Translation guide
The Japanese writing system known as kana, consisting of hiragana and katakana. This entry explains how to refer to these scripts in Japanese.
Referring to the Japanese syllabic scripts as a whole.
The standard term for the kana syllabaries, encompassing both hiragana and katakana.
Referring specifically to the cursive syllabary used for native words and grammatical elements.
Referring specifically to the angular syllabary used for foreign words and emphasis.
Japanese is written with kanji and kana.
The cursive syllabary used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb endings.
ひらがなを覚えましょう。
Let's learn hiragana.
The kanji representation of hiragana, used in more formal or academic contexts.
平仮名は平安時代に発展しました。
Hiragana developed during the Heian period.
The angular syllabary used primarily for foreign loanwords, onomatopoeia, and emphasis.
外来語はカタカナで書きます。
Loanwords are written in katakana.
The kanji representation of katakana, used in formal or academic writing.
片仮名は漢字の一部から作られました。
Katakana was created from parts of kanji.