How to write キ (ki) in katakana
Add two short marks to キ (ki) and you get ギ (gi). Its shape keeps a part of the kanji 幾 (“how many”). It takes three short strokes: the first from the left going rightwards, the last ending at the bottom. Loanwords that begin with it: キス (“kiss”), キル (“kill”), キロ (“kilo-”) and キー (“key (for a lock)”).
- Romaji
- ki
- Strokes
- 3
- From
- 幾
- Hiragana
- き
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- leftrightwards
- leftrightwards
- topdownwards
Where キ comes from
- Katakana
- 幾, a part of the kanji
- Hiragana
- き from 幾
Here both scripts start from the same kanji, 幾 (“how many”).
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
With voicing marks
Base kana first, then the marks at the top right.
Combined sounds
- キャ kya
- キュ kyu
- キョ kyo
- ギャ gya
- ギュ gyu
- ギョ gyo
Words with キ
201 common JMdict katakana words with it; ten shown.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| キス | kisu | kiss |
| キル | kiru | kill; kill (shot) |
| キロ | kiro | kilo-; 1000 |
| キー | kii | key (for a lock); key |
| キウイ | kiui | kiwifruit; kiwi fruit |
| キック | kikku | kick |
| キッズ | kizzu | kids; children |
| キット | kitto | kit |
| キッド | kiddo | kid |
| キムチ | kimuchi | kimchi; kimchee |
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kana: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Katakana, in chart order: