イ (i)
Pronunciation
The character イ represents the vowel 'i', identical in pronunciation to hiragana い — like the 'ee' in 'feet' but shorter. Used in countless loanwords; also appears widely in proper nouns of foreign origin (country names, brands, etc.).
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
イ is written in two strokes. Stroke 1: a short diagonal stroke at the upper left, slanting from upper right to lower left. Stroke 2: a long vertical stroke on the right side that descends straight down. The two strokes form a simple, angular shape — much more geometric than the curving hiragana い.
Common Words with イ
- インターネット (intaanetto) — internet
- イタリア (itaria) — Italy
- イメージ (imeeji) — image
- イベント (ibento) — event
- インド (indo) — India
- ワイン (wain) — wine
- ライン (rain) — line (also the messaging app)
- デザイン (dezain) — design
- サイン (sain) — sign / signature / autograph
- メイン (mein) — main
- ナイフ (naifu) — knife
- インフルエンザ (infuruenza) — influenza / flu
How to Write イ (i) in Katakana
The katakana character イ is romanized as "i" and is written with 2 strokes. Like "ee" in "feet". Example word: インク (inku) — ink.
Stroke Order for イ
When writing イ, follow the numbered stroke order shown in the reference character above. Japanese characters are generally written from left to right and top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability and writing speed.
Practice Tips
- Print this sheet on standard 8.5" × 11" letter paper
- Start by tracing the light grey guide characters in the first column
- Then practice writing イ freehand in the empty squares
- Pay attention to stroke direction and order — follow the numbered guide
- For interactive practice with animations, visit the main study page
About Katakana
Katakana is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, and emphasis. Learning correct stroke order is essential for proper Japanese handwriting.