Use Distinguishing look-alike kana to read useful Japanese words and sentences. Some words are written in kana here for practice even when kanji is common.

The idea

Compare both the short marks and the direction of the long stroke. In シ and ン the long stroke rises from lower left; in ツ and ソ it runs from upper right downward. ぬ ends with a loop; め has no such loop. Check the whole shape in a chart.

Patterns to compare
KanaReading (romaji)
シshi
ツtsu
ソso
ンn
ぬnu
めme

Examples

  • シャツを買かいます。I buy a shirt.
  • ソファに座すわります。I sit on the sofa.
  • ジュースを飲のみます。I drink juice.
  • そのペンは青あおいです。That pen is blue.
  • めが痛いたいです。My eye hurts.
  • いぬは小ちいさいです。The dog is small.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The position of the short marks alone is not a reliable test: follow the direction of the long stroke as well, and compare handwritten forms.

Try it yourself

  1. Fill the blank with one kana or mark: ＿ャツ (shatsu).

    Show answer or example answer

    シ

    Compare the written parts and reading: シ = shi；シャ = sha.

  2. Fill the blank with one kana or mark: ＿ファ (sofa).

    Show answer or example answer

    ソ

    Compare the written parts and reading: ソ = so；ソファ = sofa.

  3. Fill the blank with one kana or mark: ペ＿ (pen).

    Show answer or example answer

    ン

    Compare the written parts and reading: ン = n；ペン = pen.

Use it today

Cover the chart, read two examples aloud and write one target word from memory. Compare its spelling and timing with the original.