Japanese/Kana/Lessons/Katakana/Lesson 9

< Japanese‎ | Kana

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) ]

In this lesson you are going to learn how to read and write ラ、リ、ル、レ、ロ.

Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound ra

Mnemonic:
  • A bowl of hot ramen. The line on top is the steam.
Example:
  • ラーメン ramen
  • ラオス Laos
  • ラクダ camel
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound ri

Mnemonic:
  • Richard - The cheek and nose of Richard.
  • looks very similar to Ri from Hiragana.
  • Look like reeds
Example:
  • リビア Libya
  • リス squirrel
  • リンゴ apple
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound ru

Mnemonic:
  • Root - Two of a tree's largest roots.
Example:
  • ルクセンブルク Luxembourg
  • ルーレット roulette
  • ルビー ruby
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound re

Mnemonic:
  • Read (past tense). A book (from above) that you left open because you had already read it.
Example:
  • レバノン Lebanon
  • レーザー laser
  • レストラン restaurant
Brush Stroke:
Sound:

About this sound ro

Mnemonic:
  • Roe - A package of roe, fish-eggs prepared as food, that's commonly used in Japanese dishes.
  • Road - The back of a truck driving on a road.
  • It's the head of a robot.
Example:
  • ロシア Russia
  • ロープ rope
  • ロボット robot