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)

ア

a

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: An axe blade with a short handle — swing it and shout "aah!"

アイス (aisu) — ice cream

イ

i

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: An easel standing on a slant — ee!

イタリア (itaria) — Italy

ウ

u

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: う with a flat roof on top — a little hut that says "ooh".

ウール (uuru) — wool

エ

e

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: An I-beam from a building site — an elevator shaft, e!

エアコン (eakon) — air conditioner

オ

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)

カ

ka

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: か without its little tick — same shape, same sound: ka.

カメラ (kamera) — camera

キ

ki

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: き without its bottom loop — just the key's two teeth: ki.

キウイ (kiui) — kiwi

ク

ku

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A bird's beak seen from the side, cooing ku.

クラス (kurasu) — class

ケ

ke

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: A leaning letter K with a tail — ke.

ケーキ (keeki) — cake

コ

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)

サ

sa

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: A table with one leg bent — a sagging table, sa!

サラダ (sarada) — salad

シ

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

ス

su

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A person swinging on a rope — swoosh, su!

スープ (suupu) — soup

セ

se

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: せ with its right side closed in a hook — same sound: se.

セーター (seetaa) — sweater

ソ

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)

タ

ta

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: ク with an extra line inside — a taco with filling: ta!

タクシー (takushii) — taxi

チ

chi

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: A cheerleader with a pompom raised high — chi!

チーズ (chiizu) — cheese

ツ

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

テ

te

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: A telephone pole with its wires — te!

テレビ (terebi) — television

ト

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)

ナ

na

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A cross with a bent leg — a knife stuck in, na!

ナイフ (naifu) — knife

ニ

ni

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: Two lines — just like に without its left side: ni.

テニス (tenisu) — tennis

ヌ

nu

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A pair of chopsticks catching noodles — nu!

ヌードル (nuudoru) — noodles

ネ

ne

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: A necktie hanging from a peg — ne.

ネクタイ (nekutai) — necktie

ノ

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)

ハ

ha

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: Two strokes opening wide like a laugh — ha ha!

ハート (haato) — heart (symbol)

ヒ

hi

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: ひ's cousin: a heel kicking out to the side — hee!

ヒーター (hiitaa) — heater

フ

fu

1 traits

Moyen de retenir: The top of ふ blown away by the wind — fuu.

フランス (furansu) — France

ヘ

he

1 traits

Moyen de retenir: Exactly like hiragana へ — a little hill: he.

ヘリコプター (herikoputaa) — helicopter

ホ

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)

マ

ma

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A folded arm with a hand hanging down — mama waving: ma.

マンゴー (mangoo) — mango

ミ

mi

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: Three lines — three missiles flying: mi!

ミルク (miruku) — milk

ム

mu

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A cow's head with one horn — moo!

ムード (muudo) — mood, atmosphere

メ

me

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: An X marks the spot on a treasure map — me!

メロン (meron) — melon

モ

mo

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: も without its hook — same sound: mo.

モスク (mosuku) — mosque

Y row (ヤ ユ ヨ)

ヤ

ya

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A slimmer や — same sound: ya!

タイヤ (taiya) — tyre

ユ

yu

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A U-turn sign on its side — yu.

ユーモア (yuumoa) — humour

ヨ

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)

ラ

ra

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: A lid on top of a hook — a ramen bowl: ra.

ラジオ (rajio) — radio

リ

ri

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: Just like hiragana り, straighter — ri.

リモコン (rimokon) — remote control

ル

ru

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: Two roots, one ending in a kick — ru.

ルール (ruuru) — rule

レ

re

1 traits

Moyen de retenir: A single stroke bending up — a checkmark: re.

レモン (remon) — lemon

ロ

ro

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: A square box — a robot's head: ro.

ロボット (robotto) — robot

W row (ワ ヲ)

ワ

wa

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: ウ without the dot — a wide open mouth: wa!

ハワイ (hawai) — Hawaii

ヲ

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

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)

ガ

ga

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: カ (ka) + ゛ = ガ (ga). The two dots switch the voice on.

ガス (gasu) — gas

ギ

gi

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + ゛ = ギ (gi). The two dots switch the voice on.

ギター (gitaa) — guitar

グ

gu

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ク (ku) + ゛ = グ (gu). The two dots switch the voice on.

グラス (gurasu) — glass (for drinking)

ゲ

ge

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: ケ (ke) + ゛ = ゲ (ge). The two dots switch the voice on.

ゲーム (geemu) — game

ゴ

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)

ザ

za

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: サ (sa) + ゛ = ザ (za). The dots add a buzz.

ピザ (piza) — pizza

ジ

ji

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + ゛ = ジ (ji). The dots add a buzz.

ジーンズ (jiinzu) — jeans

ズ

zu

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ス (su) + ゛ = ズ (zu). The dots add a buzz.

ズボン (zubon) — trousers

ゼ

ze

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: セ (se) + ゛ = ゼ (ze). The dots add a buzz.

ゼロ (zero) — zero

ゾ

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)

ダ

da

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: タ (ta) + ゛ = ダ (da). The dots make it heavier.

ダンス (dansu) — dance

ヂ

ji

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + ゛ = ヂ, read "ji" like ジ. Very rare in katakana — ジ does the job almost everywhere.

ヅ

zu

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: ツ (tsu) + ゛ = ヅ, read "zu" like ズ. Very rare in katakana — ズ does the job almost everywhere.

デ

de

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: テ (te) + ゛ = デ (de). The dots make it heavier.

デザート (dezaato) — dessert

ド

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)

バ

ba

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ハ (ha) + ゛ = バ (ba). The dots make it heavier.

バス (basu) — bus

ビ

bi

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + ゛ = ビ (bi). The dots make it heavier.

ビル (biru) — (tall) building

ブ

bu

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: フ (fu) + ゛ = ブ (bu). The dots make it heavier.

ブログ (burogu) — blog

ベ

be

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヘ (he) + ゛ = ベ (be). The dots make it heavier.

ベルト (beruto) — belt

ボ

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)

パ

pa

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: ハ (ha) + ゜ = パ (pa). The little circle makes the sound pop.

パスタ (pasuta) — pasta

ピ

pi

3 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + ゜ = ピ (pi). The little circle makes the sound pop.

ピアノ (piano) — piano

プ

pu

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: フ (fu) + ゜ = プ (pu). The little circle makes the sound pop.

プール (puuru) — swimming pool

ペ

pe

2 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヘ (he) + ゜ = ペ (pe). The little circle makes the sound pop.

ページ (peeji) — page

ポ

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)

キャ

kya

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + small ャ = キャ (kya), one smooth syllable.

キャンプ (kyanpu) — camping

キュ

kyu

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: キ (ki) + small ュ = キュ (kyu), one smooth syllable.

キューブ (kyuubu) — cube

キョ

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.

シャ

sha

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + small ャ = シャ (sha), one smooth syllable.

シャツ (shatsu) — shirt

シュ

shu

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + small ュ = シュ (shu), one smooth syllable.

シューズ (shuuzu) — shoes, trainers

ショ

sho

6 traits

Moyen de retenir: シ (shi) + small ョ = ショ (sho), one smooth syllable.

ショップ (shoppu) — shop

チャ

cha

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + small ャ = チャ (cha), one smooth syllable.

チャンス (chansu) — chance

チュ

chu

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: チ (chi) + small ュ = チュ (chu), one smooth syllable.

チューリップ (chuurippu) — tulip

チョ

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)

ニャ

nya

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ニ (ni) + small ャ = ニャ (nya), one smooth syllable.

ニャー (nyaa) — meow

ニュ

nyu

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ニ (ni) + small ュ = ニュ (nyu), one smooth syllable.

ニュース (nyuusu) — news

ニョ

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.

ヒャ

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.

ヒュ

hyu

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヒ (hi) + small ュ = ヒュ (hyu), one smooth syllable.

ヒューズ (hyuuzu) — (electric) fuse

ヒョ

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.

ミャ

mya

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: ミ (mi) + small ャ = ミャ (mya), one smooth syllable.

ミャンマー (myanmaa) — Myanmar

ミュ

myu

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: ミ (mi) + small ュ = ミュ (myu), one smooth syllable.

ミュージック (myuujikku) — music

ミョ

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.

リャ

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.

リュ

ryu

4 traits

Moyen de retenir: リ (ri) + small ュ = リュ (ryu), one smooth syllable.

リュック (ryukku) — backpack

リョ

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)

ギャ

gya

7 traits

Moyen de retenir: ギ (gi) + small ャ = ギャ (gya), one smooth syllable.

ギャラリー (gyararii) — gallery

ギュ

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.

ギョ

gyo

8 traits

Moyen de retenir: ギ (gi) + small ョ = ギョ (gyo), one smooth syllable.

ギョーザ (gyooza) — gyoza (dumplings)

ジャ

ja

7 traits

Moyen de retenir: ジ (ji) + small ャ = ジャ (ja), one smooth syllable.

ジャム (jamu) — jam

ジュ

ju

7 traits

Moyen de retenir: ジ (ji) + small ュ = ジュ (ju), one smooth syllable.

ジュース (juusu) — juice

ジョ

jo

8 traits

Moyen de retenir: ジ (ji) + small ョ = ジョ (jo), one smooth syllable.

ジョギング (jogingu) — jogging

ヂャ

ja

7 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヂ + small ャ = ヂャ, read "ja" like ジャ. Practically never used — kept for completeness.

ヂュ

ju

7 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヂ + small ュ = ヂュ, read "ju" like ジュ. Practically never used — kept for completeness.

ヂョ

jo

8 traits

Moyen de retenir: ヂ + small ョ = ヂョ, read "jo" like ジョ. Practically never used — kept for completeness.

ビャ

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.

ビュ

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.

ビョ

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.

ピャ

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.

ピュ

pyu

5 traits

Moyen de retenir: ピ (pi) + small ュ = ピュ (pyu), one smooth syllable.

ピューレ (pyuure) — purée

ピョ

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.