Hiragana to Katakana Converter
Instantly convert between hiragana and katakana. Paste or type Japanese text to see the conversion in real time.
About Hiragana and Katakana
Hiragana (ひらがな)
Used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, verb endings, and words without common kanji. It has a rounder, more curved appearance.
Katakana (カタカナ)
Used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, onomatopoeia, and emphasis. Characters are more angular and sharp compared to hiragana.
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Start JLPT N5 CourseFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hiragana and katakana?
Hiragana and katakana are two of the three writing systems in Japanese. Both represent the same 46 basic sounds but look different. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar, while katakana is used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, and emphasis.
When should I use hiragana vs katakana?
Use hiragana for native Japanese words and grammar particles. Use katakana for foreign/borrowed words, foreign names, scientific terms, onomatopoeia, and emphasis.
How does the conversion work?
Hiragana and katakana have a one-to-one mapping in Unicode. Each hiragana character has a corresponding katakana character exactly 96 positions apart, making conversion straightforward.
Can this handle mixed text?
Yes, only hiragana or katakana characters are converted. Kanji, English letters, numbers, and punctuation remain unchanged.
How many characters are in each system?
There are 46 basic characters in each system, plus dakuten and handakuten variants, totaling over 100 distinct characters per system.