Hiragana (or Kanji) vs Katakana

l0nEr · (#1 (**permalink**))

Hey, im new to the forum. Just wanted to ask a question. When do they use katakana or hiragana. Is it ok to just switch from hiragana to katakana?

Its like, for example, i found this in the lyrics in the KAT-TUN song, REAL FACE. "このナミダ・ナゲキ→未来へのステップ" . Why is the ナミダ written in Katakana? Does it still mean the same as the なみだ or 涙? Also, i think Orange Range Sayonara is marketed in Katakana too? instead of Hiragana?

Why is this so? Thanks a lot.

Harusame · (#2 (**permalink**))

Well, in Japanese, katakana is used for one main thing, and that's imported words. So like, their word for "printout" is written in katakana as "purinto-auto." There's a bunch of other words that are the same way. Those words I don't believe have kanji that they can be written with. Hiragana is used to write words that are of Japanese origin, but do not have a kanji. Also, I've seen in some video games, mostly for younger children, they seem to use more hiragana if they can, because younger children don't know as many kanji.

Hope that helps a bit.

NekoNekoChan · (#3 (**permalink**))

Katakana-foreign words
Hiragana-local words.

There are never kanji that can be used for foreign words. However, you can turn hiragana words into kanji.

l0nEr · (#4 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Well, in Japanese, katakana is used for one main thing, and that's imported words.

Yup, i thought so too. But what about the example i asked about? i saw the translation for the song, ナミダ is translated as tears too, just like なみだ and 涙. Why was the ナミダ (the katakana version) used and not the kanji or hiragana ones?

l0nEr · (#5 (**permalink**))

Another example would be YUI's movie or the Erika Sawajiri's drama Taiyou no Uta. Why is it market as タイヨウのうた and not 太陽の歌?

NekoNekoChan · (#6 (**permalink**))

I have no clue why they would be :/

Harusame · (#7 (**permalink**))

Yea, me neither. Sorry.

Nyororin · (#8 (**permalink**))

It`s a way to look cool or put stress on a specific word when used in lyrics like that.
It`s not at all normal for regular writing - sort of a modern "cool" way to write things in songs or titles.

It all means the same, and no one Japanese would have any trouble reading any of it - it`s just a way of adding flavor to the thing written.

NekoNekoChan · (#9 (**permalink**))

That's interesting, i've never seen it in action though. I've always thought katakana had more of an edge than hiragana.

l0nEr · (#10 (**permalink**))

... thats bad...somehow i can never master my katagana... i prefer hiragana. Even kanji isnt that bad, because im chinese.

Thanks anyway.