Easily Learn Japanese

In modern written Japanese, the following five kinds of symbols are used:

1. Kanji (Chinese characters)

2. Hiragana

3. Katakana

4. Romaji

5. Arabic numerals

About 90% of the characters used in Japanese sentences are Kanji and Hiragana.

1. Kanji

Although Japanese and Chinese are completely separate languages, Japanese adopted written symbols and much vocabulary from Chinese beginning in the 4^th or 5^th century A.D.  These symbols or Chinese characters are called Kanji.  Kanji represent both meaning and sound, and it is often the case that one Kanji has more than one reading (or pronunciation) and meaning.  There are more than 45,000 Kanji.  However, only 3,000 to 4,000 occur in daily use, of which 1,926 have been chosen as the most important.  These 1,926 Kanji are the ones used in newspapers, magazines, and school textbooks (about 1,000 are taught in elementary school).  In this text, you will learn to read and comprehend some of these Kanji.  They are used in some names of persons, places, signs, etc., and knowledge of these Kanji will be useful for you in Japan.

2. Hiragana

Hiragana and Katakana are used to represent syllables.  The Hiragana were derived from the cursive style of Kanji and are used for native Japanese words, words that are not written in Kanji, etc.  Hiragana are also used to show the reading or pronunciation of a Kanji when put above or to the side of the Kanji.  This use of Hiragana is called Furigana.

3. Katakana

The Katakana syllabary is also derived from Kanji.  It is more angular than Hiragana.  The essential function of Katakana is exactly the same as Hiragana, i.e., to represent syllables.  However, Katakana are mainly used for words of foreign origin and in telegrams.  Thus, when you write your name in Japanese, you should write it in Katakana.

4. Romaji (Roman letters)

Since Romaji is taught in elementary school, most Japanese know it.  However, its use in Japanese is very limited.

You will find Romaji in:

• some road signs, station signs, store signs, etc.
• some abbreviated foreign words, e.g., PR, CM (commercial), YMCA

5. Arabic numerals and Kanji numerals

Numerals in Japanese are written in Kanji or Arabic figures.  Kanji numerals are used when sentences are written vertically, while Arabic figures are used when they are written horizontally.

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