第2課Lesson 2 of 16
K row
Add a k in front of each vowel: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko. The order is the same one you just learned.
カキクケコ
All lessonsPronunciation
How it sounds
Japanese k is a light k, closer to the one in skate than the one in kite. An English consonant with no vowel after it usually gets a u in katakana, so the k in cake becomes キ and ends up as ケーキ, kēki.
Reading tips
Easy to mix up
ク and ケ are close. ケ has a bar running out to the right; ク closes the top into a corner.
ク and タ (lesson 4) are close too. タ has an extra short stroke inside.
コ and ユ (lesson 8): ユ has a long base that runs out past its vertical stroke; コ's stops at the corner.
New kana
Picture each shape, then say it.
A Cod, the fish, with the kana behind its fins. Say "ka".
A Key: two bars for teeth on a long shaft.
A Coonskin cap with its striped tail hanging down. Say "ku".
The letter "K", tipped over to one side. Say "ke".
A Comb with a handle, its teeth facing left. Say "ko".
Real vocabulary
Words you can read now
- ケーキkēkicake
- ココアkokoacocoa
- カカオkakaocacao
- オーケーōkēOK
- キウイkiuikiwi
- カーキkākikhaki