Japanese Writing: A Path To Reconnect With Your Cultural Identity

Are you thinking about learning Japanese to reconnect with your roots? First things first, you have to get familiar with the Japanese writing system and the alphabet.

If you’ve researched the Japanese writing system before, you might have encountered different types of Japanese writing: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Confused? Don’t be! In this article, we’ll introduce you to the Japanese language through its writing system.

The Basics Of The Japanese Writing System

Today, the modern Japanese writing system consists of two elements: kanji and kana. Kanji basically refers to the Chinese characters that were adapted into Japanese, while kana is divided into hiragana and katakana.

Japanese is applicable to both vertical writing tategaki (縦書き) and horizontal writing yokogaki (横書き – yokogaki). However, keep in mind that vertical writing is mostly used in traditional Japanese writing, while horizontal writing is used in modern Japanese writing.

Japanese Alphabet

How many alphabets are there in Japanese? The Japanese language consists of two alphabets known as hiragana and katakana, but they are actually just two different versions of the same sound. This is because the Japanese alphabet consists of kana syllabaries, and every syllable you see has a different phonetic value.

It is very easy to distinguish hiragana, katakana, and kanji from each other. Hiragana has a curvy script, katakana has a jagged script, and kanji is the one that looks the most complicated since they are actually Chinese characters.

Hiragana Alphabet

あ-A か-Ka さ-Sa た-Ta な-Na は-Ha ま-Ma や-Ya ら-Ra わ-Wa

い-I き-Ki し-Shi ち-Chi に-Ni ひ-Hi み-Mi り-Ri

う-U く-Ku す-Su つ-Tsu ぬ-Nu ふ-Fu む-Mu ゆ-Yu る-Ru

え-E け-Ke せ-Se て-Te ね-Ne へ-He め-Me れ-Re

お-O こ-Ko そ-So と-To の-No ほ-Ho も-Mo よ-Yo ろ-Ro を-Wo

Katakana Alphabet

ア-A カ-Ka サ-Sa タ-Ta ナ-Na ハ-Ha マ-Ma ヤ-Ya ラ-Ra ワ-Wa

イ-I キ-Ki シ-Shi チ-Chi ニ-Ni ヒ-Hi ミ-Mi リ-Ri

ウ-U ク-Ku ス-Su ツ-Tsu ヌ-Nu フ-Fu ム-Mu ユ-Yu ル-Ru

エ-E ケ-Ke セ-Se テ-Te ネ-Ne ヘ-He メ-Me レ-Re

オ-O コ-Ko ソ-So ト-To ノ-No ホ-Ho モ-Mo ヨ-Yo ロ-Ro

Where To Use Kanji, Hiragana, And Katakana?

Hiragana

Hiragana is mostly used for grammatical elements, such as verb endings and particles. You can also switch to hiragana if you don’t know how to write the word in kanji. In Japan, children’s books are usually written in hiragana since they don’t know how to read and write kanji yet.

Katakana

Katakana is used for foreign words that are loaned from other languages. For example, you can see that katakana is commonly used in manga to indicate that the character is not Japanese and, therefore, has an accent.

Kanji

Although there are plenty of words that can be written in just Hiragana, Kanji is used for general words. For instance, Japanese verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

Japanese Punctuation

The Japanese period (.) and comma (,) are used for the same purposes as in the English language.

The question mark (?) is not used in traditional and formal texts, but it can be used in informal and casual texts. It is also used in transcriptions of dialogues because, otherwise, it might not be clear whether a statement is a question or not.

The exclamation mark (!) is only used in casual and informal texts.

Quotation marks in Japanese are different than what we’re used to. They are symbolized as 「 … 」, or 『 … 』.

History Of The Japanese Writing System In A Nutshell

Until kanji was introduced in the 5th century by the Chinese, Japan didn’t have a writing system. But, once the Japanese took the kanji characters from the Chinese language, they were able to match them to the same word in Japanese.

After the adaptation of Chinese characters, kanji started to be used everywhere to write Japanese. In 650 CE, a new writing system known as manyo gana (万葉仮名) was invented that used Chinese characters for their sounds to represent Japanese meanings. Interestingly, kana was mostly used by women who were not allowed to get higher education during those times.

There is another type of kanji known as national characters; kokuji (国字). These kanji characters are used to indicate native Japanese words, so they are not known to Chinese speakers.

Where To Begin Writing In Japanese?

Writing Japanese is not easy, but practice makes perfect!

As a beginner, make sure to learn hiragana and katakana. After you’re comfortable with those, you can start studying kanji. In order to learn the stroke order of any kanji, you can get help from various Japanese learning apps, and don’t forget to practice with an actual pencil and paper. When learning characters, muscle memory is very important.

Another tip when learning kanji is to study kanji characters with context.

What To Do After Learning The Japanese Writing System

If you’re a beginner learning Japanese, understand that the alphabet, pronunciation, and grammar rules can be overwhelming, but never give up! If you want to know the best ways to learn Japanese, there are plenty of online resources out there!

How Do You Say “Japanese Writing” In Japanese?

You can say “Japanese writing” in Japanese as nihon no kakikata (日本の書き方) or nihongo no kakikata (日本語の書き方) which means “the way of writing Japanese.”

If you mean the Japanese writing system, you can say nihongo no moji (日本語の文字).

Related Japanese Vocabulary

Tips To Learn Japanese Writing

Learning Japanese is more than just memorizing characters, it’s a bridge to your family, history, and traditions. Every stroke you write is a step closer to speaking with your family elders, understanding their stories, and keeping your heritage alive.

Here’s how you can learn and practice Japanese writing in a meaningful way:

• 1. Start with Hiragana – The Heart of Japanese
  Hiragana is the foundation of the language and the script most often used in daily life. Think of it as the key to unlocking books, letters, and even handwritten notes from your family. Start by writing simple words related to your heritage, like Obachan (おばあちゃん) – Grandma and Furusato (ふるさと) – Hometown.
  
• 2. Make Kanji Personal: Kanji might seem overwhelming, but many characters hold deep cultural meaning. Start with the kanji in your family name, common phrases your family members use, or words connected to your ancestry. When you see these kanji, they won’t just be symbols, they’ll be pieces of your history.
  
• 3. Write Letters to Your Grandparents
  Even if you start with short, simple sentences, writing letters in Japanese will strengthen both your skills and your bond with family. Your grandparents will treasure your effort, and their responses will become motivation to keep improving.
  
• 4. Learn with Stories and Traditions
  Explore Japanese folk tales, old songs, and even family recipes written in Japanese. Seeing kanji and kana in the context of your culture makes learning feel more natural and personal.
  
• 5. Celebrate Your Progress with Family
  Share what you’ve learned with your family elders, maybe by reading a short passage or writing their favorite saying in Japanese. Seeing their pride in your efforts will remind you why you started this journey in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Writing

1. What Is The Japanese Writing System Called?

The Japanese writing system is called kana and kanji, which includes Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

2. Why Does Japanese Have 3 Writing Systems?

Japanese uses three writing systems because they each serve different purposes:

• Kanji (Chinese characters) represent words and ideas.
• Hiragana is used for grammar, native words, and verb endings.
• Katakana is mainly for foreign words, names, and onomatopoeia.

4. Which Is Better, Hiragana Or Katakana?

Neither is better—they just have different uses. Hiragana is more common and used for native words, while Katakana is mostly for foreign words and special emphasis.

5. Is Hiragana Or Kanji Used More?

Kanji is used more for nouns, verbs, and adjectives, but Hiragana is essential for grammar. A typical Japanese sentence usually has both.

6. How Many Letters Are There In Japanese?

In the Japanese writing system, there are 46 basic characters in both hiragana and katakana, with additional variations through diacritical marks. Kanji consists of thousands of characters, with about 2,000 commonly used in daily life.

To Conclude Japanese Writing

Learning the Japanese writing system is more than just memorizing characters, it’s a bridge to your family, history, and traditions. Every stroke you write is a step closer to speaking with your elders, understanding their stories, and keeping your heritage alive.

By starting with hiragana, making kanji personal, and practicing through letters, stories, and traditions, you can make learning Japanese a meaningful journey.

Remember, every small effort counts, and your progress will be something to celebrate with your loved ones. Keep writing, keep learning, and enjoy the beautiful connection that language brings!

Learn Japanese And Reconnect With Your Roots!

Every Japanese character you learn is a step closer to your family and your roots. Embrace the beauty of your heritage, and let your writing tell the story of your journey.

Your family’s language holds the stories, traditions, and love that connect you to your heritage. With Ling, you’re not just learning words, you’re embracing your identity and deepening your bond with your loved ones.

Start learning Japanese today and let the Ling app be your guide in preserving your culture, one conversation at a time. 💛