← Katakana lessons · Katakana chart · Hiragana practice sheets →

KATAKANA / WRITING PRACTICE

Katakana practice sheets to print.

First the whole chart to trace, then one page for each row of the 46 basic characters, one page for が to ぽ and きゃ to ぴょ, and a page of words with small っ and ん. Watch the stroke order in the lesson, copy the model, trace the pale ones, then write the rest on your own. The last lines are words to write. Free to print for yourself or your class.

One row per A4 or Letter page. To print one row, press “Print this row” on its sheet. To keep a PDF, choose “Save as PDF” in the print window.
Print some rows only
Rows to print

ア イ ウ エ オ … Chart to trace

Katakana writing practice · sheet 1 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana

aア (a) to traceiイ (i) to traceuウ (u) to traceeエ (e) to traceoオ (o) to tracekaカ (ka) to tracekiキ (ki) to tracekuク (ku) to tracekeケ (ke) to tracekoコ (ko) to tracesaサ (sa) to traceshiシ (shi) to tracesuス (su) to traceseセ (se) to tracesoソ (so) to tracetaタ (ta) to tracechiチ (chi) to tracetsuツ (tsu) to traceteテ (te) to tracetoト (to) to tracenaナ (na) to traceniニ (ni) to tracenuヌ (nu) to traceneネ (ne) to tracenoノ (no) to tracehaハ (ha) to tracehiヒ (hi) to tracefuフ (fu) to traceheヘ (he) to tracehoホ (ho) to tracemaマ (ma) to tracemiミ (mi) to tracemuム (mu) to tracemeメ (me) to tracemoモ (mo) to traceyaヤ (ya) to traceyuユ (yu) to traceyoヨ (yo) to traceraラ (ra) to traceriリ (ri) to traceruル (ru) to tracereレ (re) to traceroロ (ro) to tracewaワ (wa) to tracewoヲ (wo) to tracenン (n) to trace

Trace each pale character, using the cross in its box. The romaji in the corner says how to read it.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ア イ ウ エ オ Vowels

Katakana writing practice · sheet 2 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-a-row

  1. aア (a): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. iイ (i): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. uウ (u): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. eエ (e): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. oオ (o): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordeaairWrite a word: エア (ea, “air”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordueaclothing, wearWrite a word: ウエア (uea, “clothing, wear”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

カ キ ク ケ コ K sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 3 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-k-row

  1. kaカ (ka): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. kiキ (ki): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. kuク (ku): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. keケ (ke): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. koコ (ko): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordkiikeyWrite a word: キー (kii, “key”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordkeekicakeWrite a word: ケーキ (keeki, “cake”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordkokoacocoaWrite a word: ココア (kokoa, “cocoa”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

サ シ ス セ ソ S sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 4 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-s-row

  1. saサ (sa): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. shiシ (shi): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. suス (su): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. seセ (se): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. soソ (so): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordaisuice creamWrite a word: アイス (aisu, “ice cream”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordsoosusauceWrite a word: ソース (soosu, “sauce”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordkeesucaseWrite a word: ケース (keesu, “case”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

タ チ ツ テ ト T sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 5 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-t-row

  1. taタ (ta): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. chiチ (chi): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. tsuツ (tsu): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. teテ (te): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. toト (to): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordtakushiitaxiWrite a word: タクシー (takushii, “taxi”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordtesutotestWrite a word: テスト (tesuto, “test”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordtoosutotoastWrite a word: トースト (toosuto, “toast”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ナ ニ ヌ ネ ノ N sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 6 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-n-row

  1. naナ (na): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. niニ (ni): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. nuヌ (nu): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. neネ (ne): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. noノ (no): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordtenisutennisWrite a word: テニス (tenisu, “tennis”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordnootonotebookWrite a word: ノート (nooto, “notebook”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordkanuucanoeWrite a word: カヌー (kanuu, “canoe”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ H sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 7 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-h-row

  1. haハ (ha): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. hiヒ (hi): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. fuフ (fu): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. heヘ (he): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. hoホ (ho): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordkoohiicoffeeWrite a word: コーヒー (koohii, “coffee”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordsofutosoftwareWrite a word: ソフト (sofuto, “software”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordnaifuknifeWrite a word: ナイフ (naifu, “knife”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

マ ミ ム メ モ M sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 8 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-m-row

  1. maマ (ma): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. miミ (mi): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. muム (mu): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. meメ (me): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. moモ (mo): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordmemomemo, noteWrite a word: メモ (memo, “memo, note”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordhamuhamWrite a word: ハム (hamu, “ham”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordtomatotomatoWrite a word: トマト (tomato, “tomato”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ヤ ユ ヨ Y sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 9 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-y-row

  1. yaヤ (ya): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. yuユ (yu): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. yoヨ (yo): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. Write a wordtaiyatireWrite a word: タイヤ (taiya, “tire”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  5. Write a wordyuniikuuniqueWrite a word: ユニーク (yuniiku, “unique”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  6. Write a wordyooyooyo-yoWrite a word: ヨーヨー (yooyoo, “yo-yo”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ラ リ ル レ ロ R sounds

Katakana writing practice · sheet 10 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-r-row

  1. raラ (ra): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. riリ (ri): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. ruル (ru): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. reレ (re): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  5. roロ (ro): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  6. Write a wordkameracameraWrite a word: カメラ (kamera, “camera”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordmirukumilkWrite a word: ミルク (miruku, “milk”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordhoteruhotelWrite a word: ホテル (hoteru, “hotel”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ワ ヲ ン W sounds and ン

Katakana writing practice · sheet 11 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-w-row

  1. waワ (wa): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  2. woヲ (wo): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  3. nン (n): a model, 3 boxes to trace and 6 empty boxes.
  4. Write a wordwainwineWrite a word: ワイン (wain, “wine”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  5. Write a wordremonlemonWrite a word: レモン (remon, “lemon”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

ヲ: Said “o”. Rare in modern katakana; the particle is usually written を.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ガ ザ ダ バ パ With ゛ ゜ and small ゃ ゅ ょ

Katakana writing practice · sheet 12 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-g-row

  1. gaガ (ga): one box to trace and one empty box.giギ (gi): one box to trace and one empty box.guグ (gu): one box to trace and one empty box.geゲ (ge): one box to trace and one empty box.goゴ (go): one box to trace and one empty box.
  2. zaザ (za): one box to trace and one empty box.jiジ (ji): one box to trace and one empty box.zuズ (zu): one box to trace and one empty box.zeゼ (ze): one box to trace and one empty box.zoゾ (zo): one box to trace and one empty box.
  3. daダ (da): one box to trace and one empty box.jiヂ (ji): one box to trace and one empty box.zuヅ (zu): one box to trace and one empty box.deデ (de): one box to trace and one empty box.doド (do): one box to trace and one empty box.
  4. baバ (ba): one box to trace and one empty box.biビ (bi): one box to trace and one empty box.buブ (bu): one box to trace and one empty box.beベ (be): one box to trace and one empty box.boボ (bo): one box to trace and one empty box.
  5. paパ (pa): one box to trace and one empty box.piピ (pi): one box to trace and one empty box.puプ (pu): one box to trace and one empty box.peペ (pe): one box to trace and one empty box.poポ (po): one box to trace and one empty box.
  6. With a small ャ ュ ョ: write it in the lower-left quarter of its own box
  7. kyaキャ (kya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.kyuキュ (kyu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.kyoキョ (kyo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  8. shaシャ (sha): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.shuシュ (shu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.shoショ (sho): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  9. chaチャ (cha): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.chuチュ (chu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.choチョ (cho): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  10. nyaニャ (nya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.nyuニュ (nyu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.nyoニョ (nyo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  11. hyaヒャ (hya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.hyuヒュ (hyu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.hyoヒョ (hyo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  12. myaミャ (mya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.myuミュ (myu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.myoミョ (myo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  13. ryaリャ (rya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.ryuリュ (ryu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.ryoリョ (ryo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  14. gyaギャ (gya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.gyuギュ (gyu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.gyoギョ (gyo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  15. jaジャ (ja): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.juジュ (ju): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.joジョ (jo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  16. byaビャ (bya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.byuビュ (byu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.byoビョ (byo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  17. pyaピャ (pya): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.pyuピュ (pyu): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.pyoピョ (pyo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.

ヂ: Sounds the same as ジ. Rare. ヅ: Sounds the same as ズ. Rare.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ファ ティ ウェ … Extra sounds for loanwords

Katakana writing practice · sheet 13 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-fa-ti-we

  1. A small ァ ィ ェ ォ borrows only its vowel: write it in the lower-left quarter of its own box
  2. faファ (fa): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.fiフィ (fi): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.feフェ (fe): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  3. foフォ (fo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.tiティ (ti): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.diディ (di): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  4. wiウィ (wi): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.weウェ (we): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.woウォ (wo): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  5. sheシェ (she): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.jeジェ (je): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.cheチェ (che): two boxes to trace and two empty boxes.
  6. Words with these sounds
  7. Write a wordfanfan (supporter)Write a word: ファン (fan, “fan (supporter)”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordkafecaféWrite a word: カフェ (kafe, “café”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  9. Write a wordfookuforkWrite a word: フォーク (fooku, “fork”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  10. Write a wordpaatiipartyWrite a word: パーティー (paatii, “party”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  11. Write a wordwinkuwinkWrite a word: ウィンク (winku, “wink”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  12. Write a wordwebuwebWrite a word: ウェブ (webu, “web”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  13. Write a wordshefuchefWrite a word: シェフ (shefu, “chef”), traced once, then 7 empty boxes to write it yourself.

A small ァ ィ ェ ォ after a character borrows only its vowel, to write sounds from other languages: フ + ァ → ファ fa, テ + ィ → ティ ti.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

ッ ャ ュ ョ ン ー Words to write

Katakana writing practice · sheet 14 of 14

Name Date

Watch the stroke order in the lesson first, then write: startnihongo.com/katakana/katakana-small-tsu

  1. Write a wordkappucupWrite a word: カップ (kappu, “cup”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  2. Write a wordbeddobedWrite a word: ベッド (beddo, “bed”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  3. Write a wordshatsushirtWrite a word: シャツ (shatsu, “shirt”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  4. Write a wordchokochocolateWrite a word: チョコ (choko, “chocolate”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  5. Write a wordkyanpucampingWrite a word: キャンプ (kyanpu, “camping”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  6. Write a wordnyuusunewsWrite a word: ニュース (nyuusu, “news”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  7. Write a wordmenyuumenuWrite a word: メニュー (menyuu, “menu”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  8. Write a wordjuusujuiceWrite a word: ジュース (juusu, “juice”), traced once, then 5 empty boxes to write it yourself.
  9. Write a wordjamujamWrite a word: ジャム (jamu, “jam”), traced once, then 6 empty boxes to write it yourself.

Small ッ and ャ ュ ョ take a box of their own, in its lower-left quarter. ー takes a whole box.

startnihongo.com · Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), CC BY-SA 3.0

How to use the sheets

Say each character out loud as you write it. Before you write, watch the stroke order in the row's lesson: its address is printed at the top of each sheet. Then copy the model. Then trace the three pale copies, and write the six empty boxes on your own. The last lines on each sheet are words from the lesson: trace each word once, then write it yourself. The cross in each box helps you place the character in the middle.

To print only one row, press “Print this row” at the top of its sheet. In the print window you can also choose “Save as PDF” to keep the sheet as a file.

For more practice, press “Hide the letters to trace” and print again: every box is empty except the model.

Each row has its own lesson, with the stroke order played step by step, audio and words to read.

Start with ア イ ウ エ オ →

Katakana chart to print → · All katakana lessons → · Kanji practice sheets → · Back to the course →