💕 Hiragana, katakana, Kanji and... Rōmaji!? 💦

Kon'nichiwa.~ 🌸

Have you ever heard someone go "there are only three Japanese writing systems- hiragana, katakana and kanji." While this is technically true, it's not the whole story. 💦

There are actually four Japanese writings, hiragana, katakana, Kanji and rōmaji. But if this is true why do people only say there are three Japanese writings instead of four? Because:

1. Rōmaji isn’t considered “native” ☘️

Rōmaji (the Roman alphabet) isn’t originally part of the Japanese writing system—it was introduced from outside Japan.

Because of this, many people don’t count it as a “true” Japanese script.

2. It’s mostly used as a learning tool 📖

Beginners often use rōmaji to read and pronounce Japanese before learning kana (like kon'nichiwa).

3. Native writing relies on three systems 🍙

Actual Japanese texts (books, newspapers, signs) mainly use:

• Hiragana

• Katakana

• Kanji

4. Rōmaji has limited everyday use

While you do see rōmaji (on signs, brands, passports, etc.), it’s not usually used for full native writing.

Because of that, people see it as more “supporting” than essential.

5. It depends on definition 🗨️

It really comes down to how you define “writing system”:

• If you mean core native scripts → three

• If you mean all scripts used in practice → four

Kanji + Hiragana: 読んでいただき、ありがとうございます！

Hiragana only: よんでいただき、ありがとうございます！

Katakana only: ヨンデイタダキ、アリガトウゴザイマス！

Rōmaji: Yonde itadaki, arigatou gozaimasu!

Thanks for reading this post, if you liked it please let me know so that I can do more in the future to help guide you in your Japanese journey! 🌸

- @Sukii_Chan-meow

I learn jp by looking at the hiragana or katakana (whichever is commonly used for that particular word) for native word familiarity, using romanji to associate it with sound, and Kanji for meaning.

I learn by reading the hiragana then romaji then reg translation

これこそ、私がアメリカの友人たちにずっと伝えようとしていたことなんです！！

fr wait about learning romanji

I’m learning romaji now

i know how to speak Japanese and english

I’m just learning more words of romaji

Wow, are you from Japan?

born in japan

im japanese!

and i can speak english and 日本ご

わあ、すごい！日本語おしえてくれるの？ありがと〜！

こんにちは今日は何をするの

Not much wbu

Ohayo gozaimasu kyo wa nani o yateru no?

Not much wbu

boku wa amari yatenai!

Konbanwa

konbanwa

kyo wa nani or suru no?

My friends desperately want to learn hiragana should i teach them

yeah!!! You should

anyone want to learn japanese>

?

i can teach you guys if you want!
Im very good at japanese and Kanji!