Hello, language learners! If you’ve spent any time with Japanese, you know the satisfaction of finally decoding a sign or reading a foreign word written in Katakana. It feels like a superpower! But just when you thought you had the 46 core characters down, you encounter those pesky little marks: the twin dashes (called Dakuten, or ten-ten) and the small circle (called Handakuten, or maru).
These aren’t just decorations; they are the key to transforming silent sounds into voiced ones, making your Japanese pronunciation sound natural and unlocking dozens of new syllables.
As a JLPT expert and fellow Japanese language enthusiast, I’m here to tell you that mastering the katakana chart with dakuten is not a roadblock—it’s your next great leap forward! This deep dive will not only show you how these marks work but also provide practical, real-world examples and unique insights to help you internalize them, moving you from beginner reader to confident speaker.
The Foundation: What Exactly Are Dakuten and Handakuten?
The technical term for these marks is Dakuten (濁点, lit. muddy/voiced mark). Colloquially, you’ll often hear them called ten-ten (てんてん) because they look like two dots. The smaller circle, which only applies to the H-row, is called Handakuten (半濁点, lit. semi-muddy/semi-voiced mark), or colloquially, maru (まる).
These marks fundamentally change the consonant sound of a character, turning it into its “voiced” counterpart. Think of the difference between an unvoiced ‘S’ sound (like in sun) and a voiced ‘Z’ sound (like in zebra).
| Mark | Name (Technical) | Name (Colloquial) | Effect | Rows Affected |
| “ | Dakuten (濁点) | Ten-ten (てんてん) | Voiced Sound (e.g., K → G) | K, S, T, H |
| ° | Handakuten (半濁点) | Maru (まる) | Semi-Voiced Sound (P-sound) | H only |
The K-Row Transformation: From K to G (K-gyō to G-gyō)
The easiest place to start is the K-row. When you add Dakuten (テンテン) to any of the K-row characters (カ, キ, ク, ケ, コ), the ‘K’ sound immediately transforms into a ‘G’ sound. This is your foundation for reading countless foreign names and words.
| Base Character | Romanji | + Dakuten (“) | New Character | Romanji | Example Word | Meaning |
| カ | Ka | → | ガ | Ga | ガス (Gasu) | Gas |
| キ | Ki | → | ギ | Gi | ギター (Gitā) | Guitar |
| ク | Ku | → | グ | Gu | グリーン (Gurīn) | Green |
| ケ | Ke | → | ゲ | Ge | ゲーム (Gēmu) | Game |
| コ | Ko | → | ゴ | Go | ゴルフ (Gorufu) | Golf |
The S-Row Transformation: From S to Z (S-gyō to Z-gyō)
Next up is the S-row. Adding Dakuten (テンテン) here transforms the unvoiced ‘S’ into a voiced ‘Z’. This is vital for words like “size” and “dozen.”
| Base Character | Romanji | + Dakuten (“) | New Character | Romanji | Example Word | Meaning |
| サ | Sa | → | ザ | Za | ピッザ (Pizaa) | Pizza |
| シ | Shi | → | ジ | Ji | エナジー (Enajii) | Energy |
| ス | Su | → | ズ | Zu | サイズ (Saizu) | Size |
| セ | Se | → | ゼ | Ze | ゼリー (Zerī) | Jelly |
| ソ | So | → | ゾ | Zo | ゾーン (Zōn) | Zone |
💡 Unique Insight: The ‘Ji’ Sound
Pay special attention to ジ (Ji). While you might expect it to be pronounced like the ‘Z’ in ‘zebra’ followed by the ‘i’ vowel, it often takes the pronunciation of the English ‘J’ sound, as in ‘Jail’ or ‘Jet.’ This is a critical nuance for a smooth accent.
(For more on characters that look similar, be sure to check out our cluster post on Identifying Tricky Characters: The Difference Between Shi vs. Tsu and So vs. N).
The T-Row Transformation: From T to D (T-gyō to D-gyō)
The T-row is where things get interesting, especially because of the ‘Chi’ and ‘Tsu’ exceptions. When you apply Dakuten, the ‘T’ sound becomes a ‘D’ sound.
| Base Character | Romanji | + Dakuten (“) | New Character | Romanji | Example Word | Meaning |
| タ | Ta | → | ダ | Da | ダンス (Dansu) | Dance |
| チ | Chi | → | ヂ | Di / Ji | ハンヂャー (Hanjā) | Hanger (sometimes) |
| ツ | Tsu | → | ヅ | Du / Zu | ヘッヅ (Hedzu) | Hedges (rare) |
| テ | Te | → | デ | De | デート (Dēto) | Date |
| ト | To | → | ド | Do | ドア (Doa) | Door |
⚠️ Practical Application: The Rare Di (ヂ) and Du (ヅ)
While ダ (Da), デ (De), and ド (Do) are extremely common, the characters ヂ (Di) and ヅ (Du) are quite rare in modern usage. They are almost always replaced by their Z-row counterparts, ジ (Ji) and ズ (Zu), because they are pronounced nearly identically.
- ヂ (Di) is pronounced like ジ (Ji).
- ヅ (Du) is pronounced like ズ (Zu).
You will only see ヂ and ヅ when the Dakuten sound is a result of a compounding of words (known as rendaku) or sometimes in very old or specialized words. For day-to-day reading, if you see the sound /ji/ or /zu/, it is overwhelmingly ジ or ズ.
The H-Row Transformation: From H to B and P (H-gyō to B-gyō / P-gyō)
This is the most complex and rewarding row to master, as it is the only one that uses both the Dakuten (テンテン) AND the Handakuten (マル).
1. H to B (Dakuten: Ten-ten)
Adding the regular Dakuten transforms the soft ‘H’ sound into the heavier, voiced ‘B’ sound. This is where your requested keywords come into play!
| Base Character | Romanji | + Dakuten (“) | New Character | Romanji | Keyword | Example Word | Meaning |
| ハ | Ha | → | バ | Ba | ba katakana | バス (Basu) | Bus |
| ヒ | Hi | → | ビ | Bi | bi katakana | ビール (Bīru) | Beer |
| フ | Fu | → | ブ | Bu | bu katakana | ブラウン (Buraun) | Brown |
| ヘ | He | → | ベ | Be | be katakana | ベッド (Beddo) | Bed |
| ホ | Ho | → | ボ | Bo | bo katakana | ボール (Bōru) | Ball |
You now have the full set of B-sounds in Katakana: バ (ba), ビ (bi), ブ (bu), ベ (be), ボ (bo). For instance, the English word “Business” is read as ビジネス (Bijinesu). Pay attention to フ (Fu), which transforms into ブ (bu katakana).
2. H to P (Handakuten: Maru)
Adding the Handakuten (the small circle, °) transforms the ‘H’ sound into an unvoiced ‘P’ sound. This is essential for words like ‘party,’ ‘pin,’ and ‘pool.’
| Base Character | Romanji | + Handakuten (°) | New Character | Romanji | Example Word | Meaning |
| ハ | Ha | → | パ | Pa | パーティー (Pātī) | Party |
| ヒ | Hi | → | ピ | Pi | ピンク (Pinku) | Pink |
| フ | Fu | → | プ | Pu | プール (Pūru) | Pool |
| ヘ | He | → | ペ | Pe | ペン (Pen) | Pen |
| ホ | Ho | → | ポ | Po | ポスト (Posuto) | Post |
This completes the major sound shifts using Dakuten and Handakuten! You’ve just added 25 new possible syllables to your Katakana repertoire.
📚 Your Complete Katakana Character & Sound Library (The Full Chart)
For a comprehensive review of all the core and advanced characters, including detailed pronunciation guides for the standard vowels, I highly recommend referencing our main resource: [Your Complete Katakana Character & Sound Library (The Full Chart)](Your Complete Katakana Character & Sound Library (The Full Chart)).
This pillar post provides the context for the core characters before they undergo the transformations we’ve discussed here.
The Final Step: The Full Katakana Chart with Dakuten
To visualize the sheer number of syllables you’ve just unlocked, here is the full map of the Dakuten and Handakuten transformations in Katakana:
| Vowel | G-Row | Z-Row | D-Row | B-Row | P-Row |
| A | ガ (Ga) | ザ (Za) | ダ (Da) | バ (Ba) | パ (Pa) |
| I | ギ (Gi) | ジ (Ji) | ヂ (Di/Ji) | ビ (Bi) | ピ (Pi) |
| U | グ (Gu) | ズ (Zu) | ヅ (Du/Zu) | ブ (Bu) | プ (Pu) |
| E | ゲ (Ge) | ゼ (Ze) | デ (De) | ベ (Be) | ペ (Pe) |
| O | ゴ (Go) | ゾ (Zo) | ド (Do) | ボ (Bo) | ポ (Po) |
This combined table is your katakana chart with dakuten master reference. Keep it handy!
💡 JLPT Expert Insights and Humanizing the Learning Process
Learning these marks isn’t just about memorization; it’s about understanding why they exist and how they affect the Japanese soundscape.
1. Why Dakuten Matters for Listening and Speaking
The single biggest difference between a non-native and a native speaker is often the handling of voiced sounds. In Japanese, the difference between a ‘T’ and a ‘D’ or a ‘H’ and a ‘B’ must be crisp and accurate.
- Listening: If you hear /geemu/ (ゲーム), you must immediately process it as “game,” not /keemu/. Dakuten are often the only difference between two completely separate words.
- Speaking: When saying a word like “Doctor” (ドクター, Dokutaa), you must use ド (Do) from the D-row. If you accidentally use ト (To), you’ve said something else entirely, or at best, made the word difficult to understand.
This is a key area tested in the JLPT N5 and N4 listening sections. Mistakes here are common traps! For a refresher on the basics, review Decoding the Katakana Vowels: Sounds and Pronunciation.
2. The Hidden Rule of Rendaku (連濁)
While we use Dakuten in Katakana primarily for foreign words (gairaigo), the same mechanism exists in native Japanese words (Yamato Kotoba) through a phenomenon called Rendaku.
- Rendaku is when the initial consonant of the second element of a compound word becomes voiced (gets a Dakuten).
- Example: Hito (人, person) + Tori (鳥, bird) = *Hitodori (人通り, pedestrian traffic). The T becomes a D.
- Unique Insight: Although Rendaku mostly applies to Hiragana/Kanji, understanding that the Japanese language naturally voices consonants in compounds helps you appreciate the logic behind the Dakuten system in Katakana. The system isn’t arbitrary; it reflects a core linguistic pattern!
3. Humanizing the Learning: The Mnemonics of Dakuten
Forget flashcards for a moment and think like a human.
- The B-Row (Dakuten, “): Imagine the two dashes are two lips tightly pressing together before releasing the sound Buh! It’s a heavier sound than ‘H’.
- The P-Row (Handakuten, °): Imagine the small circle is the compressed air inside your mouth before you let it burst out for the light ‘P’ sound. It’s a softer, puffier sound than ‘B’.
Connecting the visual shape of the mark to the physical action of making the sound is a proven way to bypass rote memorization.
🛠️ Practical Application and Advanced Tools
1. Real-World Katakana Dakuten Vocabulary Practice
Here is a list of common Gairaigo (loanwords) that use Dakuten/Handakuten. Practice reading them out loud!
| Katakana Word | Romanji | Meaning | Notes |
| アルバイト | Arubaito | Part-time job (from German Arbeit) | Uses バ (Ba katakana) |
| ボールペン | Bōrupen | Ballpoint pen | Uses ボ and ペ |
| エンジン | Enjin | Engine | Uses ジ |
| ディザイン | Dezain | Design | Uses デ and ザ |
| アドレス | Adoresu | Address | Uses ド |
| プロ****グラム | Puroguramu | Program | Uses グ |
| ハンバーガー | Hanbāgā | Hamburger | Uses バ and ガ |
2. The Role of Dakuten in Advanced Katakana and the JLPT
As you advance to JLPT N3 and above, you’ll encounter foreign words that require extended Katakana (Small Vowels and Dakuten combined).
- V-Sounds: The sounds V-row (Va, Vi, Vu, Ve, Vo) are created using ウ (U) + a small Dakuten character.
- ヴァ (Va), ヴィ (Vi), ヴ (Vu), ヴェ (Ve), ヴォ (Vo)
- Example: ヴァイオリン (Vaiorin, Violin).
- Unique Insight: While technically correct, the ヴ characters are often simplified in spoken Japanese to the B-row (バ, ビ, ブ, ベ, ボ). Don’t be surprised if “Virus” is pronounced バイラス (Bairasu) instead of ヴァイラス (Vairasu). Knowing the official ヴ set is excellent for the JLPT, but knowing the casual B-row substitution is key for real life.
To ensure your reading and writing are completely accurate for any foreign name, especially when dealing with complex combinations of small vowels, I recommend using a tool like The Ultimate Katakana Converter Tool (Copy-Paste for Names and Foreign Words).
3. The Bridge to Advanced Reading
To truly master Katakana, you need to be able to identify and read all 100+ character combinations. The Dakuten is just one part of that system. The next logical step is learning the small Ya, Yu, Yo combinations (Yōon).
For a complete look at all characters, including small vowels and advanced concepts, please refer to our exhaustive guide: The Full Katakana Chart: Printable PDF and Advanced Characters Explained.
🔗 Expanding Your Japanese Toolkit (Outbound Resources)
To accelerate your learning beyond this post, it is crucial to immerse yourself in authentic Japanese media and learning tools. Here are three recommended, high-quality resources to supplement your study of voiced sounds and general Japanese proficiency.
- For Real-World Context and Pronunciation Practice:One of the best ways to practice Dakuten is by listening to how native speakers pronounce foreign words. The massive database at Forvo: Japanese Pronunciation Dictionary allows you to hear words like ゲーム (Gēmu) and ビール (Bīru) pronounced by multiple native speakers. Listening is the key to mastering the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds.
- For Grammar and Vocabulary Expansion (JLPT Focus):Once you’ve mastered the sounds, you need the language to apply them to. A fantastic resource for structured, in-depth grammar explanations and vocabulary lists, particularly tailored for the JLPT levels (N5-N1), can be found at Japan Foundation’s JLPT Resources Page.
- For Comprehensive Language Policy and Writing Rules:If you are interested in the official rules for writing and transcribing foreign words (which is what Katakana is for), the official standards are often published or discussed by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. A simple search for the “Ministry of Education Japanese Language Policy” will lead you to detailed documents that explain why certain sounds are transcribed the way they are. A great jumping-off point for official educational resources is the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) website.
(Disclaimer: The above links are external, educational resources provided for informational purposes only.)
✅ Conclusion: Your Next Step to Katakana Mastery
You’ve gone past the basics! By mastering the katakana chart with dakuten, you have unlocked the power of voiced and semi-voiced sounds, which are vital for reading nearly every foreign word used in modern Japanese.
Remember the key takeaways:
- Dakuten (“) transforms K, S, T, and H into G, Z, D, and B, respectively.
- Handakuten (°) only applies to the H-row, transforming H into P.
- The rare ヂ (Di/Ji) and ヅ (Du/Zu) are almost always pronounced as ジ and ズ.
- The H-row is where all your keywords live: ba katakana, bi katakana, bu katakana, be katakana, bo katakana, alongside their P-row cousins.
Now, take this knowledge and start practicing! Look at Japanese advertisements, menus, and even simple street signs. You will start seeing these Dakuten everywhere, and you’ll be able to read them with confidence.
