パ (pa)
Pronunciation
The character パ represents the syllable 'pa'. It is ハ with the handakuten — a small circle at the upper right that hardens 'h' to 'p'. The handakuten is unique to the は-row in both hiragana and katakana. Extremely common in loanwords — bread, party, computer, passport, and many more.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
パ is written in three strokes. The first two strokes are identical to ハ (two diagonal strokes forming an angular tent). Then add the handakuten: Stroke 3: a small circle at the upper right of the character. The single circle transforms 'ha' into 'pa'.
Common Words with パ
- パン (pan) — bread
- パーティー (paatii) — party
- パスタ (pasuta) — pasta
- パパ (papa) — papa / dad
- パソコン (pasokon) — personal computer
- パスポート (pasupooto) — passport
- パンク (panku) — punk / flat tire
- パイ (pai) — pie
- パワー (pawaa) — power
- パイロット (pairotto) — pilot
- パンダ (panda) — panda
- スーパー (suupaa) — supermarket
How to Write パ (pa) in Katakana
The katakana character パ is romanized as "pa" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "pa" in "park". Example word: パーティー (paatii) — party.
Stroke Order for パ
When writing パ, 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 パ 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.