Japanese, the Crazy Language – Katakana Mnemonic
published in: Japanese Language
A while ago I posted on how to recognise and read Hiragana alphabets. For those crazy people out there who are still interested in getting to know more of this maddest language, here’s how to recognise and remember the second of Japanese characters – Katakana.
/a/
Let’s dig an underground tunnel! ア as in “underground“.
/i/
I want an easel. イ as in
“easel“.
/u/
I have oodles of arrowheads. ウ as in “oodles“.
/e/
I have an extra bone. エ as in “extra“.
/o/
Oh! What an odd kick! オ as in “oh“.
/ka/
A kite is flying in the sky. カ as in “kite“.
/ki/
I have a key. キ as in “key“.
/ku/
This is a quick seven. ク as in “quick“
/ke/
It’s a crooked “K“. ケ as in crooked “K“.
/ko/
I have a cold. コ as in “cold“.
/sa/
Let socks dry. サ as in “socks“.
/shi/
She has a crooked smile. シ as in “she“.
/su/
My kid has a swing set. ス as
in “swing“.
/se/
This is Senor Martines. セ asn in “Senor“.
/so/
A soy bean jumped out! ソ as in “soy“.
/ta/
Titanic is sinking. タ as
in “Titanic“.
/chi/
A chimp is on the ball. チ as in “chimp“.
/tsu/
I havde three peanuts. ツ as in “peanuts“.
/te/
A cat’s tail. テ as in “tail“.
/to/
This is a tomahawk. ト as
in “tomahawk“.
/na/
Number 1, 2, and 3. ナ as
in “number“.
/ni/
I have two needles. ニ as
in “needles“.
/nu/
Look at my new dress! ヌ as in “new“.
/ne/
Balancing is never easy! ネ as in “never“.
/no/
He has a long nose. ノ as
in “nose“.
/ha/
Ha, ha, ha! I can’t stop laughing. ハ as in “ha“.
/hi/
This is my heel. ヒ as in
“heel“.
/hu/
A hook on a wall. フ as in
“hook“.
/he/
There is a haystack. ヘ as
in “haystack“.
/ho/
I’m holding a holy cross. ホ as in “holy“.
/ma/
Don’t drink too much Martini. マ as in “Martini“.
/mi/
Who is 3? Me! ミ as in “me“.
/mu/
Moo-moo move! ム as in “moo“.
/me/
I mended my pants. メ as
in “mended“.
/mo/
There are four monitors. モ as in “monitors“.
/ya/
A yacht in the sea. ヤ as
in “yacht“.
/yu/
I saw a U-boat. ユ as in
“U-boat“.
/yo/
I can yoga! ヨ as in “yoga“.
/ra/
This is a Japanese lantern. ラ as in “lantern“.
/ri/
This is her ribbon. リ as
in “ribbon“.
/ru/
Roots of an apple tree. ル as in “roots“.
/re/
Let’s go! レ as in “let’s“.
/ro/
We have a loaf of bread. ロ as in “loaf“.
/wa/
A wine glass. ワ as in “wine”
glass.
/wo/
Wow! He’s happy! ヲ as in
“wow“.
/nn/
Mmm Yammy! ン as in “mmm“.
(“mmm” with your mouth open, or “nnn“)
A bit of sneaky advertisement
Interesting Katakana guide, but a lot your english mnemonics are WAY off.
Just to use a couple examples:
Katakana “Wo” is pronounced with a long “o” sound.
English “Wow” is pronounced with a short “a” sound.
Katakana “a” is pronounced like “aww”
English “underground” is pronounced like “ugly” or “hung”.
Señor is actually spanish, and pronounced “see”
Katakana “Se” is pronounced like english “Say”
For anyone who wants a better reference, read:
Remembering the Kana, by James W. Heisig.
I have to agree with Kishi above, your mnemonics are way off.
The pictues are a good idea but maybe you should change the sounds so people won’t be pronouncing them wrong.
I have to agree with Kishi above, your mnemonics are way off.The pictues are a good idea but maybe you should change the sounds so people won’t be pronouncing them wrong.
+1