Japanese writing systems for Italian readers

The idea

Hiragana and katakana represent sounds using kana, generally one mora per character or combination. Hiragana writes particles and verb endings, as in を and みます; katakana often writes borrowed words such as コーヒー. Kanji represent meaningful elements of words: 本 is read ほん here. Unlike Italian letters, a kanji can have different readings depending on the word. Small furigana gives the reading.

Examples

• 水みずを飲のみます。I drink water.
• コーヒーを飲のみます。I drink coffee.
• 本ほんを読よみます。I read a book.
• 学校がっこうに行いきます。I go to school.
• これは猫ねこです。This is a cat.
• パンを買かいます。I buy bread.

Watch out

Do not expect spaces between Japanese words or assume each kanji has just one pronunciation. Katakana is also used for emphasis and other purposes, not only loans.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the hiragana spelling of mizu (water): みず or ミズ.

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   みず

   みず is hiragana; ミズ represents the same sounds in katakana.

2. Choose the usual katakana spelling of coffee: コーヒー or こーひー.

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   コーヒー

   コーヒー is the usual katakana spelling; ー marks a long vowel.

3. Write the reading of 本 in hiragana.

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   ほん

   ほん is the reading of 本 in the example 本を読みます.

Use it today

In each example, identify the kanji, kana endings and any katakana; then read the whole sentence.