Japanese/Kana/Lessons/Katakana/Lesson 6

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Hiragana: [ a ] [ ka ] [ sa ] [ ta ] [ na ] [ ha ] [ ma ] [ ya ] [ ra ] [ wa, wo, n ] [ ゐ and ゑ (ancient hiragana in disuse) ]
Katakana: [ a ] [ ka ] [ sa ] [ ta ] [ na ] [ ha ] [ ma ] [ ya ] [ ra ] [ wa, wo, n ] [ ヰ and ヱ (ancient katakana in disuse) ]

This page introduces "ハ", "ヒ", "フ", "ヘ" and "ホ". Adding two short lines, the dakuten ((だく)(てん)) or, more informally, tenten (点々(てんてん)) meaning "two marks", to create "バ", "ビ", ""ブ", "ベ" and "ボ" changes clear sounds to voiced ones. Adding a small circle called a (>はん)(だく)(てん) handakuten, but commonly referred to as maru ((まる)) meaning "circle", written "パ", "ピ", "プ", "ペ" and "ポ" changes clear sounds plosive sound.

Brush Stroke:
Sound:

ha

ba pa
Mnemonic:
  • A step in French is called a pas! Just take a few steps under the moon!
Example:
  • ハンガリー (hanngali-) Hungary
  • ハンバーガー (hannba-ga-) hamburger
  • バナナ banana
  • パーティー Party
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound hi

bi pi
Mnemonic:
  • Heel - The heel of a shoe
Example:
  • ヒーター Heater
  • ビタミン vitamin
  • ピレネー Pyrenees
  • ピザ pizza
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound fu

bu pu
Mnemonic:
  • Food - It's half a bowl of food.
  • Fruit Salad. No handles, spoons, chopsticks, noodles, or cats, just use your hands.
Example:
  • フランス (furansu) France
  • ファン (fan) fan
  • ブドウ (budo-) grape
  • プレゼント (purezento) Present, Gift
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

he

be pe
Mnemonic:
  • Hehe - It's the same funny (Hehe) mustache from Hiragana!
  • Pointing towards Heaven
Example:
  • ヘルシー Healthy
  • ベルギー Belgium
  • ペット pet
  • ペン pen
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

ho

bo po
Mnemonic:
  • Hot - It is very hot, and you are standing with your arms outstretched at your sides and sweat is pouring from your armpits.
  • Holy - Someone holding a span holy cross with both hands.
Example:
  • ホテル (hoteru) hotel
  • ボトル Bottle
  • ポルトガル Portugal
  • ポンプ pump