Katakana m row: マ ミ ム メ モ

The idea

マ ミ ム メ モ are read ma, mi, mu, me, mo in Hepburn romanization. Their hiragana counterparts are ま み む め も. Each full-size sign represents one mora; the chart pairs both scripts with the same readings.

Examples

• サラダとトマトを食たべます。I eat salad and tomatoes.
• マヨネーズを使つかいます。I use mayonnaise.
• ユニフォームを着きます。I wear a uniform.
• ヘルメットをかぶります。I put on a helmet.
• メモを書かきます。I write a note.
• ミルクを飲のみます。I drink milk.

Watch out

Do not confuse ム with マ or メ with ヌ. In メモ, both signs are full size and represent separate beats.

Try it yourself

1. Write the katakana counterpart of み.

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   ミ

   ミ and み represent the same sound, mi; the katakana form is ミ.

2. Fill the blank with one katakana character: ユニフォー＿ (yunifōmu).

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   ム

   ム represents mu and completes ユニフォーム, read yunifōmu.

3. Fill the blank with one katakana character: メ＿ (memo).

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   モ

   モ represents mo and completes メモ, read memo.

Use it today

Cover the chart, read two example sentences aloud and write the target kana from memory. Then check the forms and sounds against the chart.