Hiragana / Katakana Converter for Japanese Learners
Paste in Japanese text and instantly see it in the other kana script — handy when you're studying vocabulary, making flashcards, or double-checking how a loanword (gairaigo) or name should be written in katakana. Voiced and semi-voiced sounds, contracted sounds (ゃゅょ), the small tsu (っ), "ゔ"/"ヴ", and iteration marks (ゝゞ / ヽヾ) are all converted automatically, while kanji, romaji, and other characters are left untouched. If you're also working with half-width katakana, try the Full-width / Half-width Converter as well.
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Notes
- Only hiragana and katakana are converted. Kanji, alphanumerics and symbols are left as they are.
- Half-width katakana is not handled here. Convert it to full-width with the full-width/half-width converter first.
- The prolonged sound mark "ー" is kept as it is in both hiragana and katakana text.
Glossary
When to use hiragana vs. katakana
Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammatical parts (particles, verb endings, etc.), while katakana is mainly used for loanwords from other languages (gairaigo), foreign names, onomatopoeia, and for emphasis — similar to italics in English. Seeing a word in both scripts can help you recognize it either way.
Iteration marks (ゝゞ / ヽヾ)
Symbols that repeat the previous character, occasionally seen in names and older texts: "ゝ"/"ゞ" in hiragana and "ヽ"/"ヾ" in katakana. This tool converts these too, so they won’t be left behind by mistake.
FAQ
What happens to kanji and alphanumerics?
Only hiragana and katakana are converted. Kanji, letters, digits and symbols are left unchanged.
Are voiced sounds, "vu" and iteration marks supported?
Yes. Voiced and semi-voiced sounds, small kana, "ゔ/ヴ" and iteration marks (ゝゞ/ヽヾ) are supported.
Can it convert half-width katakana?
Convert half-width katakana to full-width first with the full-width/half-width converter, then use this tool.
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