ケ (ke)
Pronunciation
The character ケ represents the syllable 'ke', identical in pronunciation to hiragana け. Common in loanword food names (cake, ketchup) and other everyday items.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ケ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: a short diagonal stroke at the upper left, slanting from upper right to lower left. Stroke 2: a horizontal line that crosses through the middle of stroke 1 and extends to the right. Stroke 3: a long diagonal stroke on the right side that descends from the right end of stroke 2 down to the lower right. The shape is angular and balanced.
Common Words with ケ
- ケーキ (keeki) — cake
- ケース (keesu) — case (container)
- ケチャップ (kechappu) — ketchup
- ロケット (roketto) — rocket
- ホッケー (hokkee) — hockey
- ケニア (kenia) — Kenya
- パンケーキ (pankeeki) — pancake
- マーケット (maaketto) — market
- ジャケット (jaketto) — jacket
- バケツ (baketsu) — bucket
- ケミカル (kemikaru) — chemical
- ケータリング (keetaringu) — catering
How to Write ケ (ke) in Katakana
The katakana character ケ is romanized as "ke" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "ke" in "kept". Example word: ケーキ (keeki) — cake.
Stroke Order for ケ
When writing ケ, 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 ケ 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.