Hiragana, katakana, and kanji make up the Japanese writing system. When you start learning Japanese, figuring out how to read and write can feel overwhelming; after all, Japanese is completely different from the Roman alphabet! You then learn that there are three different writing systems used all at once. How is that even possible? Not to worry – these systems are simpler than you might expect! Each one has unique, defining characteristics and uses; once you learn more about these, reading and writing Japanese will be a breeze!

We’ve covered smaller articles for each Japanese writing system. Don’t forget to check out our downloadable hiragana chart and quiz for a more detailed guide and resource recommendation.

Origins of the Japanese Alphabet

Do you know about the history and the origin of hiragana and katakana? Originally, the Japanese ancestors did not have a writing system. Around the fifth century, they started using kanji, ideograms that were adopted from China and Korea. They only used the phonetic reading of the kanji, regardless of their meaning. At that time, the ideograms were called manyogana (万葉仮名).

However, kanji’s characters are composed of many strokes. They take longer to write, as you have noticed by now! Due to their difficulty, those ideograms were slowly simplified into kana alphabets, namely hiragana and katakana. They are called syllabograms, as each character corresponds to one sound in the Japanese language. According to historians, the change was initiated by Buddhist priests who thought kanji could not accurately represent the Japanese language and that a phonetic alphabet would be better.

Examples of Change

On the left is the manyogana, and on the right are simplified hiragana and katakana forms.

• 安 →あ 阿 → ア (a)
• 以 →い 伊 → イ(i)
• 宇 →う、ウ(u)
• 衣 →え 江 → エ(e)
• 於 →お、オ(o)

This change is thought to have occurred between the eighth and ninth centuries.  Hiragana can be considered a simplified calligraphy form of the kanji’s strokes. On the other hand, katakana is taken from a single element of a kanji. In some cases, the Hiragana and Katakana are created from different ideograms.

Some hiragana and Katakana express the same sound and have similar shapes, such as り and リ. However, some can be dissimilar, such as あ and ア. Hiragana is said to be cursive, while katakana is more angular. Do take note that one sound can have more than one hiragana. In 1900, the two kana scripts, hiragana and katakana, were codified. This led to the clear establishment of rules for the Japanese system in 1946.

Japanese Writing System #1: Hiragana

Whenever you just start out learning Japanese, hiragana is usually the first writing system you learn. Hiragana is technically a syllabary or a way of writing where symbols represent whole syllables (such as “ba” and “to”) instead of individual sounds (such as “b” or “t”)⁵. This is because all Japanese words are made up of these small syllables, so there’s no need to write out individual sounds!

In Japanese, there are 46 basic syllables:

• The basic vowels: a, i, u, e, o.
• The k-line: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko.
• The s-line: sa, shi, su, se, so. (Notice that the “si” sound is instead replaced by “shi.”)
• The t-line: ta, chi, tsu, te, to. (Notice that the “ti” and “tu” sounds are instead pronounced closer to “chi” and “tsu.”)
• The n-line: na, ni, nu, ne, no.
• The h-line: ha, hi, fu, he, ho. (Notice that the “hu” sound is actually said as “fu.”)
• The m-line: ma, mi, mu, me, mo.
• The y-line: ya, yu, yo.
• The r-line: ra, ri, ru, re, ro.
• Wa, o/wo, and n. (These sounds are unique, so they are generally placed together. The “o/wo” symbol can be pronounced either way and “n” is considered a whole syllable in Japanese.)

There are also 23 additional syllables in Japanese; these are formed with additional marks that we’ll cover in a minute.

• The g-line: ga, gi, gu, ge, go.
• the z-line: za, ji, zu, ze, zo. (Notice that “ji” is used instead of “zi.”)
• The d-line: da, ji, zu, de, do. (“ji” and “zu” are pronounced the same way as in the z-line but have different uses.)
• The b-line: ba, be, bu, be, bo.
• the p-line: pa, pi, pu, pe, po.

Writing Hiragana

So, now that we’ve covered the basic sounds, let’s see how these syllables are written down in hiragana:

Hiragana is generally round in shape, with lots of curves and bends. This characteristic is a key way to tell what symbols are hiragana! You can also combine a consonant with a / ya / yu / yo / sound by attaching a small 「や」、「ゆ」、or 「よ」 to the / i / vowel character of each consonant.

Now, let’s take a look at those 23 additional sounds:

• the g-line: が(ga), ぎ(gi), ぐ(gu), げ(ge), ご(go).
• the z-line: ざ(za), じ(ji), ず(zu), ぜ(ze), ぞ(zo).
• the d-line: だ(da), ぢ(ji), づ(zu), で(de), ど(do). 
• the b-line: ば(ba), べ(be), ぶ(bu), べ(be), ぼ(bo).
• the p-line: ぱ(pa), ぴ(pi), ぷ(pu), ぺ(pe), ぽ(po).

Did you notice something about the above sounds? The hiragana for the g-line is identical to the k-line, and the same goes for the z-line and s-line, the t-line and the d-line, the h-line and the b- and p-lines! The only difference is the addition of diacritical marks; these marks go to the upper right of the hiragana and can be either two short diagonal marks (called a dakuten) or a small circle (called the handakuten). This is pretty nice, as you don’t have to memorize even more symbols!

There are also contracted sounds in Japanese. These sounds are basically combinations of sounds ending in “-i” and the y-line and are considered one syllable as well^. All you have to do for these is add a small y-line hiragana after the main hiragana! (Notice that not all of these syllables keep the “y” sound.)

• the k-line: きゃ(kya), きゅ(kyu), きょ(kyo)
• the s-line: しゃ(sha), しゅ(shu), しょ (sho)
• the t-line: ちゃ(cha), ちゅ(chu), ちょ(cho)
• the n-line: にゃ(nya), にゅ(nyu), にょ(nyo)
• the h-line: ひゃ(hya), ひゅ(hyu), ひょ(hyo)
• the m-line: みゃ(mya), みゅ(my) みょ(myo)
• the r-line: りゃ(rya), りゅ(ryu), りょ(ryo)
• the g-line: ぎゃ(gya), ぎゅ(gyu), ぎょ(gyo)
• the z-line: じゃ(ja), じゅ(ju), じょ(jo)
• the b-line: びゃ(bya), びゅ(byu), びょ(byo)
• the p-line: ぴゃ(pya), ぴゅ(pyu), ぴょ(pyo)

So, that is the basics of how hiragana is written. However, there are also double consonants and long vowels, which are written with variations in hiragana (and katakana). We recommend checking out our full-length article about double consonants and long vowels to learn more about those!

How to Use Hiragana

Hiragana can be used for many things; it’s like the all-rounder of writing Japanese, and it represents all the syllables of the Japanese language! Hiragana is used when writing verb endings, particles, grammar words (such as conjunctions), and many native Japanese words, as well as for words that do not have a corresponding kanji character. Hiragana is also used in furigana; this is when hiragana is written in a small font above kanji for those who don’t know the kanji’s reading.

Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Hiragana

In Japanese hiragana, double consonants are represented by adding a small “tsu” character (っ) before the consonant that is doubled. For example, the word “katta” (勝った), meaning “won”, would be written as かった, with a small “tsu” between the two “t” characters.

Long vowels in hiragana are done by extending a consonant or vowel with another vowel, depending on the vowel in accordance with the following chart.

For example, the word “ookii” (大きい), meaning “big”, would be written as おおきい.

Vowel Sound	Extended by	Example
a	あ	おばあさん
i, e	い	おおきい、きれい
u, o	う	こうこう、くうき

Example

Let’s start off with a simple sentence – “My pet’s name is Bob.” (What a funny name for a pet!) In Hiragana, this looks like this:

わたしの ぺっと の なまえ は  ぼぶ です。
Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.

So, we can write a whole Japanese sentence just using hiragana! This is how most people (including native speakers) start off reading and writing Japanese. Of course, as you learn about katakana and kanji, some of these words will be replaced.  However, you will see that the particles (の [no] and は [wa]) and the native verb です(desu) will remain the same, as these are some of the things that specifically use hiragana!  

Now that you’ve learned the basics, it’s time for practice! Head on over to our list of practice sheets, apps, and quizzes to make sure you’ve got a solid understanding of hiragana!

Tips for Writing in Japanese

1. There are no spaces in the Japanese writing system

Japanese is written with no spaces, so a combination of hiragana, kanji, and katakana helps distinguish words within a sentence. As you improve your Japanese writing and reading skills, you’ll start to feel that reading kanji is often easier than reading a sentence that consists solely of hiragana.

2. Be careful of hiragana characters that sound and look similar

Pay more attention when pronouncing “tsu” and “su”. Beginner-level students also have a hard time discerning ro (ろ), re (れ), ru (る) — and nu (ぬ) and me (め) because they look similar.

3. Correct stroke order and direction are important

Writing hiragana with the correct stroke order and direction will help you intuitively know how to write new characters, and it has a big effect on how readable it ends up looking.

Japanese Writing System #2: Katakana

After hiragana, it’s a good idea to learn katakana next; katakana works the exact same way that hiragana does, just using different characters; some katakana symbols even look similar to their hiragana counterparts!  In fact, hiragana and katakana are often collectively referred to as kana, since they are so similar!

Writing Katakana  

the basic vowels	ア(a), イ(i), ウ(u), エ(e), オ(o)
the k-line	カ (ka), キ(ki), ク(ku), ケ(ke), コ(ko)
the s-line	サ(sa), シ(shi), ス(su), セ(se), ソ(so)
the t-line	タ(ta), チ(chi),ツ(tsu), テ(te), ト(to)
the h-line	ハ(ha), ヒ(hi), フ(fu), へ(he), ホ(ho)
the n-line	ナ(na), ニ(ni), ヌ(nu), ネ(ne), ノ(no)
the m-line	マ(ma), ミ(mi), ム(mu), メ(me), モ(mo)
the y-line	ヤ(ya), ユ(yu), ヨ(yo)
the r-line	ラ(ra), リ(ri), ル(ru), レ(re), ロ(ro).
	ワ(wa), ヲ(o/wo), and ン(n).

Now, let’s take a look at those 23 additional sounds:

• the g-line: ガ(ga), ギ(gi), グ(gu), ゲ(ge), ゴ(go).
• the z-line: ザ(za), ジ(ji), ズ(zu), ゼ(ze), ゾ(zo).
• the d-line: ダ(da), ヂ(ji), ヅ(zu), デ(de), ド(do). 
• the b-line: バ(ba), ビ(bi), ブ(bu), べ(be), ボ(bo).
• the p-line: パ(pa), ピ(pi), プ(pu), ぺ(pe), ポ(po).

The contracted sounds are also formed in the same way as in hiragana. However, katakana has additional combinations with small vowel letters to transcribe foreign sounds that did not originally exist in Japanese. These are generally easy to pronounce, as you simply combine the consonant of the main katakana symbol with the vowel of the smaller one.

Examples of this include the フェ (fe) in カフェ (kafe), the ティ (ti) in パーティー (paatii), and the ウィ (wi) in ハロウィーン (harowiin)!

You can see that katakana is simpler and has more straight lines than hiragana; this is one major way to tell them apart!

If you want to learn more about katakana, check out our article below and get a free, downloadable PDF of our chart!

Read More: What is Katakana? Free Katakana Chart and Learning Guide

How and When to Use Katakana

Another way to tell them apart is by their usage. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords or words from different languages. ハンバーガー (hanbaagaa, hamburger) and アルバイト (arubaito, part-time job) are examples of Japanese words taken from English and German, respectively. Many non-Japanese names are spelled using katakana as well!

Katakana is also often used for onomatopoeic words, which are words that imitate sounds, such as “pikapika” (sparkling), “gacha” (clacking sound), or “wanwan” (dog’s bark).

Katakana can also be used to emphasize words, similar to how words might be italicized or bolded in English. You can usually see this more in signs or advertisements, like メガネ, megane (glasses) or ラーメン (raamen, glasses).

Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Katakana

Long vowels in katakana are so much simpler than hiragana. All long vowel sounds are denoted by a simple dash: ー.

For example, the word “アート” (aato), meaning “art”, has a long “a” sound represented by the horizontal line over the “a” character.

Double consonants in Katakana are represented using a small “tsu” character (ッ) just like in Hiragana. For example, the word “バッグ” (baggu), meaning “bag”, has a double “g” sound represented by the small “tsu” character.

Example of Katakana

Remember the pet with the funny name? Let’s take another look at that sentence, this time adding in katakana – try to guess where the katakana will be!

わたしのペットのなまえは ボブ です。
Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.

Did you guess petto and bobu? Both of these words are English loanwords and names, so they would be written in katakana. Including katakana when writing Japanese is also a great way to make the words easier to distinguish from each other; writing in all hiragana could make it hard to tell words apart, since Japanese doesn’t normally use spaces!

Difference between Hiragana and Katakana

Why are there 2 syllabic Japanese scripts? In the event that the difference is stylistic, you will learn that hiragana is used to write native Japanese words. Those words will have no kanji representation, and the ideogram will be too ancient or too difficult to write. This kana script is also the one used to write grammatical elements such as particles: を (wo)、に (ni)、へ (he;e)、が (ga)、は (ha).

On the contrary, the Japanese use katakana to write words of foreign origin and foreign names. If you like to read manga in Japanese, you will certainly notice that katakana is also used to represent onomatopoeia and emphasis.

Have you heard of the word “furigana”? Furigana are hiragana and katakana characters written in small forms above kanji in order to show the pronunciation. Furigana is used in kids’ books and Japanese language textbooks for learners, in order to teach the reading of unknown kanji.

Japanese Writing System #3: Kanji                                                               

Kanji is usually the last system to be learned, even for native Japanese speakers! Kanji are Chinese characters and were Japan’s first writing system. They were first introduced to Japan over 1,500 years ago; hiragana and katakana actually evolved from these symbols!

Kanji are complex characters that represent words or ideas, and they form the backbone of the Japanese writing system. In fact, it is estimated that there are over 50,000 kanji characters, although only a fraction of those are commonly used.

Reading Kanji

Kanji is different from hiragana and katakana in that there are multiple ways to pronounce a single character. This is because there is a Chinese way to read a character (called the on-yomi) and a Japanese way (the kun-yomi). The on-yomi was the original way, but when kanji started to be used to write native Japanese words, new pronunciations were added¹. So, if you see a character pronounced one way in one word but differently in another, this is why!

Writing Kanji

Radicals

All kanji are made up of one or more radicals. A radical is simply a small symbol that, either by itself or when combined with other symbols, makes up a complete kanji character. Take, for instance, the radical 一. By itself, this is the complete kanji for ichi (one). But, it can be added with the radical亅to form the kanji 丁! There are 214 total radicals used in 13 different positions when forming kanji, though some radicals and positions are used more frequently than others. If you think of all kanji as being made up of these smaller radicals, then they will be easier to learn!

There are roughly four main types of kanji, based on how and why the radicals are arranged¹:

1. Pictograms

These kanji originally came from pictures, simply drawing the object itself to represent it in writing¹. It’s like writing “😊” to represent “smiley face” – just like emojis today! Take a look at 山 (yama, mountain) for example; doesn’t the character 山 remind you of how a mountain looks, with a pointy peak at the top?

2. Simple Ideograms

These kanji originally used lines and dots to “represent numbers or abstract concepts.¹” So, instead of drawing an object, you would try to visually represent the idea you wanted to convey. Take “up” and “down” for instance; drawing a dot above a line could represent “up” while a dot below a line would signify “down.” This is where 上 (ue, up) and 下 (shita, down) came from¹!

3. Compound Ideograms

Basically, these are kanji formed by combining two or more simpler kanji¹. The kanji used in 休む (yasumu, to rest), for example, is a combination of 人 (hito, person [often written as ⺅ when used as a radical]) and 木 (ki, tree)¹. A lot of the time, the two simpler kanji are chosen because of their connection to the resulting character. For 休, a person leaning against a tree would be resting – which is why 人 and 木 were chosen to form this character!  

4. Phonetic-ideographic Characters

These kanji are usually found when a character’s original on-yomi sounded like a native Japanese word, but the kanji associated with the sound didn’t represent the word’s meaning. So, to remedy this, those in the past added an additional kanji to clarify the meaning. In other words, these kanji are formed by combining one kanji that has the word’s pronunciation and another kanji that represents the word’s meaning. One example of this is the character for sei (clean). Water is generally associated with cleaning, so the kanji for water 水 (mizu, often written as ⺡) is added to the kanji 青 (sei, blue) to get 清 sei (clean).

As you can see, kanji are definitely more complex than hiragana or katakana, but don’t worry – there are plenty of simple kanji too! Plus, knowing the radicals and kanji types will help to make learning and remembering kanji easier. Knowing the stroke order, or the steps in which each character is written, can help make memorization easier too; check out this site to look up any kanji and see its stroke order (and other helpful information)!

Uses

Kanji is used for nouns, verb stems, and adjectives. So, kanji are used for most major words that you will encounter in everyday Japanese! While hiragana and katakana are crucial, you also can’t rely on just those when reading and writing; you have to learn kanji as well!

Example

Let’s take one last look at Bob, this time reading the sentence as it would be written in everyday Japanese:

私のペットの名前はボブです。
Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.

Well, using kanji certainly makes the Japanese sentence shorter! In this case, the pronoun watashi (I) and the noun namae (name) use kanji. If there was a different verb in this sentence (like “look” or “ate”), then there would most likely be kanji there as well. Finally, using these new symbols makes the sentence even easier to read, as they are visually quite different than hiragana or katakana!

While all of this might seem overwhelming at first, it’s nothing you can’t handle with a little practice! Simply writing the kanji out is a great way to see how the radicals work together and to memorize their combinations; but, if you’re looking for something a little bit more high-tech, there are also some kanji apps we recommend you can use to practice as well!

Conclusion

Well, we certainly covered a lot of ground today! Let’s review everything to make sure you remember what we learned.

Japanese has three types of writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana is curvy, represents small syllables, and is used for grammatical information, particles, and native Japanese words! Katakana is straight, also represents small syllables, and is used for loanwords from other languages. Kanji are complex characters made up of radicals, represent a concept, a sound, or a mixture of the two, and are used for nouns, verb stems, and adjectives.

And those are the main points! Not so bad, right? You are now ready to start reading and writing Japanese like a pro! If you feel like you need more help, though, feel free to reach out to us or join one of our many Japanese language classes here!

FAQ

What is the Japanese writing system?

The Japanese writing system uses Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji scripts.

What does Hiragana represents?

Hiragana represents native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb endings.

What does Katakana represents?

Katakana represents foreign words, loanwords, onomatopoeic words, and emphasis.

How many characters are there in hiragana and katakana?

There are 46 characters in each of the Hiragana and Katakana scripts.

What is the closet thing to English chracters?

There is no such thing as the Japanese alphabet, but the closest things would be called hiragana and katakana.

How many kanji I should learn?

To be considered fluent in Japanese, you must learn from 1500 to 2500 kanji characters.

Want to learn Japanese hiragana? In this blog, we share our own PDF learning Hiragana practice sheets and links to some popular apps for learning Japanese. Just started learning Japanese? Head to our main article about the Japanese writing system for a more comprehensive guide!

Apps for Learning Hiragana

If you are just getting started with learning Hiragana, you may think that it is easier to learn with an App.

Apps are convenient and easy to take with you to practice using while you are out and about. However, we also suggest that you take some time to physically write the characters, as it will cement them in your brain.

That being said, we recommend several apps for being fun and easy to use.

Learn Hiragana & Katakana with Dr. Moku

Dr. Moku’s Hiragana and Katakana Mnemonics are 2 separate apps. One for Hiragana and one for Katakana. In each app, they associate all the kana with pictures, making it easy for you to remember them.

It also uses mnemonic hacks (tying each character to a visual story-based meaning) rather than just rote memorization.

Mindsnacks – Limited Free Version

Mindsnacks has a visually appealing interface, and the limited free version allows you to practice learning Hiragana and Katakana characters.

It is the closest thing to a learning video game that we have found.

Hiragana Learning Chart – Writing Practice PDFs

If you are looking for a more analog way to practice and learn hiragana – we have included a sample of a few of the practice homework sheets from our Japanese Crash Course below:

Open the image in a new tab by clicking on it- you can print it!

How to use the homework sheets:

Use the hiragana chart here to locate the correct symbol. (Right-click to save as – or left-click to open)

Draw a line to the corresponding character and connect them.

Start learning Japanese with Cot Academy!

Coto Academy offers expert-led Japanese lessons for all levels. Study in Tokyo, Yokohama, or online. Choose from part-time, intensive, or private lessons that fit your busy lifestyle. Start speaking real, practical Japanese today!

Looking for something more advanced? Check out our JLPT Kanji Workbook PDFs!

Hiragana FAQ

What is Hiragana used for?

Hiragana is a fundamental script in Japanese, used for writing sentences, grammatical particles (like は, が, を), and parts of words. It is also used for words that don’t have kanji or for furigana (small hiragana above kanji to show pronunciation).

How many Hiragana characters are there?

There are 46 basic Hiragana characters. Some characters can change their sounds when small marks (゛or ゜) are added, like か (ka) → が (ga) or は (ha) → ぱ (pa).

What’s the easiest way to learn Hiragana?

The best ways to learn Hiragana are:

• Learn mnemonics (e.g., し (shi) looks like a smiling face)
• Practice writing daily
• Use flashcards to memorize characters
• Listen to Hiragana songs or use learning apps

What’s the difference between Hiragana and Katakana?

Hiragana is mainly used for native Japanese words and grammar, while Katakana is used for foreign words (like “coffee” → コーヒー), onomatopoeia, and emphasis.

Can I write everything in Hiragana?

Yes, but it’s not ideal. Japanese writing combines Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, so writing everything in Hiragana can be hard to read and understand.

Saying “but” in Japanese is a basic conjunction used to introduce a contrast between two ideas. While the most common way to say “but” is demo (でも), there are several variations, each carrying a slightly different nuance. Some express disappointment, others are more neutral. Some appear in the middle of a sentence, while others come at the beginning.

However, because Japanese society is high-context and values the art of reading between the lines, learning about it is more than just memorizing a word. In real-life usage, words like “however,” “even though,” and “but” often function as a soft rejection or even an indirect way of making a request. You’ll hear it frequently in both spoken and written Japanese.

Curious to learn them all? Let’s explore the basic and nuanced ways to say “but” in Japanese.

1. Demo (でも)

Structure: [Sentence 1]. でも [Sentence 2]

でも is a versatile particle that allows speakers to create contrast, soften statements, or express subtle nuance. Traditionally, でも is used to connect two clauses, similar to the English word “but.” However, there are some key differences. 

Firstly, unlike English’s “but,” which often needs to be wedged between two independent clauses, でも can appear at the beginning of a sentence.

でも、私は日本語が下手です。
Demo, watashi wa nihongo ga heta desu.
But I am not good at Japanese.

Additionally, でも is more informal than “but,” which means it is widely used in everyday speech but is less appropriate in formal writing. Its usage is not limited to simple contrasts; it can also express concession or reservation depending on context. 

私は日本語が話せます。でも、日本語が書けません。
Watashi wa nihongo ga hanasemasu. Demo, nihongo ga kakemasen.
I can speak Japanese, but I cannot write Japanese.

でも can do more than simply contrast two ideas. It can also convey concession or a sense of reservation, which adds subtlety to your statements. For example:

今日は忙しいです。でも、あなたのために時間を作ります。
Kyou wa isogashii desu. Demo, anata no tame ni jikan o tsukurimasu
I am busy today, but I will make time for you

The first clause states a limitation (being busy), while the second clause shows a concession or exception. Here, でも softens the refusal and introduces a willingness to compromise, making the statement polite and considerate rather than blunt.

Before you continue reading, make sure you at least know how to read hiragana. Check out our blog on hiragana chart to download a free PDF.

2. Kedo (けど)

Structure: [Clause 1] + けど + [Clause 2]

けど (kedo) is another very common way to say “but” in Japanese, and it’s closely related to でも (demo). Like でも, it connects two contrasting ideas. However, けど is generally more casual and softer than でも.

One key difference is that けど can appear at the end of a sentence, often to imply something indirectly or to make a request politely. In English, this is like trailing off with “but…”

ちょっと手伝ってくれるけど…

Chotto tetsudatte kureru? Kedo…
Could you help me a little? …

Why so? In Japanese culture, being indirect is often considered polite, especially when making requests or expressing disagreement. When placed at the end of a sentence, it softens the statement or request, making it less direct and leaving room for the listener to respond. 

今日は行けませんけど…
Kyou wa ikimasen kedo
But today I can’t go.. 

If you are curious to learn more, we have a separate article about why けど and が are used for more than just saying “but”. 

3. Keredomo (けれども)

Structure: [Clause 1] + けど + [Clause 2]

When it comes to meaning and usage, there’s not much difference between けど and けれども. The main thing is that けれども is the full, more formal version. You can use it if you want your sentence or conversation to sound a bit more polished.

Just like けど, けれども usually means “but,” but because it’s more formal, it can feel closer to “although” or “provided that.” Basically, it highlights that while you’re thinking about (A), (B) is important or needs to be considered.

Fun fact: けれども was originally considered a more feminine version of が. But nowadays, けど is so common that all the feminine nuance is pretty much gone.

Also, like けど and other “but” words in Japanese, the part after けれども is often left out if it’s obvious or if the speaker doesn’t really want to say it.

映画を見に行きたいけれども、今日はちょっと疲れている。
Eiga o mi ni ikitai keredomo, kyou wa chotto tsukarete iru.
I want to go see a movie, but I’m a bit tired today.

4. Ga (が)

Structure: [Clause 1] + けど + [Clause 2]

The versatile が particle can also function as a conjunction used to contrast two ideas, similar to “but” in English. が is more formal and neutral than けど, and it often appears within a single sentence.

Interestingly, が can carry nuances similar to けど, hinting at a soft rejection, an indirect request, or bringing up a topic gently. This is particularly useful in Japanese society, which values indirect communication. Using けど or が at the end of a sentence gives listeners a subtle hint about what the speaker intends without stating it explicitly. Paying attention to these social cues helps you understand the speaker’s true meaning.

テーブルが汚いんだですが。
Teiburu ga kitanainda desu ga.
The table is dirty, you know.

Here, the speaker is indirectly suggesting that the table should be cleaned. By adding が, the statement becomes less aggressive, softening the complaint to something like: “The table is dirty, but…” This subtlety makes the communication polite and considerate while still conveying the intended message.

5. Shikashi (しかし)

Structure: しかし + [Sentence]

Ever hear someone say “however” in everyday English conversation? Probably you have, but rarely. The reason might be that it sounds stiff and formal. Similarly, しかし (shikashi) carries the same tone in Japanese. While it can indicate the same meaning as “but,” it is typically more formal. しかし is most often found in writing, essays, news articles, reports, or formal speeches rather than in casual conversation. It emphasizes contrast between two ideas in a clear, logical, and often strong way, making it useful when you want to connect two contrasting points in a precise manner.

Like “however” in English, しかし (shikashi) is typically used at the beginning of a sentence, introducing a statement that contrasts with the previous idea.

この計画は面白いです。しかし、実現は難しいです。
Kono keikaku wa omoshiroi desu. Shikashi, jitsugen wa muzukashii desu.
This plan is interesting. However, implementing it is difficult.

6. Sore Demo (それでも)

Structure: それでも + [Sentence]

それでも translates roughly as “even so” or “nevertheless” in English. Unlike しかし (shikashi), which carries a sense that the contrasting idea is absolute, それでも acknowledges the first statement while introducing a new point, leaving more flexibility in the conversation. それでも often shifts the conversation toward a more positive or constructive perspective, acknowledging the first point but introducing a solution, alternative, or hopeful aspect. In contrast, しかし usually emphasizes a negative or limiting contrast

今日は雨が降っています。しかし、試合は中止になりません.
Kyou wa ame ga futteimasu. Shikashi, shiai wa chuushi ni narimasen.
It’s raining today. However, the game will not be canceled.

Notice in the example above, the focus is on the negative situation (rain) and contrasts it firmly with the outcome.

今日は雨が降っています。それでも、試合は楽しめます。
Kyou wa ame ga futteimasu. Sore demo, shiai wa tanoshimemasu.
It’s raining today. Even so, we can still enjoy the game.

Here, the rain is acknowledged, but the focus moves to a positive possibility.

In other words, it softens the contrast rather than completely rejecting the previous idea. This makes それでも a more diplomatic way to express “but” in Japanese, especially when discussing differing opinions with friends, coworkers, or in situations where you want to be considerate of the other person’s perspective.

7. Noni (のに)

Type	Structure
Verb (plain form)	Verb + のに
い-adjective	Adjective + のに
な-adjective	Adjective + な + のに
Noun	Noun + なのに

のに is a conjunction that expresses disappointment or frustration, and can be translated as “even though,” “although,” or “in spite of.” It is used to combine two sentences in a way that highlights an unexpected or undesirable outcome.

The structure is simple: (Sentence A) のに + (Sentence B)

Think of it as: “Despite the fact that (Sentence A), (Sentence B).”

What makes のに different from other “but” words like けど or が is that it doesn’t just contrast two ideas—it highlights a result that went against what you expected, often with an emotional punch.

たくさん勉強したのに、試験に落ちてしまった。
Takusan benkyou shita noni, shiken ni ochite shimatta.
Even though I studied a lot, I failed the exam.

See the pattern? のに lets you show that something didn’t go as expected, and it’s a great way to express mild frustration.

Here’s another tip to make your Japanese sound more natural: while のに is usually followed by a second statement to complete the contrast, in casual conversation, you can use it on its own to imply disappointment. This way, you can express frustration or surprise without needing to finish the sentence. 

たくさん勉強したのに….
Takusen benkyou shita no ni…
Even though I studied a lot…

8. Tokoro Ga (ところが)

Structure: [Sentence 1]. ところが [Sentence 2]

Another way to express an unexpected result in Japanese is ところが. It comes from the noun ところ (tokoro), which literally means “place,” combined with the particle が. You use it when something happens that’s completely different from what you expected.

You’ll usually see ところが at the beginning of a new sentence. If you’ve learned ところで, which means “by the way,” the structure looks the same, but the meaning is totally different. ところが is all about pointing out something that contrasts with what came before.

One thing to keep in mind: ところが is mostly used for things outside the speaker’s control. Unlike のに, it doesn’t always carry a negative feeling. For example, if you try to do something and think it might fail, you can also use ところが when it unexpectedly works out!

昨日は雨が降ると思っていた。ところが、朝から晴れていた。
Kinou wa ame ga furu to omotte ita. Tokoro ga, asa kara hanarete ita.
I thought it would rain yesterday. However, it was sunny from the morning.

9. To Ittemo (とは言っても)

Structure: [A] と言っても [B]

The phrase と言っても is a handy way to say “even if I say (A)” or “though you could say (A).” It comes from と言う (“to say”) + ても (“even if”), so literally it’s like saying “even if I say…” You use it when you want to introduce an idea but immediately clarify or add nuance to it. It works after almost any word or tense. Just a note: for な-adjectives and nouns, you might sometimes hear だ before と言っても, though often it’s left out. Also, if there’s no clear speaker, と言っても can mean something like “some might say (A)” or “it’s said that (A).” Basically, it’s perfect for softening your statement or adding a little extra nuance.

高いと言っても、そんなに高くないよ。
Takai to ittemo, sonna ni takakunai yo.
Even if I say it’s expensive, it’s really not that bad.

10. Tada (ただ)

Structure: [Statement 1]. ただ, [Statement 2]

ただ literally means “only” or “just,” but when used in conversation or writing, it often works like “however” or “but” to add a small limitation or exception to what you just said. It’s less formal than しかし but more neutral than けれど.

You can use ただ when you want to point out a caveat without making it sound too strong or confrontational.

このレストランは美味しい。ただ、少し高い。
Kono resutoran wa oishii. Tada, sukoshi takai.
This restaurant is tasty. But it’s a bit expensive.

How Japanese People Use “But”

This is where Japanese “but” gets interesting. We have briefly mentioned this in the grammar けど and が. Unlike English, where “but” mainly signals contrast, in Japanese, there are several grammatical roles it can play, depending on the word you use.

1. The obvious contrast

The most familiar and very obvious use of “but” is to show direct opposition between two ideas. Words like でも, けど, が, and しかし fit this category. Here, it is simple: the first clause is true, and the second clause introduces an opposing situation.

2. Softening statement

As a country known for its high-context communication, where meaning relies heavily on nonverbal cues, relationships, and shared cultural knowledge rather than explicitly stated words, some “buts” (especially が and けれど) don’t signal strong contradiction. Instead, they function as softeners, similar to saying “I would say… but…” in English.

そう思うが、どうかな。
Sou omou ga, dou ka na.
I think so, but I’m not sure.

Here, the second clause doesn’t fully contradict the first. It just makes the statement less blunt.

3. Rejecting something

Japanese culture favors indirect rejection, so “but” isn’t always used to directly argue. Instead, it can politely decline or contradict without sounding harsh. Some Japanese “buts” are used specifically to reject, object, or disagree. This is very common in conversation when you want to refuse a suggestion or gently contradict someone.

Often, the speaker may leave the sentence incomplete, ending it with が or けど without finishing the thought. The listener is expected to “read between the lines” and understand the implied refusal.

If someone asks you out on a date, you could say:

用事がありますが
Youji ga arimasu ga….
I have plans, but…

Here, you don’t need to finish the sentence. The other person will usually understand that you’re politely declining.

Conclusion: But Wait! Learn Japanese with Coto Academy!

Now that we have learned “but” is a versatile tool that can soften statements, add nuance, show concession, express surprise, or even politely reject an idea, the next thing we need to do is apply it in real life. 

Ready to take your Japanese to the next level? Coto Academy offers fun, practical lessons to help you read between the lines and use expressions like a native speaker. Start learning today, and never be caught off guard by a subtle “but” again!

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• Over  60+ different Japanese classes over 18 levels
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FAQ

How do you say “but” in Japanese?

The most common words for “but” are でも (demo), が (ga), and しかし (shikashi).

When should I use でも (demo)?

You use でも to connect contrasting ideas in casual conversation.

When should I use しかし (shikashi)?

しかし is more formal and common in writing, news, or essays.

What is the difference between でも and が?

Yes, でも can start a sentence to contrast with a previous statement.

Read More:

• Guide to Japanese Particle
• Basic Japanese Words to Know

Congratulations! Whether it’s something you’ve achieved or a win for someone you care about, celebrating life’s big and small moments is a universal experience. Acknowledging these moments verbally is just as important. The most common way to say “congratulations” in Japanese is おめでとう (omedetou). But just like in English, there are many other ways to say “well done,” give kudos for someone’s hard work, and share in their good news.

In this guide, we’ll go over the different ways to say congratulations in Japanese, when you can use them, and introduce other similar expressions that can also be used to commemorate someone’s success or good news.

Meaning of “Omedetou” (おめでとう) in Japanese

As we mentioned, the most common and basic way to say “congratulations” in Japanese is by saying, “おめでとうございます (omedetou gozaimasu).” You may have learned おめでとう (omedetou) before, but what does it actually mean?

The phrase is almost always written in hiragana in modern Japanese and is rarely seen in kanji. However, looking at its original kanji form may help reveal its deeper meaning and how it came to represent the feeling of joy and praise we use today.

Historically, omedetou was written as either お目出度う or お芽出度う. Here is a breakdown of each character: 

• お (o): an honorific prefix showing respect or politeness
• 目/芽 (me): means eye or bud, symbolizing something visible or something about to grow
• 出 (de): means to come out, emerge, or appear
• 度 (tou): means degree, extent, or occasion

Together, the expression can be interpreted as “it’s a joyous occasion to see something sprouting or coming to life.”

You can probably tell how its rather poetic origin connects with its current usage of celebrating success or growth, such as someone achieving a goal, reaching a milestone, or beginning a new chapter. Over time, this meaning evolved into the modern sense of “congratulations,” which expresses genuine happiness for someone else’s accomplishment.

How to Use Omedetou in Japanese

Intuitively, you could use omedetou in the same way you would use “congratulations” in English. You can use it whenever you want to praise someone for their recent achievements or positive events, for instance: getting married, giving birth, starting a business, or getting a medical license. 

However, omedetou is arguably more flexible than “congratulations” since you can also use it for celebratory occasions such as birthdays or New Year’s. It turns out that there are a variety of uses for omedetou, and its usage might slightly change depending on the situation. 

Keep in mind that おめでとう (omedetou) is the more casual form. To make it more formal, you add ございます (gozaimasu) after it. This follows the same principle as saying thank you in Japanese: ありがとう (arigatou) is casual, while ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) is more polite.

10 Ways to Say Congratulations in Japanese

So, what are all the possible ways you can say congratulations in Japanese? Are there alternatives that are better for certain situations?

1. おめでとう: Omedetou

Omedetou, as mentioned, means “congratulations” or “congrats!” It is common in a more casual context, like with friends and family. The expression is widely applicable to a variety of situations, from celebrating a friend’s success to wishing a happy birthday or holiday. For example, when your friend passes the highly challenging JLPT N2 exam, you can congratulate them by saying: 

日本語能力試験N2合格おめでとう！

Nihongo nouryoku shiken N2 goukaku omedetou!

Congrats on passing the JLPT N2!

You can attach almost any milestone or accomplishment to it, like 結婚おめでとう (kekkon omedetou) for marriage, 合格おめでとう (goukaku omedetou) for passing an exam, or 卒業おめでとう (sotsugyou omedetou) for graduation.

2. おめでとうございます Omedetou Gozaimasu

By adding ございます(gozaimasu) to おめでとう(omedetou), you are making the phrase more formal. Omedetou gozaimasu is commonly used in a work or formal setting where you’re speaking to your boss, colleagues, or clients. For example, if your colleague recently got married, you could congratulate them with this expression. 

ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Gokekkon omedetougozaimasu
Congratulations on your wedding

Read More: Guide to Japanese Weddings and How to Congratulate Newlyweds

3. めでたしめでたし:  Medetashi Medetashi

This is a rather traditional expression that’s not used too often today, but can be a fun and sincere way to express your happiness for someone or to congratulate them. The phrase means something like “all is well that ends well” or “happily ever after”. It has a rather poetic tone to it, like something from a folktale. 

Medetashi medetashi has a lyrical ring and jubilant tone, so if you do say it, people will appreciate your joyous nature and knowledge of traditional Japanese expressions. While it’s no longer used very often, you can use this phrase to sincerely congratulate someone on just about any occasion. It can also be used humorously to express congratulations for a pleasant end to something

試験も終わって試験も終わったし、結果も良かったし。めでたしめでたし！
Shiken mo owatte shi、kekka mo yokatta shi. Medetashi medetashi!
The exams are over and the results were good. All is well that ends well!

4. 良かった: Yokatta

“Yokatta” stems from the root adjective 良い (yoi or ii), which means “good” or “well.” 良かった (yokatta) is a familiar expression often used casually to show that you’re glad something went well. Its literal translation is “was good,” but in conversation it often conveys a warmer meaning such as “that’s good to hear” or “I’m happy to hear that.” It’s a friendly, heartfelt expression that’s great to use with close friends.

仕事が決まったんだって？よかったね！
Shigoto ga kimattan datte? Yokatta ne!
You got the job? That’s awesome!

Did you know you can say yokatta for “you’re welcome in Japanese”. Read our blog for 11 ways to say you’re welcome in Japanese. 

5. やったね: Yatta ne

Yatta ne is the warm and spontaneous “you did it!” or “well done”, that you blurt out when you’re proud of someone. Compared to omodetou, which is polite and celebratory, “yatta ne” is more casual, warm, and meant to highlight someone’s accomplishments. So, you would say it after someone achieved something like graduation rather than at weddings or birthdays.

The word やった (yatta) is the past tense of the verb やる (yaru), meaning “to do” or “to accomplish.” When said with excitement, it expresses joy, relief, or triumph, similar to shouting “Yes!” or “Woohoo!” in English. Adding ね (ne) at the end softens it slightly, making it sound friendly and affirming, like “You did it!” or “That’s great, huh!”

テストに合格したの？やったね！
Tesuto ni goukaku shita no? Yatta ne!
You passed the test? That’s awesome!

6. お祝い申し上げます: Oiwa Moushi Agemasu

This is a very formal way of saying congratulations since it uses keigo, or the formal Japanese language. This expression is often reserved for writing in formal letters or emails to someone you want to congratulate. The character 祝 (shuku) or お祝い (oiwai) means celebration or congratulations, and 申し上げます (moushi agemasu) is the keigo conjugation for “to give” or “to offer”.

So, the phrase means “I offer my congratulations”. This expression is common in business writing or formal emails when you want to congratulate a client or even a colleague. 

ご入学にあたり、お祝いの言葉を申し上げます
Gonyuugaku ni atari, oiwai no kotoba o moushiagemasu.
To your enrollment celebration, I offer my congratulations.

7. お幸せに: Oshiawase Ni

The expression closely translates to “wishing you happiness”, more literally “to your happiness”, with the term 幸せ (shiawase) meaning “happiness” and に (ni) meaning “to”. You often say it for weddings or engagements to wish the bride/groom a life of happiness. 

いつまでもお幸せに！
Itsu made mo oshiawase ni!
Wishing you happiness forever!

8. 素晴らしい Subarashii

素晴らしい (subarashii) means “wonderful” or “amazing” and can be used as a congratulatory remark to someone’s incredible achievements. You can use subrashii to express your genuine admiration, delight, or praise for someone who just accomplished something grand or difficult. You can say “subarashii” alone as a heartfelt “congratulations” in response to someone’s success or good news.

すばらしいニュースですね！
Subarashii nyuusu desu ne!
That’s wonderful news!

9. すごい: Sugoi

Sugoi is one of the most versatile words in Japanese, as you can use it to express surprise, excitement, delight, disgust, and, of course, admiration for someone’s achievements. It’s somewhat similar to saying “wow” which can also be used in a wide variety of contexts. So in the context of using “sugoi” to praise someone, it would be similar to saying “that’s amazing” or “that’s awesome”. The expression is warm and casual, giving a feeling of closeness. 

昇進おめでとう！ すごいじゃん！
Shoushin omedetou! Sugoi jan!
“Congrats on the promotion! That’s awesome!”

10. お疲れ様でした: Otsukaresama Deshita

Otsukare sama desu or otsukaresama deshita (past tense) is a staple phrase in the Japanese workplace. Generally, it is used to express your appreciation for your colleague’s hard work and as a way of maintaining good Japanese business manners. However, otsukare sama is actually quite flexible and can even be used to congratulate someone. 

For instance, if you want to congratulate a colleague for their success on a project, you can say otsukaresamadeshita to express your admiration of their hard work. 

発表お疲れ様でした！
Happyou otsukaresama deshita!
Great job on your presentation!

Different Situations for Using Omedetou

There are many ways to say “congratulations” in Japanese, but the phrase omedetou is quite flexible and can be used in a variety of situations. Below are a few common occasions when you can say “omedetou!”

Situation	Japanese Phrase	Romaji	English
Birthday	お誕生日おめでとう	Otanjoubi omedetou	Happy birthday!
New Year	明けましておめでとう	Akemashite omedetou	Happy New Year!
Wedding	ご結婚おめでとうございます	Gokekkon omedetou gozaimasu	Congratulations on your wedding!
Graduation	ご卒業おめでとうございます	Gosotsugyou omedetou gozaimasu	Congrats on your graduation!
New Job	就職おめでとう	Shuushoku omedetou	Congrats for getting a new job!
Passing exam	合格おめでとう	Goukaku omedetou	Congrats on passing!
New Baby	ご出産おめでとうございます	Goshussan omedetou gozaimasu	Congrats on your new baby!

Omedetou for Getting to the End! What to Keep in Mind

おめでとう (omedetou) is one of the most versatile and useful expressions for saying “congratulations” or simply expressing joy for good news in Japanese. However, it’s not the only way to celebrate someone’s success or milestone. Japanese has a rich variety of expressions you can use depending on your relationship with the person and the level of formality you want to convey.

To truly understand when and how to use omedetou and other natural Japanese phrases in real-life conversations, we recommend taking lessons with experienced Japanese teachers who can help you sound confident and natural in everyday situations.

Why not join fun, conversation-focused lessons at Coto Academy? As Tokyo and Yokohama’s No. 1 Japanese language school, Coto Academy specializes in helping students speak Japanese confidently from day one.

Why join Coto Academy?

• Small classrooms with only up to 8 students for personalized support
• Professional native Japanese teachers, all trained to help you succeed
• Over 60 different Japanese classes across 18 levels, tailored to your needs
• A fully online Japanese language school, so you can learn anywhere, anytime!

Ready to start your learning journey?

FAQ

Can I say おめでとう (omedetou) to my boss or teacher?

You should avoid saying just omedetou to people above you in rank or age. Instead, use the more polite form おめでとうございます (omedetou gozaimasu) to show respect.

What’s the difference between おめでとう (omedetou) and お祝い (oiwai)?

Omedetou is what you say directly to someone, like “Congratulations!” Oiwai (お祝い) is a noun meaning “celebration” or “congratulatory gift,” which is usually expressed in writing and is considered very formal.  

Can I use おめでとう (omedetou) casually with friends?

Yes! With close friends or family, you can drop the polite ending and simply say おめでとう(omedetou), or even add emphasis like やったね (yatta ne) or すごいね (sugoi ne)

What should I write on a wedding card in Japanese?

For formal occasions, you should add ございます (gozaimasu) to the phrase. For instance, ご結婚おめでとうございます (gokekkon omedetou gozaimasu), which means “Congratulations on your marriage.”

What’s the meaning of めでたしめでたし (medetashi medetashi)?

It literally means “and they lived happily ever after”, the kind of phrase used to end a story with a positive outcome. You can use it humorously or lightheartedly to wrap up a happy situation, like after solving a problem or completing a big task.