Complete Katakana Chart with Romaji
This chart covers all 104 katakana characters used in modern Japanese — 46 basic characters, 25 dakuten and handakuten variations, and 33 combination characters (yoon). Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, names, and emphasis. Each cell shows the katakana character with its romaji pronunciation. Try our writing practice tool to learn stroke order.
Basic Katakana (46 characters)
アa
イi
ウu
エe
オo
カka
キki
クku
ケke
コko
サsa
シshi
スsu
セse
ソso
タta
チchi
ツtsu
テte
トto
ナna
ニni
ヌnu
ネne
ノno
ハha
ヒhi
フfu
ヘhe
ホho
マma
ミmi
ムmu
メme
モmo
ヤya
ユyu
ヨyo
ラra
リri
ルru
レre
ロro
ワwa
ヲwo
ンn
Dakuten (濁音・半濁音) — 25 characters
ガga
ギgi
グgu
ゲge
ゴgo
ザza
ジji
ズzu
ゼze
ゾzo
ダda
ヂji
ヅzu
デde
ドdo
バba
ビbi
ブbu
ベbe
ボbo
パpa
ピpi
プpu
ペpe
ポpo
Yoon (拗音) — 33 characters
キャkya
キュkyu
キョkyo
シャsha
シュshu
ショsho
チャcha
チュchu
チョcho
ニャnya
ニュnyu
ニョnyo
ヒャhya
ヒュhyu
ヒョhyo
ミャmya
ミュmyu
ミョmyo
リャrya
リュryu
リョryo
ギャgya
ギュgyu
ギョgyo
ジャja
ジュju
ジョjo
ビャbya
ビュbyu
ビョbyo
ピャpya
ピュpyu
ピョpyo
How to Read This Chart
Katakana follows the same sound system as hiragana. The basic chart uses a 5-column vowel grid (a, i, u, e, o) with consonant rows. Katakana characters have sharper, more angular strokes compared to hiragana’s rounded shapes.
Dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜) work the same way as in hiragana: dakuten voices consonants (k → g, s → z, t → d, h → b), and handakuten changes h-sounds to p-sounds. Combination characters (yoon) pair a consonant kana with a small ヤ, ユ, or ヨ.
For stroke-by-stroke writing practice, try our katakana practice tool. To test your recognition, take the katakana quiz. See also the hiragana chart for the other kana script.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is katakana used for?
Katakana is primarily used for foreign loanwords (e.g., コーヒー for "coffee"), foreign names, scientific terms, onomatopoeia, and emphasis. It is one of three Japanese writing systems alongside hiragana and kanji.
How many katakana characters are there?
There are 46 basic katakana characters, 25 dakuten and handakuten variations, and 33 combination characters (yoon), for a total of 104 katakana characters — the same count as hiragana.
What is the difference between hiragana and katakana?
Hiragana and katakana represent the same sounds but are used in different contexts. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar, while katakana is used for foreign loanwords, names, and emphasis. Katakana characters have more angular strokes compared to hiragana’s rounded shapes. See our
hiragana vs katakana guide for more details.