What's the Difference between Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji?
The Japanese Language has 3 "Alphabets", Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji.
Hiragana is used for particles and words that have no kanji. It is also used in-case you don't know the Kanji form of the word or for words that, in Kanji, are too formal for what your writing. It is also used for Verb and adjective inflections.
Katakana is used for non-native language words. It is sometimes used with Japanese words just for a stylistic way (like in manga).
Kanji Are adopted Chinese Characters. There are around 1,945 Kanji characters used in Japan today.
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(you can also type out neat little icons using the Japanese Language bar!)
Not only is it important to type in the language it is also imperative to hand write it out! Threw typing it out you may be able to read the language as fast as English but if you were ask to hand write what you have just typed I'm sure nearly all of you will stumble and draw up a blank on certain characters and you'll be kicking yourself in the butt because you'll be thinking "I can read that character with no sweat and I can't believe I totally forgot how to write it!!"
Here is a ひらがな Chart that school children use when they are first learning there language. It may be a good idea to print this out to help you study!
It shows the ひらがな on the white boxes and カタカナ and ローマ字on the bottom of the white boxes in black. The numbers on theひらがな are next to a line stroke and tells you where to position and stroke the pen and the correct stroke order.
Like So.
Images don't want to work for some reason so just copy and past the web page to view Them!
Remember!! Practice Makes Perfect!!! biggrin
Pronunciation
The Japanese Vowels are the same as ours. A-E-I-O-U. They are in a different order and are pronounced the same as in Spanish with consonants the same as English with a few exceptions.
Short Vowel Sound
a as in father, alms
e as in pen, red
i as in ink, machine
o as in open, ocean
u as in true, cruel
Vowel Combinations
All the combined vowels are pronounced in full; for example:
ei=e+i sounded as in day
ai=a+i sounded as in alive
ou=o+u sounded as in float
au=a+u sounded as in out
Long Vowels
Long vowels are pronounced like short vowels but doubled in length:
o in hato(pigeon) is like the o in oil
o in toutou (at last) is like the the o in torch
An n occurring before b, m, and p changes to an m in sound and is so written when romanized:
shin+bun=Shimbun (newspaper)
shin+pai=shimpai (worry)
an+ma=amma (message)
The initial g in a word is usually hard as the g in get and the mid-word g is often nasally as the ng in king.
A double consonant is pronounced independently together. A double c is usually written and always pronounced as te.
yatta(gave)= yat+ta
kitta(cut)= Kit+ta
matchi(match)=mat+chi
kotchi(here)=kot+chi
The u is nearly mute in Japanese except where it is the initial syllable. Particularly where u follows an s it is not articulated.
desu=des as in desparate
suteeki(steak)= steiki
The r is pronounced like the r in Spanish. A midway sound between l and r. It is never rolled.
The f is very soft and you pronounce it by barely touching your bottom lip to the top of your upper teeth.
