1.
kana
The Japanese syllabary writing systems, including hiragana and katakana. Contrasts with kanji (Chinese characters).
子供はまず仮名を習う。
Children first learn kana.
仮名で書いてください。
Please write it in kana.
平仮名と片仮名を合わせて仮名と言う。
Hiragana and katakana together are called kana.
この漢字の読みを仮名で書きなさい。
Write the reading of this kanji in kana.
日本語には仮名と漢字がある。
Japanese has kana and kanji.
WRITING: Can also be written as かな in hiragana.
TYPES:
- 平仮名 (hiragana) - cursive syllabary
- 片仮名 (katakana) - angular syllabary
ETYMOLOGY: 仮 means 'temporary/borrowed' and 名 means 'name/character'. Kana were originally simplified forms of kanji used for their phonetic value.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 仮名遣い (kana orthography)
- 仮名書き (writing in kana)