Reading 3 · Reading katakana
Kana usually represent timing units. Notice shi, chi, tsu and fu. Hiragana and katakana write the same basic sounds in different shapes. Particles は, へ and を have special readings.
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Examples
Find a form in the table, then spot it in an example word. Try reading, listen, and read again with the hint covered.
| Written form | Reading hint |
|---|---|
| ア イ ウ エ オ | a i u e o |
| カ キ ク ケ コ | ka ki ku ke ko |
| サ シ ス セ ソ | sa shi su se so |
| タ チ ツ テ ト | ta chi tsu te to |
| ナ ニ ヌ ネ ノ | na ni nu ne no |
| ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ | ha hi fu he ho |
| マ ミ ム メ モ | ma mi mu me mo |
| ヤ ユ ヨ | ya yu yo |
| ラ リ ル レ ロ | ra ri ru re ro |
| ワ ヲ ン | wa o n |
Hints are aids. Slashes enclose IPA; other Latin text is a reading guide for that language. Spelling does not predict every detail of speech.
New examples use the matching device voice. Listening may be unavailable without it. Synthetic speech is a reference; native-speaker review is pending.
カメラ
kamera
Look for: カ・メ・ラ
ホテル
hoteru
Look for: ホ・テ・ル
トイレ
toire
Look for: ト・イ・レ
メニュー
menyū
Look for: メ・ニュ・ー
コーヒー
kōhī
Look for: コ・ー・ヒ・ー
タクシー
takushī
Look for: タ・ク・シ・ー
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Listen to the sounds.
Read without the hint
Read the original first, then open it to check the hint and meaning.
カメラ
kamera
Look for: カ・メ・ラ
ホテル
hoteru
Look for: ホ・テ・ル
トイレ
toire
Look for: ト・イ・レ
メニュー
menyū
Look for: メ・ニュ・ー
コーヒー
kōhī
Look for: コ・ー・ヒ・ー
タクシー
takushī
Look for: タ・ク・シ・ー
Your turn
カメラ
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Review
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