片仮名(かたかな)

かたかな
noun
katakana
1. katakana
One of the Japanese syllabary writing systems, typically used for foreign words and emphasis.
片仮名(かたかな)で書(か)く。
To write in katakana.
片仮名(かたかな)を覚(おぼ)える。
To learn katakana.
この言葉(ことば)は片仮名(かたかな)で書(か)きます。
This word is written in katakana.
外国(がいこく)の名前(なまえ)は片仮名(かたかな)で書(か)きます。
Foreign names are written in katakana.
子供(こども)のとき、平仮名(ひらがな)より片仮名(かたかな)のほうが難(むずか)しかった。
When I was a child, katakana was harder than hiragana.

One of the three Japanese writing systems. 片仮名(かたかな) characters are angular in shape, derived from parts of 漢字(かんじ). Also written as カタカナ in casual use.

MAIN USES:

  • Foreign loanwords (コーヒー, テレビ)
  • Onomatopoeia (ガタガタ, ワンワン)
  • Emphasis (similar to italics in English)
  • Scientific and technical names
  • Company and brand names

JAPANESE SCRIPTS:

  • 平仮名(ひらがな): hiragana (native Japanese words, grammar)
  • 片仮名(かたかな): katakana (loanwords, emphasis)
  • 漢字(かんじ): kanji (Chinese characters)

NOTE:
The word 片(かた) means "partial" or "one of a pair," distinguishing it from 平(ひら) (plain/ordinary) in 平仮名(ひらがな).

Related Words

Related: 平仮名(ひらがな) (hiragana)
basic
Added 2026.1.11 18:28 · Revised 2026.4.2 13:29
02500/02866_katakana