シャ (sha)
Pronunciation
The compound character シャ represents the syllable 'sha', formed by combining シ (shi) with a small ャ. One of the most common yōon in katakana loanwords — shirt, shower, shampoo, champagne, sharp.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
シャ is written in five strokes total: three for シ (two short upward ticks and a long curving stroke) plus two for the small ャ. The small ャ is tucked into the lower right area beside シ.
Common Words with シャ
- シャツ (shatsu) — shirt
- シャワー (shawaa) — shower
- シャンプー (shanpuu) — shampoo
- シャンパン (shanpan) — champagne
- シャンデリア (shanderia) — chandelier
- シャベル (shaberu) — shovel
- シャイ (shai) — shy
- シャープ (shaapu) — sharp
- シャトル (shatoru) — shuttle
- シャトルバス (shatorubasu) — shuttle bus
- シャイン (shain) — shine
How to Write シャ (sha) in Katakana
The katakana character シャ is romanized as "sha" and is written with 5 strokes. Like "sha" in "shadow". Example word: シャワー (shawaa) — shower.
Stroke Order for シャ
When writing シャ, 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 シャ 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.