Complete Katakana Chart – All 46 Characters with Romaji

Katakana (カタカナ) is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It is used to write foreign loanwords, foreign names, onomatopoeia, and emphasis — making it essential for anyone learning Japanese or visiting Japan. If your name is Emma, Lucas, or Sophie, a Japanese person would write it in katakana. This page gives you the complete reference chart — all 46 base characters, dakuten variants, yōon combinations, and a full reading guide.

Whether you're studying for the JLPT, preparing for a trip to Japan, planning a tattoo, or simply curious about how your name looks in Japanese — this katakana alphabet chart is your go-to reference.

Quick navigation: 46-character chart · Dakuten variants · Yōon combinations · Reading guide · Similar characters · English loanwords

History and origin of katakana

The 46 Basic Katakana Characters

The chart below follows the traditional Japanese sound order (gojūon). Each column corresponds to a vowel, each row to a consonant. Every character maps to exactly one syllable.

Dakuten (゛) and Handakuten (゜) — voiced variants

Adding the dakuten mark (two small strokes at the top right) creates voiced consonants. The handakuten (a small circle) applies only to the H row to create the P sounds.

Katakana Combinations (Yōon) — Contracted Sounds

Beyond the 46 base characters and their dakuten variants, katakana allows contracted sounds (yōon) formed by pairing a main character with a small ヤ (ya), ユ (yu), or ヨ (yo). These combinations are especially important for transcribing sounds that don't exist natively in Japanese — like "fa", "fi", "ti", or "che" — and appear constantly in foreign names and loanwords.

Now that you know katakana — see how your name is written

In Japan, all foreign names are written in katakana. Here are some popular examples to show you how the transcription works:

Don't see your name? Use our free Japanese name converter — it works with any name, regardless of its origin or length.

Katakana vs Hiragana vs Kanji — What's the difference?

Japanese uses three writing systems simultaneously. Here's how to tell them apart at a glance:

In practice, a typical Japanese sentence mixes all three systems. Katakana stands out immediately thanks to its sharp, angular style — it's often the first script beginners learn to identify in the wild.

How to Read Katakana — 4 Essential Rules

Katakana is fully phonetic: once you know the rules, you can read any character. Here are the four key points to memorize.

Name breakdowns — syllable by syllable

Here's how three popular English names are broken down into Japanese syllables:

Katakana Characters That Look Alike — How to Tell Them Apart

Several katakana pairs are visually very similar. This is the #1 stumbling block for beginners. Here are the most common mix-ups and how to avoid them.

Common English Words Written in Katakana

English is by far the largest source of loanwords in modern Japanese. These borrowed words (gairaigo, 外来語) are all written in katakana and are part of everyday Japanese vocabulary. You'll recognize many of them instantly.

Notice how the transcription follows pronunciation strictly: "computer" becomes コンピューター (kon-pyū-tā) because Japanese syllables always end in a vowel. The ー mark extends the final vowel sound that doesn't exist in the original English word.

Keep exploring Japanese

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Katakana