• Next article: 1.2. Kanji (漢字)

1.1. Hiragana and katakana

Kanji writing originated from Chinese, but the hiragana and katakana writing systems originated in Japan, based on the Chinese characters (see 1.1.1. How did katakana and hiragana originate?).

Japanese is unusual in having a writing system that is "syllabic". Each hiragana (平仮名) or katakana (片仮名) except one corresponds to either a vowel or a combination of a consonant plus a vowel. (The exception is the syllabic n, written ん or ン.) Precisely, each of the kana corresponds to one mora (see 7.6. What is the difference between a mora and a syllable?).

The kana have more than one possible ordering. These are discussed in 1.1.5. What is the origin of the gojuuon kana ordering? and 1.1.6. How does the i-ro-ha ordering go?. For methods of remembering the kana ordering, see 1.1.4. Is there a mnemonic for remembering the order of kana signs?. Some history of the kana and the reason for the gaps in the kana chart in the "y" column appear in 1.1.2. Is there a kana symbol for ye or yi?.

Details of books to learn hiragana and katakana are at the FAQ's page of book reviews of hiragana and katakana books.

Sub-pages

• 1.1.1. How did katakana and hiragana originate?
• 1.1.2. Is there a kana symbol for ye or yi?

• 1.1.3. What is the use of the "we" and "wi" kana?
• 1.1.4. Is there a mnemonic for remembering the order of kana signs?
• 1.1.5. What is the origin of the gojuuon kana ordering?
• 1.1.6. How does the i-ro-ha ordering go?
• 1.1.7. What is historical kana usage?
• 1.1.8. What is okurigana?
• 1.1.9. What is katakana used for?
• 1.1.10. What is the small kana "tsu" used for?

• Next article: 1.2. Kanji (漢字)

Copyright © 1994-2010 Ben Bullock

If you have questions, corrections, or comments, please contact Ben Bullock or use the discussion forum / Privacy

Book reviews	Convert Japanese numbers	Handwritten kanji recognition	Stroke order diagrams	Convert Japanese units	Popup dictionary