What is Katakana for? and Kanji? - ひらがな＆カタカナ＆漢字

What is Katakana for? How about Kanji? Today I'm going to answer questions about Japanese letters. We have three different writing systems in Japanese. ひらがな Hiragana, カタカナ Katakana, 漢字 Kanji. Why do we need to use all of the three? How come Hiragana alone is not enough?
Hiragana Lessons smilenihongo.c...
Katakana Lessons smilenihongo.c...
Learn Kanji from Zero smilenihongo.c...
母は箸で寿司を食べます。
"My mother eats sushi with chopsticks."
Are you wondering about the particle で in the sentence? Watch this lesson.
• 【GENKI L10】で DE Parti...
Welcome to my channel!
I have been teaching Japanese to English-speaking learners in the USA for many years. Based on my teaching experience, I design all the lessons and curricula in my online courses.
・There is NO time limit to complete a course or package.
・Once enrolled, you have unlimited access to the course or package. (even after they are closed)
・You decide when to start. Enroll now while the course is available, and start later.
I am looking forward to being part of your Japanese learning journey. 😊
= Japanese Program =
Smile Nihongo Academy
smilenihongo.c...
= Courses =
・Japanese 1 - Basic Japanese for Beginners (1)
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese 2 - Basic Japanese for Beginners (2)
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese 3 - Verbs & Particles
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese 4 - Master TE Forms
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese 5 - Master Adjectives
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese 6 - Plain Form & Informal (Casual) Speech
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese 7 - Potential Form & Volitional Form
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Listening Course
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Kanji Startup Course
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
・Japanese for Travel
Lesson List smilenihongo.c...
Sign up smilenihongo.c...
= Packages Discount (Based on Availability) =
smilenihongo.c...
= Phrase eBook ($1) =
smilenihongo.c...
= Free Worksheets =
smilenihongo.c...
= Thank you for your donation! =
smilenihongo.c...
= Let's connect! =
Blog: smilenihongo.com
Facebook: / smilenihongo
Instagram: / smilenihongo

[@YukoSensei]

Try a mini-course (free): smilenihongo.com/minicoursefree　 Get ready for your trip to Japan! Travel Japanese Course: smilenihongo.com/travel

[@HankSensei]

thankyou

[@LBI92]

Whenever I go through videos on Japanese and Chinese language like this one I end up with the conclusion that English language is very very very easy.

[@lalalalalalala7119]

Yeah i wish could of been born speaking my target language and then learn english bc it feels to easy

[@memzworld5515]

Just like they have to learn 3000 different meanings and interesting sentence structure, you have to do the same with any language. English has the most words that mean different things depending on which part of the country your in/from. Every language seems more difficult when just starting, but as time continues and we consistently practice we gain confidence and it seems easier :) as a 26 yr old, I am still looking up the definitions to english words or new slang terms that are developed.. I think that'll continue with any language for the rest of our lives hahaha

[@SanGerardino]

Haha! Right? I just started learning Japanese on my spare time and after watching this video I feel like I should just quit.

[@vipnetworker]

@@memzworld5515 According to an article I found in a language blog, English isn’t even close to the most unique words. From memory, English = 170,000 words Japanese = 500,000 words Korean = 1,100,000 words I think Korean was most, then Japanese, then a few between that and English.

[@DrAtomics]

I know, I mastered english vocabulary quite fast and proficiently as it was my native language, but I still notice many English native speakers still can't understand the intricacies and caveats that actually encapsulate the manifestation of the english language and dialect. Consequently, I've found picking up Katakana and Hiragana quite easy. For some reason the shapes of the letters just stick for me after a couple attempts to memorize it, same for their pronunciations. Can't wait to practice more.

[@jeniffer1593]

This quarantine makes me start to learn Japanese. I regret that i didnt start it before. I hope its not too late. :)

[@berrak9463]

Are you still learning? If you are how did it went, can you tell?

[@jeniffer1593]

@@berrak9463 omg! You're giving me a sign to study again. 😅 Unfortunately, im stuck at katakana. I got busy for something. I wish i really have a teacher. Sorry for not meeting your expectations.

[@berrak9463]

@@jeniffer1593 No problem :D I hope you’ll continue to learning. Thanks for the reply

[@lililuciaschmuil7943]

Me2...never too late, never...

[@shanesmith5198]

Me too

[@jordan-ci4xd]

I was using duolingo to learn japenese and I was so confused on the difference between katakana and hiragana

[@personwithbadenglish8469]

Lol same

[@owoojaver1909]

katakana and hiragana looks familiar but kanji is another lwl aq

[@personwithbadenglish8469]

@@owoojaver1909 yes

[@elliotgaming5608]

Use lingo dear it is alot better for Japanese than doulingo

[@notnow932]

Me too

[@MichaelStrawn_I_am]

I wish I instantly knew Japanese(😫), but practice makes perfect.😋

[@TooManyChoices1]

Mystic Productions 日を追うごとに、日本語が少しずつわかってきます。hi wo ou gotoni, nihongoga sukoshizutsu waka_te kimasu Day by day I get closer to understanding Japanese. And perfect practice makes perfect. Practice incorrectly and it won’t help🤕... Lol 😝

[@MichaelStrawn_I_am]

TooManyChoices1 Domo.😊

[@TooManyChoices1]

どういたしまして Do-u-i-ta-shi-ma-shi-te You’re welcome 😉

[@yourbutler9988]

same here 😁 good comes to do those who patiently wait.

[@toastedvengeance3354]

I'm glad I don't know it instantly. Right now its hard but that will make it all the more satisfying if we're fluent years later

[@c.t.m.shinobi]

You should do a lesson, only about kanjis. No matter how long It would last

[@casaketagarwal4333]

LMAO

[@yourbutler9988]

i was stoned by the great numbers of kanji to be learned. 😂😂😂 i just finished hiragana. i guess i have more to go. why did i ever chose Japanese language to learn 😶😶😶 .

[@afsl808]

That's why I left this world 😂. Kanji is fkg hard 😢

[@Subscriberswithnovideoscheck]

Regretting this already to lol.

[@Js125GamerMii]

はい、漢字は難しいです。 (Yes, kanji is hard.)

[@musiclover27612]

Let us finish what we started lol 😂

[@juliana-ke9lc]

@@musiclover27612 how is it going?

[@serks8297]

Okay, so wow. Oh my gosh This was so, so, like so helpful! The most simple explanation, and use of words, yet it's so very effective when learning each alphabet, and how to put them together. Thank you si much, eek! 👌😄

[@Subscriberswithnovideoscheck]

Hello, can you tell me how to tell if one word isnt a Japanese origin word? I’m kinda confused on that.

[@chnge1626]

For that you should know Japanese ....tbh basically for english words katakana is use for

[@fangbiangongjiang4004]

Katakana カタカナ is really interesting in that it also incorporates loan words from even European languages like English into Japanese. One such example is the word Google, which is written as Gūguru グーグル in Katakana.

[@vipnetworker]

This video is so well done. Excellent presentation and explanation. Sensei seems very professional and kind. A perfect teacher. I hope she is making a fortune doing this! She deserves it. 🙏

[@chencam9189]

This is so beautifully and simply explained! Thank you so much! (I was planning to learn Japanese after Korean. I guess I underestimated how complicated Japanese is. 😩)

[@cldoctor7097]

I just started learning about the language and Kanji makes me feel discouraged. 😔

[@DanishKhan-zo9el]

Kanji are like antonyms and synonyms of english and once you start learning hiragana and katakana you can learn kanji side by side as you would have learned antonyms and synonyms once

[@Itsonlymarii]

@@DanishKhan-zo9el that confuses me more but thanks i guess

[@cantdecide4167]

Ayyyy, ive been learning Hiragana for the past 30 days on an app and I could read the Hiragana part of the title. Niceee

[@devoearaujo499]

Wow the japanese language and its writing system is so complex and nuanced.

[@bcrossfire1219]

I find Japanese refreshingly simple in its structure. The pronounciation of their syllables is consistent, they never break their own rules ("I before E except after C", anyone?), and most every syllable is a combo of one consonant followed by one vowel, with the exceptions of the kana for a, e, i, o, u, and n, which makes the language feel very structured.

[@miggiepatateatomique]

I wouldn't say nuanced, I would rather say inefficient xD she says the sentence hahahaha could not make sense without the kanji, but if you just put spaces in between words, like almost every european-rooted language does, it's already way easier to understand. And there is no use for katakanas, if you can write the sound with katakanas, you can write it as well in hiraganas. Everything about japanese alphabet is about history. They wanted to copy China that was very powerful, so they introduced the Kanjis..

[@miggiepatateatomique]

In French and English, we use our own alphabet to try and reproduce the sounds that words from outside makes. We don't write "Sushi" or "Kebab" with an entirely new alphabet...

[@bcrossfire1219]

Today, I learned about the actual purposes of hiragana, katakana, and kanji! Very informative video.

[@mydemonscreamme666]

This actually makes me want to cry hahaha So what do you see on the streets, like in a restaurant? Hiragana, Katana or only Kanji?

[@LumaSloth]

Kanji. You will probably only see those others in documents or information papers(papers that explain something, e.g, menus and instructions book/how to use books).

[@spacewargamer4181]

​@@LumaSloth Thanks

[@aaronhairston6057]

I'm learning from Duo Lingo, but they left out (or I missed) this important piece of the puzzle... Makes understanding the lessons a LOT easier!

[@celestialasmr9624]

No im here from duolingo too, it didn't explain, just all of a sudden started using different characters for the same sounds and my brain exploded 😂

[@cracked8349]

How are you doing now​@@celestialasmr9624

[@june-again]

I think Japanese is really awesome because it makes it easier to tell apart homynyms. A lot of people I've spoken to about learning Japanese have been annoyed by there being three different writing systems to learn, but it actually makes it much more organized and somehow extremely satisfying to learn in my opinion :D I have a small question. Do you think it's important to learn the strokes for kanji if I'm mainly going to be typing and speaking? It adds a lot of time to my learning schedule and I often wish I could just skip it. ありがとうございます、先生！

[@thathandsomedevil0828]

Hey, are you fully fluent now?

[@june-again]

@@thathandsomedevil0828 i'm not fluent yet!! i have had very little conversation practice but i'm now able to read and translate japanese at a (self-determined) N5 level. i'm very grateful to yuko sensei's videos for getting me started! (how about you? do you speak japanese? or are you learning?)

[@thathandsomedevil0828]

@@june-again Heya! Thanks for the response! I am actually learning Japanese, started two weeks ago and just about got my head mastered on Hiragana and Katakana. I did spend some time researching the best way to read kanji so now I have resolved to memorising the Onyomi and Kunyomi readings of the characters I come across, I have 50 of them nailed so far. I think I understand when and where to use both types of readings so I can proceed to going through them all. I heard that the Japanese ministry of education actually advised only 2136 characters can be used in publications so it shouldn't take that long to consume them all!!! What I am trying to avoid is to learn about the 241 radicals I keep hearing about!!! 😅. That said my goal is to be able to read Japanese not write it, so I am taking my own odd route through the language. I can always improve my conversation as I go along. I am tired of reading Romaji when watching anime, I wanna switch the subtitles to full on Nihon go!!!! 😁👍 That said I am starting to recognise kanji when used in popular media and i am getting better deciphering Katakana and the scattered Hiragana employed here and there. My dream is to scout out and eventually move to Japan. That said are you currently residing in Japan? :)

[@parassjawal9738]

@@thathandsomedevil0828 I’m also learning Japanese for study visa, for that I will study 3-4 months before applying for visa, can you please guide me should I learn vocabulary first or the hiragana and katakana and kanji first? I understand romaji only and vocabulary is too easy for me only in 2 days I learnt a lot like how can I introduce my self, about food, going out. Many Different phrases

[@datboi42]

@@june-againhow’re things going now?

[@Masha-sd9ln]

This is amazing , thank you I was so confused other teachers didnt explain the difference between the 3 and just immediately start teaching them so I never understood the difference and Im someone who cant learn without understanding the reason , ❤❤

[@osvaldovieira1010]

You are the best teacher ever

[@SanderOpdam]

I’m into my fifth week of learning Japanese (not through you, I’m sorry :-) ) and when I saw how long it takes to learn Kanji I realised I’ve got a looooooooooooooooooong way to go :-D

[@iignored]

its been 5 months how far have you gotten?

[@SanderOpdam]

@@iignored not far. I’m finding combining work, private life and studying challenging. I have progressed nicely with hiragana and katakana but no kanji yet. I have ordered “Remembering the Kanji” so I hope to start soon.

[@PentaPW]

@@SanderOpdam After two months, how has it been?

[@arenyaeger5570]

its been a year how are things going?

[@denyl_6987]

How is it now

[@cassandrawhitty9427]

Thank you so much for explaining this!

[@surinetso8346]

thank you very much. now i have more understanding about Japanese language basic

[@grazia7179]

I finally understood the difference. Thank you very much for the clear explanation 😊

[@CamCat13]

This is very informative, straight to the point, and understandable. This makes more sense of it all

[@yurakolesnikov9725]

Mindblown. I understand almost nothing. But I WILL learn it, because I love Japan, it’s culture, it’s people and Japanese language. Definitely subscribing.

[@surinetso8346]

the video here is very useful for me. Thank you very much

[@rishilrk2205]

I recently started learning Japanese and this video solved all my confusions 👍👍

[@crispy8880]

This video makes japanned more bearable to learn, it also wonder how we all can read English so perfectly and flawlessly, like we don't even have to think about it, but then y'all do the same thing. Like- 😭

[@roxramosa7942]

Best explanation I could find, thanks!

[@LEGEND-bb5mt]

You are very good teacher

[@voeurnchiny2337]

It was too complicated at first but after watched your video I found it more easier thanks 😊

[@IBlameStas]

thank youuuuuu so much for helping

[@zhonrsk7448]

I started learning Japanese like a week ago with Duolingo and I can say I'm scared of kanji.... As a Spanish speaker learning english was easy, but this makes it seem WAY too easy.

[@vishakha1341]

Just finished hiragana I guess I have to learn katakana too🥺

[@Xlicty]

Same lol i guess I'm joining the club lol

[@seeya3705]

I’m scared for the kanji part..

[@bet]

This was very helpful

[@vipnetworker]

This was very helpful. I have been studying Japanese in Duolingo and while they teach Hiragana and Katakana, they haven’t explained the difference (at least not yet in the lessons I’ve done so far). While 91 characters sounds like a lot, I have also been studying Chinese and according to Google, they have 50,000 characters in Mandarin Chinese, but only 20,000 are commonly used. Only 20,000!!! 😂😂😂 I have previously studied French, Spanish, and German in school for a total of 8 years. Those seem SOOOO simple to me now, while trying to learn Chinese and Japanese. Don’t even get me started in how confusing Vietnamese and Korean are. Wow. Respect to anyone who started with English/European native languages who learn Asian languages fluently or vice versa.

[@Lili-mz4uf]

Thank you so much! I've been working on hiragana and katakana for about two weeks now and was still super confused on the purpose you also helped clarify kanji!

[@muhemedlatif9259]

After 8 months, how has it been?

[@sourabhsingh5881]

動画ありがとうございます。今日はひらがな、カタカナ、漢字の違いを知っています。

[@danielgoh9158]

Arigato gozaimas! Finally someone has answered my long-due question on the differences between hiragana and katakana!

[@Kredorish]

Thanks, now I’m a professional

[@SuryanshGupta-sv2no]

Yuko sensei wa yasashi desu! Thank you for nice explanation 👍

[@rajivsingha22]

Konnichiwa Yuko Sensie and thank you for explaining it in such a simple manner. I have subscribed your channel.

[@AbsoluteFilth]

The confusion on my face when I saw Katakana on Duolingo But anyways this helped a lot ;^)

[@aodaa_]

I manage to study all the Hiragana Lessons that Yuko sensei shared! Thank you sensei! Now I'm going to study Katakana! ❤️❤️

[@Riri-bc6vx]

Did you learn katakana?

[@aodaa_]

@@Riri-bc6vx Hi! I did, I already memorize both Hiragana and Katakana and currently trying to consistently study Kanji.

[@Riri-bc6vx]

@@aodaa_I decided to start learning Japanese and I can't wait to learn katakana and hiragana and your results are really motivating me! Can I ask where are you from?

[@aodaa_]

@@Riri-bc6vx I wish you the best of luck! Let’s our do best together! I’m from Malaysia 🥰

[@Riri-bc6vx]

@@aodaa_ oh! thank you so much! I know it sounds weird but, do you mind if I contact you and be friends with you maybe? I can see that we're both muslims speaking English and interested in Japanese! ( If you don't want to for any reason it's completely okay! I just got excited XD )

[@Moj94]

So i decided to learn a new language some days ago. I found it difficult to pronounce Korean and Chinese so I went with Japanese. I finished Hiragana just today. Now I see what I am getting into. lol. Oh my dear.

[@user-iw2yj2gd8j]

You’re amazing! ❤ I’ve have been so confused and looking for right explanations why is it really need to combine kanji with hiragana when we can spell it all with hiragana. Your explanation helps a lot!! Looking forward to watch more of your videos. I love Japanese hence I really wanna learn. Thank you very much ❤❤

[@thundercrackerangrygriphar4553]

I recently started learning Japanese and always wondered why both hiragana and katakana was needed (because different symbols but same sound). I always thought "why"?, that's just more words to learn and more work. But now I know and this was very interesting! Wow. Thank you so much Yuko teacher 🤗

[@user-wx3jt3rz6i]

This is brilliant. I have always wondered how the alphabets work. Thank you for the explanation. I understand it now.

[@mslowslowm8382]

I just found out that my brain doesnt work..

[@yoyopops3069]

I am learning Japanese just to read manga early 😂😂😂

[@leah_riiaalfarero3198]

I had a gist based on the words that was coming out when I was learning katakana in Doulingo. But really, thank you for clearing this up!

[@Smoothballoon]

arigato gozaimasu, i finally understand why kanji is required.

[@omen3591]

Very well, now write that in Japanese

[@user-xw2vh4qh6k]

Hi ❤ My favorite teacher 🌸 Your student from morocco 💛

[@wooferjr169]

My only concern with learning Japanese is that once I learn, I would no longer be able to pronounce the letter "L" correctly.

[@helrick2543]

Don't worry just do the American accent lol.

[@booknerd4888]

Lol no worries I have had no problem after learning the L sound.

[@jjkmahito]

Thank you it’s really helpful

[@Ella-lk2se]

Very useful, thank you so much! very clearly explained. Although I'm Chinese, many kanji in Japanese are ancient Chinese. Thanks again.

[@bubblefish8670]

This is the best explanation I have read for these three, now I understand, thank you!

[@norushicdtad]

Thank you for this video cuz now I understand. I learned Hiragana and Katakana in 4 days, now I’m going to study Kanji next, and I’m really having fun.

[@umloiro3219]

Everybody saying that this just made Japanese more difficult lol I feel like it just opened my eyes.. I was wondering why not just use hiragana, or why not use spaces? But you explained very well.. Now I just got to rely on my memory haha obrigado pelo video! 有難うございます。

[@musiclover27612]

あるがとう、ごうざいまむ、せんせい😇🙏🏻❤️ greetings from 🇵🇭

[@Banjaraansh]

Thankew for your all videos

[@timothybelloftheclanbell1658]

ゆうこ先生はどうもありがとうございます.

[@Kevshz]

Thank you so much

[@lolz8930]

So that is why Furigana is written in Hiragana and not Katakana! This is great learning point!

[@francesca8907]

Thank you so much for everything ❤️❤️

[@anantakhanal8392]

先生日本語きゃレーターのぶれフィンはありがとうございます。

[@amaangigani9372]

Thats it. I learned Hiragana, and was starting katakana. It's seems illogical to have both. And also kanji is so different. I'd rather not put in more time. For people with strong will of Japanese origin it might be normal as it could be their First language but for us it's very hard.

[@teamldsfamily]

Thanks for the lesson. Even this is my first time learning Japanese, atleast i learned something. And for me it is extreme coz' i learned these three, which is hiraga, katana and kanji😊 i learned the diff. Of these three.

[@Galotrinx]

Very helpful and easily simplified. Thank you Sensei.

[@saketkewate1050]

Thank you very much for clearly giving information

[@billylazo8049]

Now its very ckear and i understond the real reason the difference bet. HIRAGANA and KATAKANA thanks for sharing

[@van385]

With the word kawaii for example, I know the general spelling of it is かわいい, but I've heard that people often use 可愛い as well and even the katakana カワイイ. I know there technically isn't a difference, it's all the same word. But in what context do you use each ..? Is the Kanji more formal, maybe used when speaking to someone you aren't familiar with or around someone older than you? Is Katakana for younger people or kids? Or is it just personal preference and doesn't actually matter? I'm just wondering so I know what to use haha.

[@mattdebski4265]

Good question, that was never answered lol

[@jetesouhaitepleindebonheur]

Thank you very much, you have helped me to know how use hiragana, katakana and Kanji, have a good day

[@leandruss]

Thank you, feels way less confusing now

[@santoshrani467]

Wow!! so great you teaches very perfectly I understand all things in this lesson

[@Ramcikk]

Thank you very much! I was happy to finally understand this, because I’m sort of a slow learner. I can write half the hiragana but not katakana… and kanji is the sort of thing that scares me most…

[@The-bi5ry]

I started Japanese two days ago and I'm done with hiragana. Kanji makes me shake in my boots, I'm so scared lol

[@DavidAkombo]

Extremely well explained. Arigatou

[@Jordan-pf9ws]

That makes sense, in English we have words that sound the same but spelt differently

[@worldup1956]

Thankyou for the clear explanation. 💞🙏

[@marsmallow_17]

Finally, my long time curiosity has been answered.

[@IndiaEpicss]

Thank you very much for this video! It helped me a lot. I just started learning Japanese 3 days ago and already learned most of the hiraganas. But I didn't know the importance and difference between Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji. It makes a lot sense now. So basically Kanji helps us identify and write homophones (similarly pronounced but different meaning and writing form e.g. cereal/serial, meat/meet, heal/heel, none/nun)

[@nicetwilight4708]

Domo arigatou sensei. Your lessons exactly help me to understand about japanese

[@lvrniae]

Wow this sensei teach Japanese was easy to understand. Like whaaaaa. My brain when she explain it. I was so confused when I go to other Japanese lesson and I was so damn struggle. And now I can write in Japanese! Yuko 先生、ありがとう!

[@sheshadriarjunan8427]

Sensai it's very interesting thank you

[@rumtum2337]

This is really helpful 😊

[@Grigeral]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you!

[@YukoSensei]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lan9175]

Very clearly,thank you a lot！

[@indyalex42]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@SavoirPourTous]

Very interesting, especially the miaou in French or meow, thanks and happy new year 2020

[@star_shooter5232]

thank you so much 🙏l struggled with this..i am a beginner and l was so confused for awhile

[@tiiny_pumpkiinwolf4974]

I'm really thankful for this Ma'am! Thank you so much for this video it really helps me!

[@elementkidful]

This just made it make so much more sense thanks

[@JasonCameron774]

Makes a lot of sense, thank you Sensei

[@Kopiii123]

Thank you this video helped me so much!

[@inthenameoftheworld]

As someone who isn't italian ピザ is my favourite word with English origin. Jokes aside, you make pretty good videos

[@praxediscortina4260]

Wow. Thank you for explaining.

[@GioBunBun]

Oh I been wondering this for a while

[@mohammedzaid6634]

very educative video and well explained! thank you for this video

[@YukoSensei]

I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson!