Katakana question?

Question

I'm learning japanese, but I'm kind of fuzzy on katakana. I know it's used for foreign words. Can you not use hiragana or kanji because the pronunciation is different? I just...I can't seem to grasp what it's for...Can you just give me a simple definition so I can better understand it?

Answer 1

For example...

'Last month I went to England and met my best friend, Kathy."

If you translate it (literally) to Japanese...

「先月私はイギリスに行き、親友のキャシーに
会いました。」

If you write it all in Hiragana...
「せんげつわたしはいぎりすにいき、しんゆうの
きゃしーにあいました。」

Or if you write it all in Katakana...
「センゲツワタシハイギリスニイキ、シンユウノ
キャシーニアイマシタ」

It is so difficult to tell where the words and/or phrases start and end.

Now... let's write in Kanji and Hiragana...
「先月私はいぎりすに行き、親友のきゃしーに
会いました。」
Well, now, as you said, foreign words are supposed to be written in Katakana, and the sentense above seems very odd, at least, to Japanese people.

「先月私ハイギリスニ行キ、親友ノキャシーニ
会イマシタ。」
Still looks weird since "pure Japanese" parts are not written in Hiragana.

By using 3 different symbols, it makes easier to understand the sentense since, as language, Japanese is very complicated.

And it's nothing to do with pronunciation.

Answer 2

Katakana is mainly used for words borrowed from a foreign language. Instead of creating a new word for the borrowed word as some other languages do, the Japanese simply take a foreign word and make it conform to Japanese pronounciation patterns. Katakana is also used when you write a word to represent a sound. The beating of your heart when it is excited, for example, would be written as doki-doki in katakana.

Contrary to what others have suggested, you should NOT use katakana to write "native" Japanese words, or words that do not represent sound. If you do, it will be clear you don't understand what you are writing.

Hiragana and katakana are pronounced the same. They are different ways of writing the same "sound."

Answer 3

Katakana gives easier understanding that a certain word is of foreign origin. of course you can write foreign words in hiragana, however for easier understanding, katakana is used and also for emphasis. study more and youll see what i mean once youve mastered hiragana and learned some kanji and begin to read and write and even talk full sentences or paragraphs. i suggest though that as a beginner, learn first hiragana and just use the katakana for your name. go one step at a time.

Since the 20th century, katakana have been used mainly to write non-Chinese loan words, onomatopoeic words, foreign names, in telegrams and for emphasis (the equivalent of bold, italic or upper case text in English). Before the 20th century all foreign loanwords were written with kanji.

Answer 4

Nothing to do with pronunciation. Katakana and hiragana convey the same pronunciations. It is just a connvention.