Articles

Interactive Basic Katakana Chart showing all 46 Japanese Katakana characters
Guide • 12 min read

Basic Katakana Chart: Complete Guide to All 46 Characters

Master all 46 basic Katakana characters with our interactive chart. Includes Dakuon, Handakuon, and Youon combinations with romaji pronunciation guides.

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Hiragana vs Katakana comparison showing the visual differences between both Japanese scripts
Comparison • 14 min read

Hiragana vs Katakana: Key Differences and Which to Learn First

Understand the fundamental differences between Hiragana and Katakana, their origins, when to use each, and expert tips for rapid memorization.

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Interactive Katakana Quiz with gamified quiz interface and answer options
Practice • 10 min read

Katakana Quiz: Free Interactive Practice Test for All Characters

Test your Katakana reading skills with multiple quiz modes — basic characters, Dakuon challenge, and a 60-second speed round with instant feedback.

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Katakana Dakuten and Yoon Combinations guide showing voiced sounds and contracted kana
Guide • 15 min read

Katakana Dakuten & Yoon Combinations: The Complete Guide

Master voiced sounds (゛), handakuten P-sounds (゜), and contracted yoon combinations (キャ, シュ, チョ) with romaji, pronunciation rules, and loanword examples.

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How to Write Your Name in Katakana — Step by step guide showing Japanese passport and Katakana name badges
Pillar Guide • 18 min read

How to Write Your Name in Katakana: Step-by-Step Guide

The definitive 4-step framework for converting any foreign name into Katakana. Covers L/R and TH rules, 15 worked examples, and legal alias tips.

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Famous celebrity and anime names written in Katakana with neon cards
Guide • 16 min read

25 Famous Celebrity & Anime Names in Katakana

Discover how 25 global icons and anime characters render their names in Katakana, and master the 5 naming patterns you can steal for your own name.

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English sounds that do not exist in Japanese like L and R, V, TH, and TI
Linguistics • 17 min read

English Sounds That Don't Exist in Japanese (L/R, V, TH)

Deep dive into why English phonemes break down in Japanese, the mechanics of the Japanese L/R sound, and 20 before/after Katakana transformation rules.

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Japanese Name Order Explained — Family name first versus given name first comparison
Culture • 16 min read

Japanese Name Order Explained: Family Name First

Understand the traditional surname-first convention, when it applies to foreigners, how to fill out official Japanese forms, and critical honorific rules.

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Guidelines for Japanese business cards (meishi) showing bilingual layout with Katakana names
Business • 16 min read

Katakana Names on Business Cards (Meishi Etiquette)

Where to place your Katakana name on Japanese business cards, typography and size norms, bilingual card layouts, and exchange etiquette mistakes.

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Choosing a Katakana baby name for multicultural children showing baby documents and name cards
Naming • 17 min read

Choosing Baby Names in Katakana for Multicultural Children

How to select cross-cultural baby names with positive sound symbolism, avoid unfortunate Japanese homophones, and navigate legal Koseki registration.

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Common Katakana Words including コーヒー, テレビ, パソコン, レストラン
Vocabulary • 15 min read

150 Common Katakana Words Every Learner Should Know

The essential Katakana vocabulary list organized by category — food, technology, sports, and daily life — with romaji and English meanings.

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Try Our Katakana Converter

Ready to put your knowledge into practice? Use our free English to Katakana converter to see how English words and names look in Japanese Katakana.

Online Katakana Converter →