Alphabets
April 27th, 2010
In Lesson 2 you will learn about the Japanese alphabets. Yes, you read that right– there is more than one alphabet. Originally, the writing system was adopted from China, using Chinese characters called Kanji. The modern Japanese writing system still contains Kanji, but is made-up of a combination of mainly three alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Some modern texts may also include Romaji, which are roman letters (ABCDEFG).
Here is a sample Japanese text containing a mix of the alphabets, as you would see in real life:
Let’s move on and learn specifics about each of the alphabets:
Part 1: Learn the Hiragana Alphabet
Part 2: Learn the Katakana Alphabet
Part 3: Learn About the Kanji Alphabet
Click to Order Your Set of Kana and Kanji Flashcards Now
Hey guys how can I remember all this and I don’t really understand it. Is there a easier way to understand it?
Why is there two different kinds of japanese language
Which one would i most likely see when trying to read SIGNS for example?
@A_Shadows_Heart
You will see a mix of all three alphabets used on signs in Japan. It’s hard to say which one you’d be most likely to see. I want to say hiragana and kanji, but some of the important signs like “bathroom” that are often written in katakana so it’s best to try to learn all three alphabets if you can.