Hiragana vs Katakana: A Beginner's Guide
What each Japanese script is for, how they differ, and how to start reading and typing them.
What is hiragana?
Hiragana (ひらがな) is one of the two main phonetic syllabaries used in Japanese writing, alongside katakana. It has 46 basic characters, each representing a single syllable sound (a, ka, sa, ta, and so on), and is used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb and adjective endings.
What is katakana?
Katakana (カタカナ) is the second Japanese syllabary. It represents the exact same set of sounds as hiragana, using different, more angular characters. Katakana is mainly used for words borrowed from other languages (loanwords like コーヒー, "kōhī" - coffee), onomatopoeia, and emphasis, similar to how italics are used in English.
Hiragana vs. katakana: what's the difference?
- Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, grammar, particles, and verb/adjective endings. The character shapes are rounded and flowing.
- Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, onomatopoeia, technical terms, and emphasis. The character shapes are sharper and more angular.
- Both represent the exact same set of sounds - every hiragana character has a katakana counterpart pronounced identically.
What is romaji?
Romaji is the Romanized spelling of Japanese sounds using the Latin alphabet - it's how "こんにちは" becomes "konnichiwa." It's a stepping stone for beginners who haven't memorized kana yet, and it's exactly what Kana Type has you type: the romaji for each falling character, before it reaches the bottom of the screen.
Which should I learn first?
Most learners start with hiragana, since it's the foundation for reading native Japanese words and grammar. Katakana is usually introduced shortly after, once the hiragana set feels familiar - the two scripts share the same sounds, so a lot of that recall transfers directly.
Frequently asked questions
How many hiragana characters are there?
There are 46 basic hiragana characters, each representing one syllable sound. Adding voiced (dakuten) and combination sounds brings the practical total to around 100 characters and combinations.
How many katakana characters are there?
Katakana has the same 46 basic characters as hiragana, representing the same sounds, plus a similar set of voiced and combination variants.
Is hiragana or katakana harder to learn?
Neither is inherently harder - they represent the same 46 sounds in different shapes. Most learners find hiragana easier to start with simply because it appears more often in beginner material.
What is romaji and why does Kana Type use it?
Romaji is the Latin-alphabet spelling of Japanese sounds. Kana Type has you type the romaji for each falling hiragana or katakana character, which builds fast sound-to-character recall without requiring a Japanese keyboard layout.
Do I need to download anything to use Kana Type?
No - Kana Type runs entirely in your browser, is free to start, and requires no installation or app download.
Is Kana Type free?
Yes, Kana Type is free to play, with an optional one-time payment to unlock unlimited play beyond the free trial levels.