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Learn Katakana & Hiragana Online — Free
Study Katakana is a free interactive tool for learning Japanese Katakana and Hiragana. Practice writing each character with correct stroke order using guided tracing, freehand handwriting recognition, and spaced repetition. Whether you're a complete beginner or brushing up on your Japanese writing skills, our step-by-step approach helps you master all characters quickly.
How It Works
- Practice writing — Draw directly on the canvas to practice stroke order — no guides, just you and the character.
- Play — Press Play to watch each character's stroke order animated step by step.
- Trace — Follow visible touchpoints to learn the correct stroke path.
- Free Hand — Draw characters freehand with real-time stroke-order detection — the system flags off-path cells as you draw.
- Recall — Write characters from memory with no visible guides. A spaced-repetition engine schedules each character based on your per-stroke confidence, and a live "X attempts to advance" counter shows exactly how many clean attempts you need before moving on — so you always know where you stand.
- Hint — Stuck on a stroke? Press Hint to see the next stroke animated for you.
- Games — Reinforce reading + writing through Swipe (read & match), Free Fall (write to capture), Prefectures (write the kana names of Japan's 47 prefectures on an interactive map), Kana Slot Car Racing, Kana Solitaire, and the Nihon Grand Prix.
Flashcards & Printable Resources
Practice on the go with our free interactive Katakana flashcards — flip cards to test your knowledge of each character. Need printable resources? Download our Katakana practice sheets for stroke order tracing, or print cut-out Katakana flashcards for offline study.
All Katakana Characters
Master every Katakana family: ア イ ウ エ オ (A I U E O), カ キ ク ケ コ (Ka Ki Ku Ke Ko), サ シ ス セ ソ (Sa Shi Su Se So), タ チ ツ テ ト (Ta Chi Tsu Te To), ナ ニ ヌ ネ ノ (Na Ni Nu Ne No), ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ (Ha Hi Fu He Ho), マ ミ ム メ モ (Ma Mi Mu Me Mo), ヤ ユ ヨ (Ya Yu Yo), ラ リ ル レ ロ (Ra Ri Ru Re Ro), and ワ ヲ ン (Wa Wo N).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Katakana characters are there?
There are 46 basic Katakana characters in Japanese. They are organized into families based on consonant sounds: A-I-U-E-O, Ka-Ki-Ku-Ke-Ko, Sa-Shi-Su-Se-So, and so on. Each character represents one syllable.
What is the correct stroke order for Katakana?
Each Katakana character has a specific stroke order — generally left to right, top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability, writing speed, and is essential for proper Japanese handwriting. Study Katakana teaches you the exact stroke order for every character.
What is the difference between Hiragana and Katakana?
Both are phonetic writing systems with 46 characters representing the same sounds. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords and emphasis. Both are essential for reading and writing Japanese.
How long does it take to learn Katakana?
Most students learn to recognize all 46 characters in 1-2 weeks with daily practice. Mastering stroke order and writing from memory takes 2-4 weeks. Spaced repetition tools like Study Katakana speed up the process significantly.
Is Study Katakana free?
Yes, completely free. No account needed. Interactive animations, tracing, handwriting recognition, and mini-games — all at no cost.