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か and カ

Pronunciation

“KA” in Katana.

Our first non-vowel Kana look nearly identical to each other. These characters represent the “ka” sound in “Katana” or “Katakana”, which is convenient, because those are both Japanese words. 

か Memorization Story

The hiragana か looks like a samurai, with a katana held behind his back in preparation to strike, as he shouts "KATANA POWER!" In the speech bubble to the right.

カ Memorization Story

The katakana version of カ is what he looks like after realizing the sword is too heavy…

Writing

 
 

The hiragana か is often difficult for Japanese learners to write. The trick is to keep the BODY of か on the LEFT side of the square you’re writing in. An imaginary square is fine if you don’t have squared paper. The drop on the RIGHT of the kanji takes up the RIGHT side of the square.

The katakana カ on the other hand takes up the whole box, and is more angular, WITHOUT the final drop on the right.

Font Examples

か　　カ

か　　カ

か　　カ

か　　カ

か　　カ

 

Typing

Hiragana か
Type the letters “ka”.

Katakana カ
Type "ka" and press the F7 key, or press spacebar until the katakana appears. 

Word(s)

かお

face

イカ

squid

 

 

Historical Form

Hiragana
加→か

HISTORICAL VERSION

 

Katakana
加→カ

PART BORROWED

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ToKini Kana Introduction Page あ・ア い・イ う・ウ え・エ お・オ Consonant Vowel Combinations か・カ き・キ く・ク け・ケ こ・コ Kana Reading Practice 1 さ・サ し・シ す・ス せ・セ そ・ソ た・タ ち・チ つ・ツ て・テ と・ト Kana Reading Practice 2 な・ナ に・ニ ぬ・ヌ ね・ネ の・ノ は・ハ ひ・ヒ ふ・フ へ・ヘ ほ・ホ Kana Reading Practice 3 ま・マ み・ミ む・ム め・メ も・モ や・ヤ ゆ・ユ よ・ヨ Kana Reading Practice 4 ら・ラ り・リ る・ル れ・レ ろ・ロ わ・ワ を・ヲ ん・ン Kana Reading Practice 5 Dakuten, Han-Dakuten, and Sokuon Kana Reading Practice 6 Kana Combinations Kana Reading Practice 7 Special Katakana Combinations The End Kana Worksheets