Japanese/Kana/Lessons/Katakana/Lesson 6

This page introduces "ハ", "ヒ", "フ", "ヘ" and "ホ". Adding two short lines, the dakuten or, more informally, tenten  meaning "two marks", to create "バ", "ビ", ""ブ", "ベ" and "ボ" changes clear sounds to voiced ones. Adding a small circle called a  handakuten, but commonly referred to as maru  meaning "circle", written "パ", "ピ", "プ", "ペ" and "ポ" changes clear sounds plosive sound.