Build Your Japanese Grammar Foundation—with Audio, Context, and Confidence

Learn grammar through real examples, native audio, and smart review. KaiwaBloom helps you speak and understand Japanese naturally—right from day one.

Download KaiwaBloom Free

Hiragana vs Katakana: What’s the Difference & The Best App to Learn

Nov 5

5 min read

186

If you're just starting to learn Japanese, you’ve probably heard that there are three writing systems — and two of them, hiragana and katakana, often confuse beginners.

So what’s the actual difference between hiragana and katakana? And, what is the best app to learn Hiragana and Katakana?

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: What’s the Difference Between Hiragana and Katakana?
What Is Hiragana?
- 💡 Common Uses of Hiragana
What Is Katakana?
- 💡 Common Uses of Katakana
Hiragana and Katakana in Real Sentences
Which Should I Learn First?
- 📝 Learning Strategy:
Use Hiragana and Katakana in Real Conversation
FAQs
Final Tip

Quick Answer: What’s the Difference Between Hiragana and Katakana?

Feature	Hiragana	Katakana
Purpose	Native Japanese words	Foreign/loanwords
Appearance	Curvy and soft	Angular and sharp
Used for	Grammar, particles, okurigana	Foreign words, emphasis
Lerner Priority	First writing system to learn	Second to learn

📝 Summary:

Both hiragana and katakana represent the same 46 basic sounds, but they’re used in different situations.

Hiragana is used for native Japanese grammar and vocabulary.
Katakana is used for loanwords (like “coffee”), foreign names, sound effects, and emphasis.

The Best App to Learn Hiragana and Katakana

Quick answer: KaiwaLab - a conversation-based Japanese learning app mainly for speaking and listening

Feature	What It Does	Why It Helps
Learn Mode	Study each kana with clear audio and example words (like あ for あお / blue)	Builds recognition and listening skills together
Quiz Mode	Practice through fun multiple-choice and typing quizzes	Reinforces memory through instant feedback
Native Audio	Every kana and word voiced by native speakers	Trains your ear for accurate pronunciation
XP & Badges	Earn XP, track streaks, and collect badges as you study	Keeps motivation high with visible progress
Practical Vocabulary	Learn kana in context, not just in isolation	Connects reading practice with real Japanese words
1-on-1 Lessons	Book affordable lessons with native Japanese teachers directly in the app	Practice reading/speaking and pronunciation in real conversation

What Is Hiragana?

Hiragana is the most essential writing system in Japanese. If you're learning to read and write, hiragana is where you start.

💡 Common Uses of Hiragana

✔️ Native Japanese words without kanji

さくら (sakura / cherry blossom)
たべる (taberu / to eat)

✔️ Grammatical particles

は (wa), を (wo), に (ni), で (de)

✔️ Okurigana (verb and adjective endings)

飲《の》みます、行《い》きました、暑《あつ》かった

✔️ Children’s materials

Kids' books and signage use mostly hiragana for easier reading

📝 Insight:

Even adults rely on hiragana when unsure about a kanji. It forms the backbone of every Japanese sentence. Without it, you can’t read basic grammar, verbs, or particles.

What Is Katakana?

Katakana is a sister system to hiragana — it has the same sounds, but it's used for different purposes and has a very different visual style.

💡 Common Uses of Katakana

✔️ Loanwords (from English and other languages)

コーヒー (coffee), メール (email), バナナ (banana)

✔️ Foreign names and places

トム (Tom), アメリカ (America), カナダ (Canada)

✔️ Onomatopoeia and sound effects

バーン！(Bang!), ドキドキ (heartbeat), ニャー (meow)

✔️ Emphasis (like bold or italics)

スーパーセール！(Super Sale!)

📝 Insight:

Katakana jumps off the page. It’s commonly used in ads, packaging, manga, and games. While less frequent in normal grammar, it’s crucial for reading menus, signs, and anything with foreign influence.

Hiragana and Katakana in Real Sentences

Here’s how they actually show up in Japanese sentences:

Example 1: わたしはコーヒーをのみます。 (I drink coffee.)

わたし / を / のみます = Hiragana (grammar and native words)
コーヒー = Katakana (loanword)

Example 2: スーパーでアイスクリームをかいました。 (I bought ice cream at the supermarket.)

スーパー / アイスクリーム = Katakana
で / を / かいました = Hiragana

📝 Tip:

Japanese writing is a blend — you’ll often see hiragana and katakana side-by-side in one sentence.

Which Should I Learn First?

Hiragana comes first — it’s used far more often and appears in every sentence. Without hiragana, you won’t be able to read even basic grammar.

Katakana comes next — useful for reading signs, foreign words, menus, and media.

📝 Learning Strategy:

Start by mastering the hiragana chart (あいうえお)
Then move to the katakana chart (アイウエオ)
Practice reading simple sentences using both
Try reading menus, manga, or product labels for katakana practice

Learn Hiragana and Katakana the Smart Way — with KaiwaLab

Once you’re ready to move beyond memorizing charts, KaiwaLab helps you turn recognition into real skill. You’ll see, hear, and use kana through real Japanese words and phrases, so you’re learning in context — not in isolation.

Each character includes native audio, practical vocabulary, and interactive quizzes that make learning feel like a game. As you study, you’ll earn XP and badges to track your progress — and when you’re ready, you can even join 1-on-1 lessons with native Japanese teachers to practice pronunciation and conversation naturally.

Try learning Hiragana and Katakana for free on KaiwaLab

FAQs

What’s the difference between hiragana and katakana?

Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar. Katakana is used for loanwords, foreign names, sound effects, and emphasis.

Which should I learn first — hiragana or katakana?

Start with hiragana. It’s the foundation for reading Japanese sentences. Katakana is still important but comes second.

Can I write everything using just hiragana?

Technically yes, but it’s not natural. Japanese writing blends hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Writing everything in hiragana looks childish or hard to read.

Are hiragana and katakana used when speaking?

Not directly — they’re writing systems. But learning them helps you pronounce and understand words correctly, especially in lessons and text-based practice.

Do katakana words always come from English?

No. Many katakana words are borrowed from other languages like French, German, or Portuguese. Some are even Japanese-made loanwords called wasei-eigo, like サラリーマン (salaryman).

How many characters are there in hiragana and katakana?

Each system has 46 basic characters, plus a few variations with diacritics (like が, ぱ) and combinations (like きゃ, シュ).

Why does Japanese have three writing systems?

Each serves a different purpose: