Memorizing the Katakana/Dakuten
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Dakuten ( ﾞ ) and Handakuten ( ﾟ ) are marks placed after certain katakana that modify the way the consonant is pronounced. These marks indicate that the consonant of the syllable should be voiced.
| normal | with dakuten ( ﾞ ) | with handakuten ( ﾟ ) |
|---|---|---|
| カ = ka | ガ = ga | |
| サ = sa | ザ = za | |
| タ = ta | ダ = da | |
| ハ = ha | バ = ba | パ = pa |
Exceptions[edit | edit source]
"Shi" (シ) turns into "Ji" (ジ)
"Chi" (チ) also turns into "Ji" (ヂ)
"Tsu" (ツ) turns into "Zu" (ヅ)
"U" (ウ) turns into "Vu" (ヴ)
Sokuon[edit | edit source]
Sokuon (ッ) is a symbol consisting of a small Tsu (compare with normal Tsu: ツッ). It is used to insert a slight pause.
Chōonpu[edit | edit source]
Chōonpu (ー) is a symbol used to indicate a long vowel sound. Long vowels can also be written by using the corresponding vowel katakana.
| normal | with chōonpu ( ー ) | is the same as |
|---|---|---|
| プ = pu | プー = puu | プウ = puu |