N5 · STEP 2

Katakana chart: the 46 basic characters

Published 29 August 2026 · DeckLearn Editorial Team · Reviewed by DeckLearn Australia

After hiragana, katakana is step two. It uses the same core sound inventory and appears frequently in loanwords and foreign names.

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o (wo)ンn

Examples: コーヒー coffee, ホテル hotel and オーストラリア Australia. Watch シ/ツ and ソ/ン.

Path: hiragana → katakana → kana sentences → kanji + furigana → increasingly natural reading from N5 to N1.

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