サ (sa)
Pronunciation
The character サ represents the syllable 'sa', identical in pronunciation to hiragana さ. Very common in everyday loanwords (salad, soccer, sandwich, service) and other words with 'sa' or 'sai' sounds.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
サ is written in three strokes. Stroke 1: a short horizontal line near the top. Stroke 2: a short vertical or slightly slanted stroke that crosses through stroke 1 on the left. Stroke 3: a longer vertical stroke that crosses through stroke 1 on the right and extends downward, ending with a slight curve to the left at the bottom. The character has a balanced, geometric appearance.
Common Words with サ
- サラダ (sarada) — salad
- サッカー (sakkaa) — soccer
- サンドイッチ (sandoicchi) — sandwich
- サービス (saabisu) — service
- サンタクロース (santakuroosu) — Santa Claus
- サイズ (saizu) — size
- サイト (saito) — site (web)
- サウナ (sauna) — sauna
- サポート (sapooto) — support
- サンプル (sanpuru) — sample
- サイン (sain) — sign / autograph
- サーフィン (saafuィn) — surfing
How to Write サ (sa) in Katakana
The katakana character サ is romanized as "sa" and is written with 3 strokes. Like "sa" in "saw". Example word: サラダ (sarada) — salad.
Stroke Order for サ
When writing サ, 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 サ 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.