Puneet Varma (Editor)

Ni (kana)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
transliteration
  
ni

katakana origin
  

hiragana origin
  

Ni (kana)

, in hiragana, or in katakana, is one of the Japanese kana, which each represent one mora. The hiragana is written in three strokes, while the katakana in two. Both represent /ni/ although for phonological reasons, the actual pronunciation is [nʲi].

Contents

Notably, the katakana (ニ) is functionally identical for the kanji for two (二), pronounced the same way.

に is used as a particle, as well as a word fragment. As a particle it generally expresses direction, with a similar function to the English 'to'.

i.e. Ton wa, Furansu "ni" ikimashita. Ton went "to" France.

Pan wa, Ton "ni" agemashita. Bread was given "to" Ton.

Stroke order

The hiragana に is made with three strokes:

  1. A vertical stroke from top to bottom.
  2. A short, horizontal stroke to the upper right of the first stroke, going from left to right.
  3. Another short, horizontal stroke at the bottom right of the first stroke, going from left to right.

The katakana ニ is made with two strokes:

  1. At the top, a horizontal stroke from left to right.
  2. Another, longer horizontal stroke under the first stroke

Other representations

  • Computer encodings
  • Braille
  • Japanese semaphore
  • References

    Ni (kana) Wikipedia