Remember SO looks down while N looks up. There are also many mnemonics to remember these characters by.