Help:Japanese

This help page aims to guide users and editors in using Japanese language in the Wiki.

Writing system
The Japanese writing system consists of three scripts: hiragana, used for phonetic spellings of Japanese words, participles, prefixes and suffixes; katakana, used for non-Japanese words; and kanji, used for Japanese words written in characters of Chinese origin. Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, of which each character represents a sound.

When Japanese words are written in Latin script, this method of writing is called romaji. There are several romanization systems, of which three main ones are widely used: the Hepburn romanization, Kunrei-shiki romaji and Nihon-shiki romaji. The former also exists in different variants, with the "modified/revised Hepburn" being the most widely used outside Japan.

Below is a table of hiragana (top) and katakana (bottom) characters, along with the Hepburn romaji:

Wiki usage
The modified Hepburn romanization is used to represent Japanese characters within the wiki. Basic rules for using Hepburn romanization to write and pronounce Japanese words are as follows:
 * Vowels are pronounced somewhat similarly to Spanish, Italian and Portuguese vowels.
 * The vowel u is shorter at the end of phrases. In some cases, the vowel is devoiced such as ブレス (Buresu) which is pronounced [Buress].
 * Long vowel marks ー are represented in romaji with a macron on the vowel ie. わー (Wā). In some cases
 * Consonants except f and r are pronounced similar to English. The consonant f has a softer sound and the consonant r has a sound similar to a flapped d, l and t.
 * Double consonants marks っ and ッ are written before the consonant that it doubles ie. かっぱ (Kappa) or バッタ (Batta).
 * Double consonants for n uses the nasal monograph ん such as in おんな (Onna).

To assist users and editors in pronouncing these Japanese characters, the romanization will be written alongside, especially on the intro paragraph of the article.

Template
The wiki uses the J template to display Japanese characters and the modified Hepburn romanization that represents its pronunciation. Below is the format for the template, subject to changes:

For example:

For Japanese terms without literal meaning:

For Japanese term with pronunciation that is similar to subject's title when romanized:

For Japanese term with pronunciation that is similar to subject's title when romanized, and with literal meaning: