Introduction to Japanese writing

Here is a quick introduction if you are new to this or have very little knowledge on the Japanese writing techniques.

Below is an ordinary Japanese text. Now I want you to take a close look to the different characters. It may appear to you that there are two distinct types of characters in this text. Do not panic, you are right.

同首相は、「今のところ、われわれの立場に変わりはない。カギとなる問題は、ハイダー氏の人格ではなく、彼が率いる党の性格にある。今回の辞任劇が実際どういった意味を持つのか、それを知るにはまだ早すぎる」と語った。

Indeed, centuries ago, when the Japanese founded their language, they decided to include some of the Chinese kanji, the more complex characters. Kanji are the toughest you will ever face when learning Japanese. The other characters are authentic Japanese characters named Kana.

Kanji: 同首相今立場変問題...

Kana: はのところわれわれの...

If you are paying very much attention, maybe you can detect two types of Kana. I will let you notice the differences.

Hiragana: はのとろわれ...

Katakana: ハイダー

     Yes, the Hiragana are more stylistic than the Katakana. «But what are these different writing types for?», you may ask. The Kanji often imply multiple syllables and complex ideas by themselves while the Kana assume about the same function than our syllables, put together to form a word; and sometimes complete a series of Kanji to form a verb. That is, basically, the main idea. Also, let me advise you to almost ignore the Kanji in your first lessons of Japanese.

     The different kana are symbols of most sounds found in the Japanese language. Every Hiragana has its Katakana equivalent and each Katakana its Hiragana. «Why creating two different alphabets then?», because the Katakana are used for some common nouns (that may not be expressed in old Kanji) or foreign terms (mostly, on the internet, you will notice katakana). Hiragana is used for all the rest; Grammar, verbs, sentence particles, etc... Below is an example of a sentence:

あそこ の 喫茶店 へ 化きましょう。

a so ko         no     kissaten       e     i ki ma sh o o

(over there) (relation) (coffee shop) (destination) (lets go)

Hiragana: あそこ (over there) の (relation particle) へ (destination particle)
Kanji: : 化(きます) (to go, verb (at the imperative tense))

You will find more information about sentence structure in the grammar introduction section. Come back after and take a second look at this sentence.