Katakana II: Dakuten & Handakuten characters

Objective: Learn to read & write the 25 basic dakuten and handakuten Katakana characters

Dakuten and Handakuten Characters

Dakuten and Handakuten can be added to the basic Katakana set to change the pronunciation and extend the alphabet used to create native Japanese words.

20 Basic Dakuten Katakana characters

Animated guides coming soon.

H → B

When dakuten markers are added, h sounds become b sounds.

K → G

When dakuten markers are added, k sounds become g sounds.

S → Z

When dakuten markers are added, s sounds become z sounds (with one exception, where shi becomes ji).

T → D

When dakuten markers are added, t sounds become d sounds.

* - ぢ and づ are almost never used for ji and zu, so use じ and ず instead.

5 Basic Handakuten Katakana characters

Animated guides coming soon.

H → P

When handakuten markers are added, h sounds become p sounds.

Writing Practice

Write each of the 23 basic Dakuten & Handakuten Katakana characters from memory

  1. ba, bi, bu, be, bo
  2. ga, gi, gu, ge, go
  3. za, ji, zu, ze, zo
  4. da, de, do
  5. pa, pi, pu, pe, po

Review

Write the following Katakana characters from memory

  1. a, i, u, e, o
  2. ha, hi, hu, he, ho
  3. ka, ki, ku, ke, ko
  4. ma, mi, mu, me, mo
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