Kana is the common name for the two Japanese syllabaries: hiragana and katakana. Each symbol stands for a syllable (strictly, a mora, the rhythmic unit of Japanese), not a single letter or an idea. It is the first thing to master when you learn to write Japanese by hand.
What kana includes
- Hiragana: 46 basic characters. Used for native Japanese words, particles and endings.
- Katakana: another 46 characters with the same sounds. Used mostly for foreign words, names and emphasis.
Both sets sound the same: あ and ア are the same syllable, “a”. What changes is the use and the shape; the details are in hiragana vs katakana: differences and when to use each.
How it is organized: 46 = 5 + 5 + … + 1
The classic chart has five columns (the vowels a, i, u, e, o) and one row per consonant. It is known as the gojūon, “fifty sounds”, although today it has 46 because some slots are empty:
| Row | Characters | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Vowels | あ い う え お | 5 |
| K | か き く け こ | 5 |
| S | さ し す せ そ | 5 |
| T | た ち つ て と | 5 |
| N | な に ぬ ね の | 5 |
| H | は ひ ふ へ ほ | 5 |
| M | ま み む め も | 5 |
| Y | や ゆ よ | 3 |
| R | ら り る れ ろ | 5 |
| W | わ を | 2 |
| Final consonant | ん | 1 |
Total: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 46. Katakana has exactly the same structure (ア イ ウ エ オ, カ キ ク ケ コ…). If you wonder about the gaps: there is no “yi” or “ye” in the Y row, and only わ and を remain in the W row.
What gets added to the 46
With the 46 basics and three extra tools you can write every sound of modern Japanese:
- Dakuten (゛): two small strokes that voice the consonant. か → が, さ → ざ, た → だ, は → ば. That is 20 more characters.
- Handakuten (゜): a small circle, only on the H row. は → ぱ. That is 5 more.
- Small kana (ゃ ゅ ょ): they attach to another kana and form a single syllable. き + ゃ = きゃ (“kya”). The small っ doubles the next consonant: きって (“kitte”, “stamp”).
In katakana, a long sound is marked with a dash (ー): コーヒー (“kōhī”, coffee). In hiragana it is lengthened by adding a vowel (ああ, いい, おう…).
How many strokes
Almost every kana is written with 1 to 4 strokes (dakuten and handakuten marks are counted separately). That makes kana the best place to learn stroke order: few pieces, very clear rules and plenty of repetition. The full chart with every stroke numbered is in the stroke order sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Is kana the same as hiragana?
No. Kana covers both hiragana and katakana. If someone says “I know kana”, they can read and write both.
Is ん a kana?
Yes. It is the only one that stands for a single consonant (the final nasal), with no vowel.
How many characters do I need to learn in total?
92 basic ones (46 + 46). The marks and small kana are not new characters to memorize from scratch: they modify the ones you already know.
Do I need to know kana before kanji?
Yes. Kanji are read and studied with kana as support, and kana is what appears most in any sentence. When you have it down, continue with what a kanji is and how many you need to know.
Which one do I start with?
Hiragana. There is a step-by-step plan in how to learn hiragana by writing, and a list of the pairs people mix up most in similar-looking kana.