Learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana_ Workbook and Practice Sheets

KATAKANA

REVIEW OF VOICED AND HALF-VOICED SOUNDS

biro office building

I C": )L--I : I I :I:I: I :I

zero zero :I

l-c':ol : I I: I: I: I :I

basu bus, bath :1

1/\:1--1 : I I :I:I :I

giya gear

I~':-YI : 1 1: 1: 1

dansu dance

19": Y:AI I:I : :I ::I

I game

gemu : : 1: :1

IJr": -: '-'I : : guide, guidebook

gaido ::I ::I

11],,: l' :}-: 1 : : golf

gorufu

I:J": )L,,: 71 : : :I :

besu base

1-"': -: xl : : I::I : :

zubon trousers

IA':/K': >'1 : : 1: : I : : I : : I
gon.ra
gorilla
I:J"[ I) : 71 : :
1: : I : : 1: : 1

100

KATAKANA

daburu double

I''': 7": JL-I ::I::I::I::I
Iy': -: /1
zOn zone

::I::I::I::I

jiguZilgu ZIgzag

repoto report

y: jinzu Jeans

I~: -: ~(I : : : I : : :

wapuro word processor

1?:-:7iol : : : I : : :

pachinko Japanese pinball

deziito dessert

lof:-if: -: H : : : I : : :

piman green pepper

IeO: - :"< :/1 : : : I : : :

mai pesu

: : : : I : : : :1"':1:~:-:AI
at one's own speed (limy pace")

arubaito part-time job

101

KATAKANA

COMBINED SOUNDS KYA-RYO / ~~ - l) 3

kya kyu , kyo , ,

I~:~I I =\:;1... 1 ~'3 1

sha :1 I 1 I
1
- ',::/' 1 ~ 1 I 1
shu
1 ,, I sho , I
1 ~I;L.
I , ~'3 ,
11
cha 1 1 1
II
l-t:,~ • I I
chu
1 1 cho 1
1 /. '
-r:, I +~ 3 I
-'nya 1, .:l-
, 1 ,
---!1"' 11 I
II ,1 1
1 nyo
, nyu 1 I
I I _-_'1 3
I _-_',I ::L 1
hya , , I 1
I
~t : 1 1 1 ,
11
1 11 I I 1

I , hyu 1 hyo , I
1
mya t::;l- ~I :3 1
,
..... ' 11 1 I
1
~I~ II I ,
1
1 , myu myo 1
...... 1 I
I ..... 1 I
1 '::1..:1- 1
rya ' - ...... 1 '3 I
11 1
I) : ,If 11 1 1
1 1
1 ryu I I
, ryo
I I I I
I) 1 ::z... l) ~ 3
1 1 I
1
11 1 1 1
11 1
I

102

KATAKANA

VOICED COMBINED SOUNDS GYA-BYO / ~..~- t":!

gya ,I gyu ,I gyo !1
, ~.. : .:1-
~~: ~ I 1~"! 31 I
I I
, I jo 1
I I
I I ....-. I
I . 1
ja I :/1 :I
, JU 1
'-:;,I;I~ , 1
I .... " I I 1
, I
I / , 1 .:1. . 1
~ I
1 I JO I
. I 1
1 A "I I
Ja ju/. . 1 I
I l-T! '3 1
? 1 -r! ;L 1
,I I I
0. I I I
1"-,'J( I I I
,I byo I
I 1 byu ,I
I t,'1
bya t.": :l. I 1 =I
I ,I -
l::": ~ I I
I
I
1

tOl1- tOgHALF-VOICED COMBINED SOUNDS PYA-PYO/

pya pyu pyo

tQ I -t ,I 1:::° 1 I 0
, 1::1-
r 1 !1t: 31
1 r
1 1 !1
I
I I

103

KATAKANA

REVIEW OF COMBINED SOUNDS AND DOUBLE CONSONANTS

shii show

I -I~: ;3 : : : I : : I : : I : : I

netto net

.It: '/:l- I : : I : : I : : I : : I

fan fan (sports)

17:?: /1 : : I : : I : : I : :

yeti yeti

I'{ ::t-::r:" I : : : I : : : I

nyiisu news

I~::l-:-:AI : : : I : : i

JOku fork; folk

chekku check

jeri jelly

chliku chalk

wotchi watch

1,/iif i'/ itI i i i i i i i

disuku disk

104

KATAKANA

fairu fue

wibu/wivu wave (hair)

f: bideo/video video

I')": 1 : ;t I : : : I : : : I

manshon

: : : : I : : : :1~:>:~:3:/1
apartment house

1

windO window

1'7:1:/:r:-1 : : : : I: :I

majan mahjong

1~: - ::;: ~: :;1 : : : : I: :1

wita waiter

kyasshu cash

hyilman human

pitchii pitcher (sports)

IC:':J:±:-v:-I : : : : I:: :I

duetto duet

105

KATAKANA

REVIEW THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PLACE NAMES

Ajia Asia

11': V': -p I : : I : : I : : I : : I

Suisu Switzerland

1;Z:1::z1 : : I : : I : : I : : I

Roma Rome

ILl: -:-<1 : : I : : I : : I : : I

Kanada Canada

11J:f:rl : : I : : I : : I : : I

Doitsu Gennany

IF:1 :'>,1 : : I : : I : :I

Atene Athens

11':i::ifl : : I : : I : :I

Puraha Prague

17°: 7 :I \ I : : I : : I : : I : : I

Amerika America

Oranda Holland

:;z Jgirisu England

1;( :~': t) I : : : I : : l I

M ekishiko Mexico

If: =\: ~: :J I : : : I : : : I

106

KATAKANA

Mosukuwa Moscow

Betonamu Vietnam

1~~~~t~~1 i ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~

Shidoni Sydney

I~ :~': -==-: -I : : : I : : :

Kyuba Cuba

Win Vienna

1'7 :-{ :- ~ >I : : ~ I : :

Furansu France

Yoroppa Europe

~I

Firipin . Philippines

Bagudaddo Baghdad

t: Echiopia Ethiopia
\L:+: to: )7\ : : l l III l l I

Noruwe Norway

107

KATAKANA

Jakaruta Jakarta

Sanchiago Santiago :::I
:: :I
PlJtsumasu Portsmouth
:1
H ariuddo Hollywood :1
:1
Myunhen Munich :1
:1
Guatemara Guatemala

Maruseyu Marseilles

Betsurehemu Bethlehem

i': -( Dieppu Dieppe

1 :.:L: 'Y: 7°1 : : : : 1 1
:1
BenechialVenechia Venice

IrJ'Lt:-::f:±:?1 : : : : 1 ::

ChunijialTunijia Tunisia

108

In

FINAL REVIEW



FINAL REVIEW

ABOUT JAPAN

Copy each line in the space provided. ..

1±" 1)' \; \ "5 ct"" ~ cJ.j- 1 L J:. '? 0 t:: ~~

<N tj: T' ~'. -; f-:: \, , l) (/) V /J\" L t=- h

-- t: c··

< <~ , 13. Iv ~~. ~: [t ~ f.;. I)," ~ ,

to :t tJ) 1.A~ ~ LJ: -p J L) 1] rJ) 11 l)

'-

7 ~ Jl/"::- 7 Lyp , t r~' \; \ r-=- l , h' tj.

~

r -t?l' L"
c:t t0 t-cJ... L ~ ~:
"? -:J (f) fJ·

-- - - -.-- ~- - - --

0tJ' fL l l , j. 0 l; \ 1? t-t" Iv 1,' ;h' ~ l \

tf) ~t . ._---_ .. _------_. --------_.__._------ L 1-d)~ (J)

tl Iv G vP , 1" ,/} '--"

--- h1 Iv reI- 1) .... ~ Iv~= t.. ~ J:. , 1J'\' ~)

~ /}

r1 0 \L' - r, v' 1- - - ------ --- -- - - - -- - --- ._--\ , -:7<
~ ~/ L
v~ \ .. 1

--,

cfl; \ ~f t 1; ~} ;j. 0 l =- tt" Iv k'7 ~: ji

111

FINAL REVIEW

n' ~ V\ l ~ rt , l , 1? Lt" Iv ~ f-:- t= ~

~ ~:J -; iJ '\ lv' t" ~ 1 •• f:j. '? ~t <t q" l
..

11)'" ,l;' l" ~3, vP It 2: t:<~ .. ytJ3

-rtJ'" r: < :2 Iv -~, ~) ;£ I)' b . /Z:\-

<f~ ~ IT - }- I)'" 1." ~ f 0 2 ~ L1"N

tb ~= h' ;;,. ~ ~, 1 '1=' 0 L ~ ~ L~ . J-t..

1;J. Jt ~: ~ ~) 1 -q -0' '::>.. v~, yP t " t ;;h

r --
l1~ r~ 1)' \!) l't 0 ~1~ Iv t/) If) ~2<

t"i , J r~ d) ti :; ~1 ~ ~' ~ Lt' , J-r~

?t (f) l-l ~ ~1 ~ fJ' tj. llf , 0=' 0 Ii) v' c't

10

112

FINAL REVIEW

FOOD ITEMS QUIZ

Fill in the blanks with appropriate romanization.

1. t=- * .:." egg
bread
2. 1,°/ coffee
confectionery
3. :J-t- pork
beer
4. fJ' L., lemon tea
fruit
<5. ..;;~. t:: L:: soy sauce
cheese
6. l::" - /l-t butter
omelette
7. ~.:t:. :,; f--( - vegetable
apple
8. <~. ttf) Chinese noodles
yoghurt
9. L~ ~ rp sugar
biscuit
10. ,f- - -;1.." fermented soybean
JUIce
II. J\"f- herring roe
custard pudding
v,12. itb.. V'/, mikan orange
parfait
13. J('.!!:. vemson

14. () Iv :"

15. 7-1:/
16. 3 - J',!v ~

17. '~- C '1'

18. t:' A'1''/ }-

19. ~-?t:'

20. :-/,''::::z,..- A

2I. -b'q"d) 7.

22, 7 D I) /'

23. Jt IJ'/v

24. J\0 JV ,7~

)/25. \1~:;';;

113

FINAL REVIEW

FLORA AND FAUNA QUIZ
Fill in the blanks with hiragana (H) or katakana (K) as appropriate.

I. inu (H) dog
fish
2. sakana (H) lion
bamboo
3. raion (K) maple
eucalyptus
4. take (H) camellia
tulip
5. kaede (H) tuna
koala bear
6. yiikari (K) Japanese monkey
7. tsubaki (H) kangaroo
8. chiirippu (K) mouse, rat
9. maguro (H) hydrangea
10. koara (K) hibiscus
leopard
II. nihonzaru (H) carnation
Goliath beetle
12. kangaru (K) snake
13. nezumi (H) pengum
14. ajisai (H) flatfish
15. haibisukasu (K) peony
16. hyo (H) mahogany
17. kaneshon (K) narCISSUS
18. kabutomushi (H) gingko
19. hebi (H)
20. pengin (K)
21. hirame (H)
22. botan (H)
23. mahoganT (K)
24. suisen (H)
25. icho (H)

114

FINAL REVIEW

PERSONAL NAMES QUIZ

Underline the kana error in each name and write the correct version in the blank.

1. e: J:, ;h' Jiro (Jiro)
Carole (Kyaroru)
2. ~~O}V Reiko
Nonnan (Noman)
3. '.-fd. \; \ 2 Teruo
Wendy (Wend!)
4. j - A / Masayoshi
Vanessa (Vanesa)
5. tld n' Akemi
6. \7l £ ')f"A" - Dwight (Dowaito)
Kenichi (Ken'ichi)
7. ;j:-ttJ:L-- Shane (Shen)
Yukiko
8. \,/,,r ~ ~ Julie (Juri)
Orie
r-9. ;1,' [1,J-t Sophie (Sofi)
Tsutomu
10. }.:' '7 - William (Wiriamu)
Hidemi
(t11. f.-'v) G Jack (Jakku)
Sawako
12. ;/:r- - ) David (Deviddo)
Nozomu
')-13. vP ~ \t' Elizabeth (Erizabesu)
Russell (Rasseru)
14. +"~
15. ;h. () ~

16. ')\771

17. -?l:c6

18. '71 ') -<.... b.

.,
J19. tA l. ~

20. ;/'~ '~I

r:'21. ~fL~

22. .-..,"- ?/"("'7

23. d)-'ii:
24. ;r... l) ~''J-.\ A
25. :7 ~/ 1±:!v

115

FINAL REVIEW

KANA WORD SEARCH
17 , Iv 1 +r - < tl~ ~
;f /;L............ ~ 7°

........ ~ /)

7 17 -t :t"it' :; 1t1J......,I'\L) fd. ~ t~- .' ~ -? t/) 'Q ¥J.
;f
'-/) ~ :/ ,"

.h{: 1j ~t t) ~ [1" "'),

icl li h:f - tto. t <"if1? Jl ~ b -tt ~: ;Z ~" -~ 7 t" ., L
~ l ~' 0'\ A" ~
~, A J '- '- <t 1 J\
to! ,.? tJ' .,
1 £ V t:" ,
t7 -? )bv, "-
v~,

-r t r- r;n- ft ::L 1.." c1 ~" )v Iv /- ~ 1)'\
'-
~

n <rj ~ lv' ~: L '7 ~ ;f ~ ~: j" C' ~,
r ttil~ h ~1." Iv 1J-':' r~" ~1" :J" r,-
- --<,. 171"!)Jtj~ )v .. / t- tJ' Iv -_r"
1 -; ...... b..
7° "'- ''/ ./ { L .. ~
-; )\ J\ V"
1t , ,....) \1 ;t ~~ '?
"
t:
- *0v vp 9"l
~ 1~lo /' '' 1J~' '/ ;t -:? ) a;
- n'\1 r~ -t' vp /"' ;h" :; It / r) / Jt l::. n'+r (
;h' ~,' -1:: ~ Iv }.,- ~ :J V. (/) ~ ~ ~

~

, ..., ~ \ 'I) ....

< :r... -a/
,- A':(..... )-.. lid. ) Jr -:J

Find the fifty words below in the square above, moving in a straight line in any direction
including diagonals. The first thirty words are in hiragana, the rest katakana. (We found
over 200 other hiragana words, most of two symbols and not found elsewhere in this
book. How many can you find? Fifty or more means you have a good vocabulary.)

madogiwazoku (staff passed over for p*ro*mot*ion*), t*suridOgu (fishing gear), haragei (non-

verbal communication), shitsurei (rudeness), kanji (character),Jugu (blowfish), hinoki
(cypress), kanemochi (rich person), ganbaru (try your best), daruma (Buddha doll), yuki
(snow), tate (verticality), oya (parent), uchi (home, inner group), sewa (care), ongaeshi
(repayment of favor), tsukimi (moon viewing), umeboshi (pickled plum), nemawashi
(behind-the-scenes maneuvering), musubu (bind), nukeru (be missing),furusato (home-
town), ame (rain), hosoi (slender), kaiko (silkworm), heta (unskilled), tanin (stranger),
yoroi (armor), nama (raw), mizu (water); nairon, kiosuku, guraJu, dezain, terebi, hosu-
teru, warutsu, gasorin,furonto, puropera, purezento, kaunto, pasokon, misairu, tarento,
rajio, gomu, masuto, denimu , yoga. (Look up the katakana words you don't know.)

116

FINAL REVIEW

QUIZ ANSWERS

Food items Flora/fauna Names

1. tamago l, ) dG. t ' 6 -7
2. pan ~)( h' r,c.J....
3. kohl ~~'ClJL/
4. kashi 71 ;1':/
5. butaniku I*-t kL\t\2
6. bIru
7. remon ti t-=- (: " ) -.{}' ~"JJ/. '
8. kudamono
9. shoyu 1)' --z:
10. chizu
11. bata :::L -13 I) ?~-.;- / T A" -
12. omuretsu
13. yaSal ."'?I ~ -~ ~~J:L-
14. nngo
15. ramen -+~ '),/7° r7p 1-+t-
16. yoguruto ~<"-? ;i'? Ll'J-f-
17. saW
18. bisuketto ';J -p ::; F111-
19. natto
20. J'U- su L:'I~ ~2. " J;; t-tlv~ )~
21. kazunoko
22. punn 17 /t(J'v- 7':r. - /
23. mikan
24. parufe ;b ~"J-t- vP ~ 2-
25. benison/venison
.h t;' ~ v\ V':t.. 1)-=
~'l) ~
J\1 t: J.:/J}..

1}J:.~ ,/-7{
-~, t i;
1]- %- Y:3;/

tJ\~~~' C:. ~ V '-7v1.. I)?.!->..

r-.....v. -c,,, J-t-

"'" ::/ ~.' y .. .. J

/;'(7 '/ _

JASen 2.h~

[=1:." 1::, ~ :::;-'7~ '/ F

-< It, 11 ':'::- - d) :t" cC
-qv)-ti:1v
:L'T-tt'/'( ~
l-' ~ J: 1
? ",1 ~)//

ENGLISH VERSION OF "ABOUT JAPAN"

Let's look at an atlas. Japan is a long, thin country lying on a north-south axis to the
east of the Asian mainland. It's about the same size as the state of California in
America. It consists of four main islands. The largest is Honshu, with Tokyo at its
midpoint. The beautiful Mount Fuji is also found on this island. The next largest is
Hokkaido, the northernmost island. Summer here is cool, and in winter heavy snow
makes skiing and skating possible. Kyushu, the third largest island, lies to the
south, so it's warm here even in winter. The fourth largest, Shikoku, is noted for
mikan oranges from its northern half and fish from the south.

117

FINAL REVIEW

DO-IT-YOURSELF KANA CHARTS

Fill in the following charts, writing hiragana in the left part of each box and katakana
in the right. Then check your entries against the charts in the Explanation of Kana .

Basic Kana Symbols

VOWELS

a 1U e 0

a 1ue

ka ki ku ke ko

k

sa shi su se so

S

ta chi tsu te to
t

na m nu ne no
n

ha hi fu he ho
nn mu me mo
h

rna

m

ya - .yu yo
n ru re ro
y
wo
ra
r

wa

w

n

n

118

FINAL REVIEW

Basic Voiced Sounds

a 1U e 0

ga gi gu ge go
zo
g do
bo
za ji zu ze po

zJj

da ji zu de

'P/z/j

ba bi bu be

b

pa pI pu pe
p

Basic Combinations Voiced Combinations

a u0 a u0
ku k0
k,a g~a ug~ g)O

ky gy I

sha shu sho ja ju jo
J
sh
ja
cha chu cho J ju jo
.._n-vu nyo
ch I
nya bya byu byo
pyu pyo
ny - " by

hya hyu hyo pya

hy py

mya myu myo

my

rya ryu ryo

ry

119

FINAL REVIEW

THE IROHA VERSE

The iroha verse was written about a thousand years ago. Though based upon a
teaching of Buddhism its main use is for writing practice, for it includes all of

the kana symbols with the exception of the final n (j..J. In ancient times mu ( if::)

was used where Iv is used today. The order of symbols in the verse - partic-
ularly the first half dozen - is important because it is still sometimes followed
in listings, in similar fashion to the English order "a, b, c."

Try copying out the verse in the space at the foot of the page.

v) h t"i l2. ~i~ t"' 1:;; ~) C1d ~ E

b 1J~' J: -r- fl ~. /t;l(J:~~

1htJ)1J<~1 tt~5.~ :. ~ -r
1J~~vp)i;Jtt
~ tA t 1t r"

The modem romanized version is: Iro wa nioedo chirinuru 0 / Waga yo tare zo
tsune naran / Ui no okuyama kyo koete / Asaki yume miji ei mo sezu.

A literal paraphrase is: "Colors are fragrant, but they fade away. In this world
of ours none lasts forever. Today cross the high mountain of life's illusions
[Le., rise above this physical world], and there will be no more shallow dream-
ing, no more drunkenness [Le., there will be no more uneasiness, no more
temptations]. "

The above translation is given in the appendices of the Japanese - English Char-
acter Dictionary (edited by A. Nelson, published by Charles E. Tuttle Company,

t \1962). Readers who wish to learn more about the historical use of kana, such

as ~ ~~ for the modem ~ ~ /; , are recommended to consult this work.

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127

128

129

130

131

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135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

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Includes the following useful features:

• Systematic and comprehensive coverage of the two kana systems
needed to read and write Japanese

• Ample provision for practice, review, and self-testing at several levels
• Detailed reference section explaining the origin and function of

kana, and the various kana combinations
• Helpful additional information for language students accustomed

to romanized Japanese
• Pronunciation guidance for all basic sounds
• Vocabulary selected for usefulness and cultural relevance

KENNETH G. HENSHALL is a graduate of the universities of London (B.A. Hons), Sydney
(Ph.D), and Adelaide (Dip. Ed.). and is now a professor of Japanese at the University of
Canterbury in New Zealand. He has also taught at the universities of Auckland, Western
Australia, California and Waikato. He is well-known for his translations of literature and
his history books, and is the author of A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters.
TETSUO TAKAGAKI is a graduate of the universities of Wakayama (B.A.) and San Francisco
State (M.A.) and until recently was senior lecturer in Japanese at the University of Auckland.
He has also taught at the universities of Hawaii and Maryland, and at Tsuda College in Tokyo.
He is the author of a number of publications on Japanese language and linguistics.

ISBN-13: 978-0-8048-3815-3
ISBN-10: 0-8048-3815-1

I 'III

9 780804838153 US $16.95