リ (ri)
Pronunciation
The character リ represents the syllable 'ri', identical in pronunciation to hiragana り. Common in loanwords for Paris, list, ribbon, remote control, leader, real, and many compounds.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
リ is written in two strokes. Stroke 1: a short curving stroke on the left, slanting down. Stroke 2: a longer curving stroke on the right, parallel to stroke 1, ending with a small upward hook at the bottom. The two strokes are angular and parallel — like an angular version of hiragana り.
Common Words with リ
- パリ (pari) — Paris
- リスト (risuto) — list
- リボン (ribon) — ribbon
- リモコン (rimokon) — remote control
- リーダー (riidaa) — leader
- リサイクル (risaikuru) — recycle
- リアル (riaru) — real
- カリフォルニア (karifuォrunia) — California
- リムジン (rimujin) — limousine
- リング (ringu) — ring (boxing / circular)
- アクセサリー (akusesarii) — accessory
- メリット (meritto) — merit
How to Write リ (ri) in Katakana
The katakana character リ is romanized as "ri" and is written with 2 strokes. Between "ree" and "lee" — quick tongue tap. Example word: リモコン (rimokon) — remote control.
Stroke Order for リ
When writing リ, 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 リ 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.