Kana: The Japanese Syllabaries

Kana refers to the phonetic syllabaries used in the Japanese writing system, primarily <a href="/article/hiragana">Hiragana</a> and <a href="/article/katakana">Katakana</a>. Unlike <a href="/article/kanji">Kanji</a>, which represent meanings, Kana characters represent sounds, making them essential for writing native Japanese words, grammar, and foreign loanwords. They are a fundamental part of Japanese literacy and culture.