Ruel M.

Magayanes
Language Specialist (Nihongo)
Bicol University Language Center
Legazpi City
 Kanji

Hiragana

Katakana

Rōmaji

Writing systems used in the Japan language

Japanese language (root word) (suffix)
 Kanji or Chinese characters is a pictographic script of Chinese origin. Literally, kanji means “Han writing”
probably because it was introduced into the Japanese language during the reign of the Han dynasty in
China. It is estimated that there are about 48,000 kanji characters in existence, 5,000 to 10,000 of them
Kanji are commonly used, but only 1,850 characters are designated as basic. Kanji is used in writing the roots of
nouns, verbs and adjectives and loan words of Chinese origin.

Hiragana is a cursive script which is a simplification of kanji. This syllabary* is used in writing grammatical
elements such as affixes, adverbs, conjunctions, particles, auxiliaries and endings of verbs and adjectives
which are subject to conjugation. Hiragana is also used for words to which kanji is not appropriate.
Hiragana Colloquial expressions are usually written in hiragana. The kunyomi or kun pronunciation (native Japanese
reading) of kanji is also written in hiragana.

Katakana is an angular script which is a further simplification of hiragana. This syllabary* incorporates
parts of kanji (Chinese ideographs) is used for onomatopoeic** native Japanese words and transcriptions
Katakana of foreign (or loan) words and names, including borrowings. This syllabic writing system is also used to
write emphatic expressions, a function similar to that of italics. The onyomi or on pronunciation (Chinese
reading) of kanji is also written in katakana.

Rōmaji or Roman script is used for foreign words in their original form, initials,
Rōmaji abbreviations, acronyms and units of measure.

Writing systems used in the

Japanese language
Q: Can all four writing systems be used together in one sentence?
A: Yes, if there is a need to do so.

Example:

ニナさんはABCアカデミーの日本語の学生です。
Romanized form: Nina san wa ABC Akademii no Nihongo no gakusei desu.
English translation: Nina is [a] Japanese language student at ABC Academy.

Legend:
Kanji 日本語 学生
Hiragana さん は の です
Katakana ニナ アカデミー
Rōmaji ABC
Q: Can more than one writing system be combined in one word?
A: Yes, if there is a need to do so.

Example:

フィリピン人 Romanized: firipinjin English: Filipino (people)

フィリピンじん Romanized: firipinjin English: Filipino (people)

Legend:
Kanji 人
Hiragana じん
Katakana フィリピン