マ (ma)
Pronunciation
The character マ represents the syllable 'ma', identical in pronunciation to hiragana ま. Common in loanwords for microphone, mask, manga, marathon, machine, and many proper nouns.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
マ is written in two strokes. Stroke 1: a short angled stroke at the top — begins on the upper left, slants down and to the right. Stroke 2: a long curving stroke that begins where stroke 1 ends, sweeps down through the character, and curves to the left at the bottom with a small inward hook.
Common Words with マ
- マイク (maiku) — microphone
- マスク (masuku) — mask
- マンガ (manga) — manga
- マンション (manshon) — apartment / condominium
- マクドナルド (makudonarudo) — McDonald's
- マラソン (marason) — marathon
- マスカラ (masukara) — mascara
- マイナス (mainasu) — minus
- マシン (mashin) — machine
- マグカップ (magukappu) — mug
- マーケット (maaketto) — market
- マネー (manee) — money
How to Write マ (ma) in Katakana
The katakana character マ is romanized as "ma" and is written with 2 strokes. Like "ma" in "mama". Example word: マスク (masuku) — mask.
Stroke Order for マ
When writing マ, 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 マ 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.