ク (ku)
Pronunciation
The character ク represents the syllable 'ku', identical in pronunciation to hiragana く. Very common in loanwords (class, club, Christmas, cookie).
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ク is written in two strokes. Stroke 1: a short diagonal stroke at the upper left, slanting from upper right to lower left, like a small slash. Stroke 2: a long curving stroke that begins from the upper right of stroke 1, sweeps down and curves to the lower left, ending in a smooth tail. The shape is angular but flows.
Common Words with ク
- クッキー (kukkii) — cookie
- クラス (kurasu) — class
- クリスマス (kurisumasu) — Christmas
- クルーズ (kuruuzu) — cruise
- クリニック (kurinikku) — clinic
- クレジット (kurejitto) — credit
- クイズ (kuizu) — quiz
- クラブ (kurabu) — club
- ミルク (miruku) — milk
- ピンク (pinku) — pink
- クリーニング (kuriiningu) — cleaning / dry cleaning
- クール (kuuru) — cool
How to Write ク (ku) in Katakana
The katakana character ク is romanized as "ku" and is written with 2 strokes. Like "coo" in "cool", but shorter. Example word: クラス (kurasu) — class.
Stroke Order for ク
When writing ク, 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 ク 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.