Let’s study the Hiragana & Katakana Lists with easy to understand pictures!

Japanese letters

Japanese language is written using three types of letters below.

1. Hiragana (phonetic sounds) only represent sounds and used for particles, words and parts of words.
2. katakana (phonetic sounds) are only represent sounds and used to describe foreign words.
3. Kanji (Chinese characters) have their own meanings.

Here we will learn Hiragana and Katakana.

See Japanese special pronunciation

Hiragana List with Romaji

Hiragana is called Man’yogana and began to be used to describe the sounds of kanji around the 5th century in Japan.

あ行 (A column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
あ	a	あaめme (雨ame / Rain)
い	u	いiえe (家 ie/ Home)
う	u	うuみmi (海umi / Sea)
え	e	えeきki (駅 eki/ Station)
お	o	おoさsaけke (お酒 osake/ Sake)

か行 (Ka column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
か	ka	かkaさsa (傘kasa / Umbrella)
き	ki	きki (木 ki/ Tree)
く	ku	くkuすsuりri (薬kusuri / Medicine)
け	ke	けkeっkこkoんn (結婚 kekkon/ Marriage)
こ	ko	こkoうuえeんn (公園 kouen/ Park)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
が	ga	がgaっkこkoうu  (学校gakkou / School)
ぎ	gi	ぎgiんnこkoうu (銀行 ginkou/ Bank)
ぐ	gu	ぐguうuすsuうu (偶数guusuu / Even number)
げ	ge	げgeつtsuよyoうuびbi  (月曜日 getsuyoubi/ Monday)
ご	go	ごgoはhaんn (ご飯 han/ Rice)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
きゃ	kya	きゃkyaくku (客kyaku / Client)
きゅ	kyu	きゅkyuうuりri (キュウリ kyuuri/ Cucumber)
きょ	kyo	きょkyoうuしshiつtsu (教室kyoushitu / Classroom)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ぎゃ	gya	ぎゃgyaくkuりゅryuうu (逆流gyakuryuu / Back flow)
ぎゅ	gyu	ぎゅgyuうuにゅnyuうu (牛乳 gyuunyuu/ Milk)
ぎょ	gyo	ぎょgyoうuじji (行事gyouji / Event)

さ行 (Sa column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
さ	sa	さsaかkaなna (魚sakana / Fish)
し	shi	しshiごgoとto (仕事 shigoto/ Work)
す	su	すsuきki (好きsu / Like)
せ	se	せseんnたtaくku (洗濯 sentaku/ Washing)
そ	so	そsoうuじji (掃除 souji/ Clean up)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ざ	za	ざzaっsしshi (雑誌zasshi / Magazine)
じ	ji(zi)	じjiてteんnしゃsha (自転車 jitensha/ Cycle)
ず	zu	ずzuけkeいi (図形zukei / Shape)
ぜ	ze	ぜzeいi (税 zei/ Tax)
ぞ	zo	ぞzoうu (象 zou/ Elephant)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
しゃ	sha	しゃshaしshiんn (写真shashin / Photo)
しゅ	shu	しゅshuくkuだdaいi (宿題 shukudai/ Homework)
しょ	sho	しょshoうuゆyu (醤油shouyu / Soy sauce)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
じゃ	ja	じゃjaがgaいiもmo (じゃが芋jagaimo / Potato)
じゅ	ju	じゅjuうuたtaくku (住宅 jutaku/ Housing)
じょ	jo	じょjoおoうu (女王joou / Queen)

た行 (Ta column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
た	ta	たtaんnじょjoうuびbi (誕生日tanjoubi / Birthday)
ち	ti(chi)	ちchiずzu (地図chizu / Map)
つ	tsu	つtsuくkuえe (机tsukue / Desk)
て	te	てte (手 te/ Hand)
と	to	とtoりri (鳥 torii/ Bird)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
だ	da	だdaれre (誰dare / Who)
ぢ	zi(di)	ちchiぢdiむmu (縮む chiji/ Shrink) Many of the words with “ぢ””ヂ” are now replaced by “じ””ジ”, in the following cases, “ぢ””ヂ” is used. When the same “ち(chi)” sound continues: “ちぢむ” (shrink) When two words stick together and the sound becomes muddy: “まぢか” (間近madika / near) Proper noun: Bridgestone Corporation Foreign language: “チヂミ” (Korean pancake)
づ	zu(du)	てteづduくkuりri (手作りtezukuri / Handmade)
で	de	でdeんnわwa  (電話 denwa/ Telephone)
ど	do	どdoうuぶbuつtsu (動物 doubutsu/ Animal)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ちゃ	cha	ちゃcha  (茶cha / Tea)
ちゅ	chu	ちゅchuうuいi (注意 chuui/ Alert)
ちょ	cho	ちょchoうu (蝶chou / Butterfly)

な行 (Na column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
な	na	なnaべbe (鍋nabe / Hot pot)
に	ni	にniんnじjiんn (人参 ninjin/ Carrot)
ぬ	nu	ぬnuるru (塗るnu / Paint)
ね	ne	ねneこko (猫 neko/ Cat)
の	no	のnoみmiもmoのno (飲noみ物mono / Beverage)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
にゃ	nya	にゃnyaー–  (ニャーnyaa / Meow)
にゅ	nyu	にゅnyuうuいiんn (入院 nyuuin/ Hospitalization)
にょ	nyo	てteんnにょnyo  (天女tennyo / Heavenly maiden)

は行 (Ha column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
は	ha	はha (歯ha / Tooth)
ひ	hi	ひhiこkoうuきki (飛行機 hikouki/ Airplane)
ふ	hu	ふfuくku (服fuku / Cloths)
へ	he	へheびbi (蛇 hebi/ Snake)
ほ	ho	ほhoんn (本hon/ Book)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ば	ba	ばbaんnごgoはhaんn (晩御飯bangohan / Dinner)
び	bi	びbiよyoうuいiんn (美容院 biyouin/ Beauty salon)
ぶ	bu	ぶbuたta (豚buta / Pig)
べ	be	べbeんnきょkyoうu (勉強 benkyou/ Study)
ぼ	bo	ぼboうuしshi (帽子boushi/ Hat)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ぱ	pa	ぱpaんn  (パンpan / Bread)
ぴ	pi	ぴpiー–まmaんn (ピーマン pi-man/ Green pepper)
ぷ	pu	ぷpuー–るru (プールpu-ru / Pool)
ぺ	pe	ぺpeんn (ペン pen/ Pen)
ぽ	po	ぽpoすsuとto (ポストposuto/ Postbox)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ひゃ	hya	ひゃhyaくkuとtoおoばbaんn (110番hyakutooban / Japanese emergency police
ひゅ	hyu	ひゅhyuー– (ヒューhyu-/ The sound of a strong wind)
ひょ	hyo	ひょhyoうuしshiきki  (標識hyoushiki / Sign)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
びゃ	bya	びゃbyaっkこko (白狐byakko / White fox)
びゅ	byu	びゅbyuっfふぇfe (ビュッフェbyuffe/ Buffet)
びょ	byo	びょbyoうuいiんn  (病院byouin / Hospital)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ぴゃ	pya	800 はhaっpぴゃpyaくku  (八百happyaku / Eight hundred)
ぴゅ	pyu	びゅpyuー–まma (ピューマpyu-ma/ Puma)
ぴょ	pyo	はhaっpぴょpyoうu  (発表happyou / Presentation)

ま行 (Ma column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ま	ma	まmaどdo (窓mado / Window)
み	mi	みmiみmi (耳 mimi/ Ear)
む	mu	6 むmuっtつtsu (六つmuttsu / Six)
め	me	めme (目 me/ Eye)
も	mo	もmoんn (門mon / Gate)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
みゃ	mya	さsaんnみゃmyaくku (山脈sanmyaku / Mountain range)
みゅ	myu	みゅmyuー–じjiあaむmu (ミュージアムmyu-jiamu/ Museum)
みょ	myo	みょmyoうuちょchoうu (明朝myouchoui / tomorrow morning)

や行 (Ya column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
や	ya	やyaまma (山yama / Mountain)
ゆ	yu	ゆyuきki (雪 yuki/ Snow)
よ	yo	よyoるru (夜yoru / Night)

ら行 (Ra column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
ら	ra	らraいiねneんn (来年rainen / Next year)
り	ri	りriんnごgo (林檎 ringo/ Apple)
る	ru	るruすsuばbaんnでdeんnわwa (留守番電話rusuban denwa / Answering machine)
れ	re	れreいiぞzoうuこko (冷蔵庫 reizouko/ Refrigerator)
ろ	ro	6 ろroくku (六roku / Six)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
りゃ	rya	りゃryaくkuずzu (略図ryakuzu / Rough map)
りゅ	ryu	りゅryuうu (龍ryuu/ Dragon)
りょ	ryo	りょryoこkoうu (旅行ryokou / Travel)

わ行 (Wa column)

Hiragana	Romaji	Examples
わ	wa	わwaたtaしshi (私watashi / I, Me)
を	wo	みmiずzuをwoのnoむmu (drink water) “を” or “ヲ” is used in sentences or in conversation, not as a single word.
ん	n	しshiんnぶbuんn (新聞 shinbun/ Newspaper)

Katakana List with Romaji

Katakana characters are used for the following;

• Japanese loan words such as テレビ(television), カメラ(camera), コンビニ(convenience store) and so on
• Proprietary nouns such as foreign names and place names

ア行 (A column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ア	a	アaパpaー–トto (Apartment)
イ	i	イiギgiリriスsu (England)
ウ	u	ウuー–ルru (Wool)
エ	e	エeレreベbeー–タtaー– (Elevator)
オ	o	オoー–スsuトtoラraリriアa (Australia)

カ行 (Ka column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
カ	ka	カkaメmeラra (Camera)
キ	ki	キkiンnグgu  (King)
ク	ku	クkuラraスsu (Class)
ケ	ke	ケkeー–キki (Cake)
コ	ko	コkoー–ヒhiー– (Coffee)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ガ	ga	ガgaー–リriッkクku (Garlic)
ギ	gi	ギgiタtaー– (Guitar)
ゲ	gu	グguレreー–プpu (Grape)
ゲ	ge	ゲgeー–ムmu (Game)
ゴ	go	ゴgoリriラra (Gorilla)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
キャ	kya	キャkyaメmeルru (Camel)
キュ	kyu	キュkyuー–ブbu (cube)
キョ	kyo	キョkyoンnシshiー– (Chinese hopping vampire)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ギャ	gya	ギャgyaラraリriー– (Gallery)
ギュ	gyu	スsuイiギュgyuウu (Asian buffalo)
ギョ	gyo	キkiンnギョgyo  (Goldfish)

サ行 (Sa column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
サ	sa	サsaンnタta (Santa Claus)
シ	shi	シshiネneマma (Cinema)
ス	su	スsuプpuー–ンn (Spoon)
セ	se	セseー–タtaー– (Sweater)
ソ	so	ソsoー–セseー–ジji (Sausage)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ザ	za	ウuェeザzaー –(Weather)
ジ	ji(zi)	ジjiムmu (Gym)
ズ	zu	ズzuボboンn (Pants)
ゼ	ze	0 ゼzeロro (Zero)
ゾ	zo	ゾzoウuガgaメme (Giant tortoise)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
シャ	sha	シャshaツtsu (Shirt)
シュ	shu	シュshuガgaー– (Sugar)
ショ	sho	ショshoッpプpu (Shop)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ジャ	ja	ジャjaムmu (Jam)
ジュ	ju	ジュjuー–スsu (Juice)
ジョ	jo	ジョjoグgu (Jog)

タ行 (Ta column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
タ	ta	タtaコko (Octopus)
チ	ti(chi)	チchiキkiンn (Chicken)
ツ	tsu	ツtsuタtaンnカkaー–メmeンn (Tutankhamen)
テ	te	テteンnトto (Tent)
ト	to	トtoマmaトto (Tomato)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ダ	da	ダdaイiヤyaモmoンnドdo (Diamond)
ヂ	ji(di)	チchiヂdiミmi (Korean pancake) Many of the words with “ヂ” are now replaced by “ジ”, in the following cases, “ぢ””ヂ” is used. 1. When the same “ち(chi)” sound continues: “ちぢむ” (shrink) 2. When two words stick together and the sound becomes muddy: “まぢか” (間近 / near) 3. Proper noun: Bridgestone Corporation 4. Foreign language: “チヂミ” (Korean pancake)
ヅ	zu(du)	ベbeニniヅzuルru (紅beni鶴duru / Flamingo’ s Japanese name)
デ	de	カkaエeデde (楓kaede / Maple)
ド	do	ドdoアa (Door)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
チャ	cha	チャchaッkクku  (Zipper)
チョ	chu	チュchuー–リriッpプpu (Tulip)
チョ	cho	チョchoコkoレreー–トto (Chocolate)

ナ行 (Na column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ナ	na	ナnaイiトto (Knight)
ニ	ni	カkaニni  (Crab)
ヌ	nu	ヌnuー–ドdoルru (Noodles)
ネ	ne	ネneクkuタtaイi (Tie)
ノ	no	ノnoー–トtoパpaソsoコkoンn (Laptop)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ニャ	nya	ニャnyaンnコko (Cat)
ニュ	nyu	ニュnyuー–ヨyoー–クku (New York)
ニョ	nyo	セseニョnyoー–ルru  (Spanish; Señor)

ハ行 (Ha column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ハ	ha	ハhaッtトto (Hat)
ヒ	hi	ヒhiッpポpo (Hippo)
フ	hu (fu)	フhuクkuロroウu (Owl)
ヘ	he	ヘheリriコkoプpuタtaー– (Helicopter)
ホ	ho	ホhoッtトtoケkeー–キki (Pancake)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
バ	ba	バbaスsu (Bus)
ビ	bi	ビbiー–チchi (Beach)
ブ	bu	ブbuロroッkクku (Block)
ベ	be	べbeルru (Bell)
ボ	bo	ボboトtoルru (Bottle)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
パ	pa	パpaー–クku  (Park)
ピ	pi	ピpiー–ナnaッtツtsu (Peanut)
プ	pu	プpuリriンn (Pudding)
ペ	pe	ペpeンnギgiンn (Penguin)
ポ	po	ポpoニniー– (Pony)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ヒャ	hya	100 ヒャhyaクku (Hundred)
ヒュ	hyu	ヒュhyuー–マmaンn (Human)
ヒョ	hyo	ヒョhyoウu (Panther)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ビャ	bya	ビャbyaクkuダdaンn (Sandalwood)
ビュ	byu	ビュbyuー–ティthiー–サsaロroンn (Beauty Salon)
ビョ	byo	ビョbyoウuキki (病気byouki / Sickness)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ピャ	pya	600 ロroッpピャpyaクku (六百roppyaku / Six hundred)
ピュ	pyu	コkoンnピュpyuー–タta (Computer)
ピョ	pyo	ピョpyoンnピョpyoンn (Hopping sound)

マ行 (Ma column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
マ	ma	マmaグgu (Mug)
ミ	mi	ミmiドdoリri (緑midori / Green)
ム	mu	ムmuー–ビbiー– (Movie)
メ	me	メmeガgaネne (眼me鏡gane / Glasses)
モ	mo	モmoモmo  (桃momo / Peach)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ミャ	mya	ミャmyaー– (Meow)
ミュ	myu	ミュmyuー–ジjiッkクku (Music)
ミョ	myo	ダdaイiミョmyoウu (大名daimyou / Feudal lord)

ヤ行 (Ya column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ヤ	ya	ヤyaキュkyuウu (野球yakyuu / Baseball)
ユ	yu	ユyuウuレreイi (幽霊 yuurei/ Ghost)
ヨ	yo	ヨyoッtトto (Yacht)

ラ行 (Ra column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ラ	ra	ラraー–メmeンn (Ramen noodles)
リ	ri	リriサsaイiクkuルru (Recycle)
ル	ru	ルruー–レreッtトto (Roulette)
レ	re	レreコkoー–ドdo (Record)
ロ	ro	ロroー–ズzu (Rose)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
リャ	rya	リャryaマma (Llama)
リュ	ryu	リュryuッkクku (Rucksack)
リョ	ryo	リョryoケkeンn (旅券ryoken / Passport)

ワ行 (Wa column)

Katakana	Romaji	Examples
ワ	wa	ワwaー–ルruドdo (World)
ヲ	wo	うuたtaヲwo(をwo)うuたtaうu (sing a song) “を” or “ヲ” is used in sentences or in conversation, not as a single word.
ン	n	カkaンn  (缶 kan/ Can)

Japanese special pronunciation

Long Vowels (長音 / ちょうおん)

In Japanese, there are words that contain long vowels. It is called “長chou音on / ちょchoうuおoんn“.

When writing a long vowel in romaji, a horizontal bar (macron “-“) is added above the letters of the vowels “a,A”, “i,I”, “u,U”, “e,E”, and “o,O” to form “ā, Ā” “ī,Ī” “ū,Ū” “ē,Ē” “ō,Ō”.

[For example]
*おo母kaaさsaんn / おoかkaあaさsaんn / Mother : okaasan -> okāsan
The word “おかあさん / okaasan” has two consecutive vowels [a], so it is written in romaji with a horizontal bar above the vowel “a”, “okāsan“.
*ケkeー–キki / cake : keeki -> kēki
In loanwords and imitative sounds, long vowels are used to lengthen sounds. The word “ケーキ / keeki” has two consecutive vowels [e], so it is written in romaji with a horizontal bar above the vowel “e”, “kēki”.

Double consonant (促音 / そくおん)

In Japanese, there is a double consonant (pronunciation that gives a feeling of being stuck). It is called “促soku音on / そsoくkuおoんn“. Double consonants are written using small “っ / tsu” and “ッ / tsu” in Japanese.

[For example]
*スsuタtaッfフfu / staff : sutatsufu -> sutaffu
Small “ッ” of “スタッフ” is a double consonant, written “su ta f fu” (repeat subsequent consonants) in Romaji and pronounce “su ta tsu (small) fu”.
*作sa家kka / さsaっkかka / author : sakka
Small “っ” of “さっか” is a double consonant, written “sa k ka” (repeat subsequent consonants) in Romaji and pronounce “sa tsu (small) ka”.