Le tableau complet des katakana, avec un moyen de retenir chaque caractère
Les katakana écrivent les mêmes sons que les hiragana, en formes plus anguleuses — c’est ainsi que le japonais écrit les mots et noms étrangers. Chaque caractère avec son son, son nombre de traits, un moyen mnémotechnique et un mot emprunté que vous devinerez sans doute.
107 caractères
← Retour au tableau des hiragana
Les moyens mnémotechniques sont pour l'instant rédigés en anglais et en arabe. L'édition française arrive.
Vowels (ア イ ウ エ オ)
a
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: An axe blade with a short handle — swing it and shout "aah!"
アイス (aisu) — ice cream
i
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: An easel standing on a slant — ee!
イタリア (itaria) — Italy
u
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: う with a flat roof on top — a little hut that says "ooh".
ウール (uuru) — wool
e
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: An I-beam from a building site — an elevator shaft, e!
エアコン (eakon) — air conditioner
o
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A cross with a slash — someone opening their arms: "oh!"
オレンジ (orenji) — orange
K row (カ キ ク ケ コ)
ka
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: か without its little tick — same shape, same sound: ka.
カメラ (kamera) — camera
ki
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: き without its bottom loop — just the key's two teeth: ki.
キウイ (kiui) — kiwi
ku
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A bird's beak seen from the side, cooing ku.
クラス (kurasu) — class
ke
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A leaning letter K with a tail — ke.
ケーキ (keeki) — cake
ko
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A square corner — a corner of a cozy room: ko.
コーヒー (koohii) — coffee
S row (サ シ ス セ ソ)
sa
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A table with one leg bent — a sagging table, sa!
サラダ (sarada) — salad
shi
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A smiling face looking up: two eyes and a big grin rising from the bottom — she smiles, shi!
シール (shiiru) — sticker
su
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A person swinging on a rope — swoosh, su!
スープ (suupu) — soup
se
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: せ with its right side closed in a hook — same sound: se.
セーター (seetaa) — sweater
so
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: Two strokes falling from the top like sewing a stitch — so. Careful: it drops from above, unlike ン.
ソース (soosu) — sauce
T row (タ チ ツ テ ト)
ta
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: ク with an extra line inside — a taco with filling: ta!
タクシー (takushii) — taxi
chi
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A cheerleader with a pompom raised high — chi!
チーズ (chiizu) — cheese
tsu
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: Three strokes with the long one falling from the top — a tsunami wave. Unlike シ, the lines come down.
ツアー (tsuaa) — tour
te
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A telephone pole with its wires — te!
テレビ (terebi) — television
to
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A totem pole with one branch — to.
トマト (tomato) — tomato
N row (ナ ニ ヌ ネ ノ)
na
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A cross with a bent leg — a knife stuck in, na!
ナイフ (naifu) — knife
ni
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: Two lines — just like に without its left side: ni.
テニス (tenisu) — tennis
nu
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A pair of chopsticks catching noodles — nu!
ヌードル (nuudoru) — noodles
ne
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: A necktie hanging from a peg — ne.
ネクタイ (nekutai) — necktie
no
1 traits
Moyen de retenir: A single slash, like a "no" sign crossing something out — no.
ノート (nooto) — notebook
H row (ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ)
ha
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: Two strokes opening wide like a laugh — ha ha!
ハート (haato) — heart (symbol)
hi
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: ひ's cousin: a heel kicking out to the side — hee!
ヒーター (hiitaa) — heater
fu
1 traits
Moyen de retenir: The top of ふ blown away by the wind — fuu.
フランス (furansu) — France
he
1 traits
Moyen de retenir: Exactly like hiragana へ — a little hill: he.
ヘリコプター (herikoputaa) — helicopter
ho
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: 十 with two little feet — a scarecrow in a hot field: ho.
ホテル (hoteru) — hotel
M row (マ ミ ム メ モ)
ma
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A folded arm with a hand hanging down — mama waving: ma.
マンゴー (mangoo) — mango
mi
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: Three lines — three missiles flying: mi!
ミルク (miruku) — milk
mu
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A cow's head with one horn — moo!
ムード (muudo) — mood, atmosphere
me
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: An X marks the spot on a treasure map — me!
メロン (meron) — melon
mo
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: も without its hook — same sound: mo.
モスク (mosuku) — mosque
Y row (ヤ ユ ヨ)
ya
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A slimmer や — same sound: ya!
タイヤ (taiya) — tyre
yu
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A U-turn sign on its side — yu.
ユーモア (yuumoa) — humour
yo
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A backwards E, like a yo-yo string with three loops — yo.
ヨーグルト (yooguruto) — yoghurt
R row (ラ リ ル レ ロ)
ra
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: A lid on top of a hook — a ramen bowl: ra.
ラジオ (rajio) — radio
ri
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: Just like hiragana り, straighter — ri.
リモコン (rimokon) — remote control
ru
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: Two roots, one ending in a kick — ru.
ルール (ruuru) — rule
re
1 traits
Moyen de retenir: A single stroke bending up — a checkmark: re.
レモン (remon) — lemon
ro
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: A square box — a robot's head: ro.
ロボット (robotto) — robot
W row (ワ ヲ)
wa
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: ウ without the dot — a wide open mouth: wa!
ハワイ (hawai) — Hawaii
wo
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: ワ with an extra line — the rare katakana wo. You'll almost never see it; hiragana を does that job.
The final ン
n
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: Like ソ, but the long stroke sweeps up from the bottom — n.
ペン (pen) — pen
G row — dakuten (ガ ギ グ ゲ ゴ)
ga
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: カ (ka) + ゛ = ガ (ga). The two dots switch the voice on.
ガス (gasu) — gas
gi
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + ゛ = ギ (gi). The two dots switch the voice on.
ギター (gitaa) — guitar
gu
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ク (ku) + ゛ = グ (gu). The two dots switch the voice on.
グラス (gurasu) — glass (for drinking)
ge
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ケ (ke) + ゛ = ゲ (ge). The two dots switch the voice on.
ゲーム (geemu) — game
go
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: コ (ko) + ゛ = ゴ (go). The two dots switch the voice on.
ゴール (gooru) — goal
Z row — dakuten (ザ ジ ズ ゼ ゾ)
za
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: サ (sa) + ゛ = ザ (za). The dots add a buzz.
ピザ (piza) — pizza
ji
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + ゛ = ジ (ji). The dots add a buzz.
ジーンズ (jiinzu) — jeans
zu
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ス (su) + ゛ = ズ (zu). The dots add a buzz.
ズボン (zubon) — trousers
ze
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: セ (se) + ゛ = ゼ (ze). The dots add a buzz.
ゼロ (zero) — zero
zo
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ソ (so) + ゛ = ゾ (zo). The dots add a buzz.
ゾーン (zoon) — zone
D row — dakuten (ダ ヂ ヅ デ ド)
da
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: タ (ta) + ゛ = ダ (da). The dots make it heavier.
ダンス (dansu) — dance
ji
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + ゛ = ヂ, read "ji" like ジ. Very rare in katakana — ジ does the job almost everywhere.
zu
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ツ (tsu) + ゛ = ヅ, read "zu" like ズ. Very rare in katakana — ズ does the job almost everywhere.
de
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: テ (te) + ゛ = デ (de). The dots make it heavier.
デザート (dezaato) — dessert
do
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ト (to) + ゛ = ド (do). The dots make it heavier.
ドア (doa) — door
B row — dakuten (バ ビ ブ ベ ボ)
ba
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ハ (ha) + ゛ = バ (ba). The dots make it heavier.
バス (basu) — bus
bi
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + ゛ = ビ (bi). The dots make it heavier.
ビル (biru) — (tall) building
bu
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: フ (fu) + ゛ = ブ (bu). The dots make it heavier.
ブログ (burogu) — blog
be
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヘ (he) + ゛ = ベ (be). The dots make it heavier.
ベルト (beruto) — belt
bo
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: ホ (ho) + ゛ = ボ (bo). The dots make it heavier.
ボール (booru) — ball
P row — handakuten (パ ピ プ ペ ポ)
pa
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: ハ (ha) + ゜ = パ (pa). The little circle makes the sound pop.
パスタ (pasuta) — pasta
pi
3 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + ゜ = ピ (pi). The little circle makes the sound pop.
ピアノ (piano) — piano
pu
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: フ (fu) + ゜ = プ (pu). The little circle makes the sound pop.
プール (puuru) — swimming pool
pe
2 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヘ (he) + ゜ = ペ (pe). The little circle makes the sound pop.
ページ (peeji) — page
po
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ホ (ho) + ゜ = ポ (po). The little circle makes the sound pop.
ポスト (posuto) — postbox
Yōon I (キャ・シャ・チャ)
kya
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + small ャ = キャ (kya), one smooth syllable.
キャンプ (kyanpu) — camping
kyu
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + small ュ = キュ (kyu), one smooth syllable.
キューブ (kyuubu) — cube
kyo
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + small ョ = キョ (kyo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
sha
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + small ャ = シャ (sha), one smooth syllable.
シャツ (shatsu) — shirt
shu
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + small ュ = シュ (shu), one smooth syllable.
シューズ (shuuzu) — shoes, trainers
sho
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + small ョ = ショ (sho), one smooth syllable.
ショップ (shoppu) — shop
cha
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + small ャ = チャ (cha), one smooth syllable.
チャンス (chansu) — chance
chu
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + small ュ = チュ (chu), one smooth syllable.
チューリップ (chuurippu) — tulip
cho
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + small ョ = チョ (cho), one smooth syllable.
チョコレート (chokoreeto) — chocolate
Yōon II (ニャ・ヒャ・ミャ・リャ)
nya
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ニ (ni) + small ャ = ニャ (nya), one smooth syllable.
ニャー (nyaa) — meow
nyu
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ニ (ni) + small ュ = ニュ (nyu), one smooth syllable.
ニュース (nyuusu) — news
nyo
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ニ (ni) + small ョ = ニョ (nyo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
hya
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + small ャ = ヒャ (hya), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
hyu
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + small ュ = ヒュ (hyu), one smooth syllable.
ヒューズ (hyuuzu) — (electric) fuse
hyo
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + small ョ = ヒョ (hyo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
mya
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ミ (mi) + small ャ = ミャ (mya), one smooth syllable.
ミャンマー (myanmaa) — Myanmar
myu
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ミ (mi) + small ュ = ミュ (myu), one smooth syllable.
ミュージック (myuujikku) — music
myo
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: ミ (mi) + small ョ = ミョ (myo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
rya
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: リ (ri) + small ャ = リャ (rya), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
ryu
4 traits
Moyen de retenir: リ (ri) + small ュ = リュ (ryu), one smooth syllable.
リュック (ryukku) — backpack
ryo
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: リ (ri) + small ョ = リョ (ryo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
Yōon III (ギャ・ジャ・ビャ・ピャ)
gya
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ギ (gi) + small ャ = ギャ (gya), one smooth syllable.
ギャラリー (gyararii) — gallery
gyu
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ギ (gi) + small ュ = ギュ (gyu), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
gyo
8 traits
Moyen de retenir: ギ (gi) + small ョ = ギョ (gyo), one smooth syllable.
ギョーザ (gyooza) — gyoza (dumplings)
ja
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ジ (ji) + small ャ = ジャ (ja), one smooth syllable.
ジャム (jamu) — jam
ju
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ジ (ji) + small ュ = ジュ (ju), one smooth syllable.
ジュース (juusu) — juice
jo
8 traits
Moyen de retenir: ジ (ji) + small ョ = ジョ (jo), one smooth syllable.
ジョギング (jogingu) — jogging
ja
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヂ + small ャ = ヂャ, read "ja" like ジャ. Practically never used — kept for completeness.
ju
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヂ + small ュ = ヂュ, read "ju" like ジュ. Practically never used — kept for completeness.
jo
8 traits
Moyen de retenir: ヂ + small ョ = ヂョ, read "jo" like ジョ. Practically never used — kept for completeness.
bya
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: ビ (bi) + small ャ = ビャ (bya), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
byu
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: ビ (bi) + small ュ = ビュ (byu), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
byo
7 traits
Moyen de retenir: ビ (bi) + small ョ = ビョ (byo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
pya
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ピ (pi) + small ャ = ピャ (pya), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.
pyu
5 traits
Moyen de retenir: ピ (pi) + small ュ = ピュ (pyu), one smooth syllable.
ピューレ (pyuure) — purée
pyo
6 traits
Moyen de retenir: ピ (pi) + small ョ = ピョ (pyo), one smooth syllable. Rare in katakana — you'll mostly meet it in foreign names.