Memorizing the Katakana/Dakuten
Dakuten ( ﾞ ) and Handakuten ( ﾟ ) are marks placed after certain katakana that modify the way the consonant is pronounced. These marks indicate that the consonant of the syllable should be voiced.
| normal | with dakuten ( ﾞ ) | with handakuten ( ﾟ ) |
|---|---|---|
| カ = ka | ガ = ga | |
| サ = sa | ザ = za | |
| タ = ta | ダ = da | |
| ハ = ha | バ = ba | パ = pa |
Exceptions edit
"Shi" (シ) turns into "Ji" (ジ)
"Chi" (チ) also turns into "Ji" (ヂ)
"Tsu" (ツ) turns into "Zu" (ヅ)
"U" (ウ) turns into "Vu" (ヴ)
Sokuon edit
Sokuon (ッ) is a symbol consisting of a small Tsu (compare with normal Tsu: ツッ). It is used to insert a slight pause.
Chōonpu edit
Chōonpu (ー) is a symbol used to indicate a long vowel sound. Long vowels can also be written by using the corresponding vowel katakana.
| normal | with chōonpu ( ー ) | is the same as |
|---|---|---|
| プ = pu | プー = puu | プウ = puu |