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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Foreign Languages

Master Katakana: Test Your Japanese Writing Skills

Think you can ace this Katakana test? Dive in and challenge your Katakana knowledge now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art of Katakana symbols on a coral background with quiz invite to test Japanese writing speed and character knowledge.

Use this Katakana Quiz to practice recognizing every character fast and check your writing and reading speed. You'll get quick rounds that show which symbols you miss so you can fix gaps before class or an exam; warm up first with a quick review of ka in hiragana , then play and see how your score improves.

Which katakana character represents the sound mo?
?
?
?
?
The katakana ? corresponds to mo in the Japanese syllabary. Each katakana character maps to one mora or sound in Japanese. ? is distinguished by its two parallel vertical strokes and a diagonal. You can review katakana charts to confirm this mapping.
What is the romanized reading of the katakana character ??
ji
shi
hi
sa
The character ? is pronounced shi in Japanese katakana. It consists of three small strokes angled to the right. In contrast, ? represents ji with an added dakuten. Learning these stroke patterns helps distinguish similar-looking characters.
Which katakana character is used for the sound ka?
?
?
?
?
The katakana ? represents the sound ka. When you add dakuten (?) to it, it becomes ? and changes to ga. Katakana are often used for foreign loanwords and onomatopoeia.
How do you read the katakana character ??
da
ga
ka
ba
? is the voiced counterpart of ?, so its read ga. The small marker (dakuten) indicates the voicing of the consonant. This is a fundamental feature of Japanese kana.
Which katakana combination represents the sound kyo?
??
??
??
??
The combination ?? is formed by ? (ki) plus a small ? (yo), producing kyo. These small characters?, ?, ?create contracted sounds called y?on.
What is the romanized reading of the katakana ??
su
tsu
zu
chu
The katakana ? is read tsu and is recognized by its distinctive three strokes: a diagonal and two smaller ones on the right. Differentiating it from ? is crucial in reading.
Which katakana character is commonly used to approximate the sound v in foreign words?
?
?
?
?
Modern Japanese uses ? (a modified ? with dakuten) to approximate the v sound from foreign languages. Before its introduction, ? or ?? were sometimes used.
Which katakana sequence correctly represents the sound tu as in tuna?
??
??
??
?
The sequence ?? is used for the tu sound in loanwords, combining ? (to) with a small ? (u). Standard ? alone is to and ?? is chu.
Which katakana combination is used in modern Japanese to represent wi?
??
??
?
??
In modern Japanese, ?? (??small ?) represents wi, especially in foreign names. The character ? was historically used but is now obsolete.
What is the correct katakana spelling for the loanword coffee (koohii)?
????
???
????
?????
Coffee is rendered as ???? combining ? (ko), ? for long o, ? (hi), and another ? for long i. Loanwords often use ? to indicate vowel length.
In a word like ??? (kappu), what role does the small tsu (?) play?
It lengthens the preceding vowel.
It marks a glottal stop.
It indicates a doubled consonant (geminate).
It indicates nasalization.
The small tsu (?) denotes a geminated or doubled consonant in the following syllable, as in ??? where the p is held briefly. This feature is essential in proper pronunciation.
Which katakana sequence correctly spells church as used in English-derived contexts?
?????
????
????
????
Church is spelled ???? combining ?? (cha) with ? (long a) and ? (chi), reflecting the final ch with ?. Loanwords adapt English phonemes to Japanese kana.
Which description correctly differentiates ? (shi) from ? (tsu)?
? and ? are differentiated only by stroke length, not placement.
? has three evenly spaced strokes; ? has two strokes with one extended.
? has two short strokes at the top right and one at the bottom left; ? has two short strokes at the bottom left and one at the top right.
? has two short strokes at the bottom left and one at the top right; ? has two short strokes at the top right and one at the bottom left.
The visual distinction is crucial: ?s two smaller strokes appear on the lower left, whereas ?s appear on the upper right. Stroke placement, not length, is what differentiates them. This is a frequent source of confusion for learners.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recognize Katakana Characters -

    Identify all standard katakana symbols through our interactive katakana quiz to reinforce your visual recognition skills.

  2. Read Katakana Words Fluently -

    Increase your reading speed and accuracy with multiple-choice questions designed for effective katakana practice.

  3. Apply Transcription Rules -

    Use learned conventions to correctly transcribe Japanese sounds into katakana, helping you learn katakana writing in real contexts.

  4. Evaluate Your Performance -

    Complete each katakana test exercise and receive instant feedback to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement.

  5. Build Vocabulary Confidence -

    Challenge yourself with loanwords and modern terms to test katakana knowledge and boost your reading of everyday Japanese.

  6. Improve Retention Through Practice -

    Engage with varied quiz formats and timed challenges to solidify memory and enhance long-term katakana recall.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Katakana Chart Groupings -

    Review the 46 basic katakana characters arranged by vowel rows (ア a, イ i, ウ u, エ e, オ o) and consonant columns (k, s, t, n, etc.). Use the Japan Foundation's official chart to see how visual patterns repeat across each row. Testing yourself via a katakana quiz reinforces these groupings and boosts reading fluency.

  2. Stroke Order & Shape Distinctions -

    Master the standard stroke order for characters like セ (se) versus ツ (tsu) by noting that セ has three strokes ending horizontally, while ツ has two vertical strokes. The National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics recommends practicing these distinctions to avoid common mix-ups on a katakana test. Regular handwriting drills will accelerate recognition in timed quizzes.

  3. Loanword Recognition Patterns -

    Katakana often represents loanwords such as コーヒー (kŝhī "coffee") or ポナナ (banana), so spotting long vowels (ー) and doubled consonants (ッ) is key. The Tofugu language blog suggests grouping words by common endings (e.g., ーン, ート) to internalize patterns. This trick makes every "test katakana" session feel like decoding a secret code.

  4. Dakuten & Handakuten Rules -

    Learn how adding dakuten (") changes カ (ka) to ガ (ga), and handakuten (°) shifts ポ (ha) to パ (pa). According to the Japan Foundation, treating these marks as part of the character shape speeds up recognition on katakana practice tests. Try quizzing yourself by writing base characters then adding marks in one fluid motion.

  5. Spaced-Repetition Practice -

    Implement an SRS tool like Anki to review 10 - 15 new katakana cards daily, ensuring long-term retention. Research from Kyoto University shows spaced intervals improve recall by up to 80%, perfect for those aiming to ace a katakana quiz. Consistency - five minutes each day - turns short study bursts into lasting mastery.

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