# Taiwanese kana

Taiwanese kana (Min Nan Chinese: タイ𚿳ヲァヌ𚿳ギイ𚿰カア𚿰ビェン𚿳, ‹See RfD› tâi oân gí ká biêng,) is a katakana-based writing system that was used to write Taiwanese Hokkien (commonly called "Taiwanese") when the island of Taiwan was under Japanese rule. It functioned as a phonetic guide to hanzi, much like furigana in Japanese or Zhuyin fuhao in Chinese. There were similar systems for other languages in Taiwan as well, including Hakka and Formosan languages.
The system was imposed by Japan at the time and used in a few dictionaries, as well as textbooks. The Taiwanese–Japanese Dictionary, published in 1931–32, is an example. It uses various signs and diacritics to identify sounds that do not exist in Japanese. The system is chiefly built for the Amoy dialect of Hokkien spoken in Taiwan, with some consideration for the Quanzhou and Zhangzhou dialects of Hokkien also spoken in Taiwan as well, which descendant speakers of all three of the historical major dialects of Hokkien thrived, developed, and intermixed in Taiwan for centuries producing modern Taiwanese Hokkien and its own specific regional dialects throughout the island (Formosa) and nearby smaller islands (e.g. Pescadores).
Through the system, the Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan aimed to help Taiwanese people learn the Japanese language, as well as help Japanese people learn the Taiwanese language. Linguistically speaking, however, the syllabary system was cumbersome for a language that has phonology far more complicated than Japanese. After Japanese administration ended, the system soon became obsolete. Now, only a few scholars, such as those who study the aforementioned dictionary, learn Taiwanese kana.
The system underwent modification over time. This article is mainly about the last edition, used from roughly 1931.

## Basic rules

Mapped sounds are mostly similar to katakana in Japanese, with the kana ヤ, ユ, ヨ, ワ, ヰ, and ヱ not used. Each syllable is written with two or three kana (with a few exceptions). Notable differences include:

### Vowels

* There are six vowels in Taiwanese: ア [a], イ [i], ウ [u], エ [e], オ [ɔ], ヲ [o]. The pronunciations of ウ, オ, and ヲ are different from Japanese (which are [ɯ], [o], and [(w)o] respectively.)
* The vowel ヲ is pronounced [u] in the diphthongs ヲア [ua] and ヲエ [ue], also their extensions such as ヲァイ [uai], ヲァッ [uat̚]. In some dialects ヲ may be pronounced [o] or [ɤ].
* In syllables with a single vowel, the kana for the vowel is repeated, like the long vowels in Japanese. For example, カア [ka], キイ [ki], オオ [ɔ], ヲヲ [o].
* The small kana ァ, ィ, ゥ, ェ, ォ, 𛅦 are defined as short vowels. They are used to represent the second vowel in the middle of a syllable, or a final glottal stop. For example, キァウ [kiau], キェㇰ for [kiɪk̚], キァゥ [kiauʔ].
* There are two optional vowel kana for the Choân-chiu accent (Quanzhou dialect): ウ [ɯ] and オ [ə]. For example, クウ [kɯ], オ [kə], クゥヌ [kɯn].

### Consonants

* フ is pronounced [hu], not [ɸɯ] as in Japanese.
* There are six overlined kana to distinguish [t] and [ts]/[tɕ]. サ [tsa], チ [ti], ツ [tu] or [tɯ], セ [tse], ソ [tso] or [tsɔ] or [tsə], ト [tə].
    Taiwanese kanaModern Japanese kana IPA aiu/ɯe/ɛo/ɔ əäiɯ̟/ɯ̟ᵝe̞o̞ t タチ ツテト ト タティトゥテト ts/tɕ サチツ セ ソ ソ ツァチツツェツォ
* The aspirated consonants [pʰ], [tʰ], [kʰ], [tsʰ]/[tɕʰ] are represented by adding an underdot to the kana. For example, ク̣ for [kʰu].
* Final nasal consonants are written as ム [m], ヌ [n], ン [ŋ]. Note that ム, ヌ are pronounced [mu], [nu] when they are used as initials. For example, カヌ [kan], ヌヌ for [nun].
* The syllabic consonant [ŋ̍] is spelt (u+)ン, for example クン [kŋ̍]. Note that [ŋ̍] without a preceding vowel is written as a single ン, not ウン or ンン.
* The syllabic consonant [m̩] is spelt (u+)ム, for example フム [hm̩]. Note that [m̩] without a preceding vowel is written as a single ム, not ウム or ムム.
* Initial [ŋ] is spelt as [ɡ] with a nasal tone sign. For example, ガア𚿰 [ɡa˥˩], ガア𚿸 [ŋa˥˩].
* Final plosives (which have no audible release) are ㇷ゚ [p̚], ッ [t̚], ㇰ [k̚], similar to the kana used in Ainu.
* Final glottal stops [ʔ] are represented by the short-vowel small kana (ァ, ィ, ゥ, ェ, ォ, 𛅦) at the end. For example, カァ [kaʔ], カゥ [kauʔ].

### Tone signs

There are different tone signs for oral vowels and nasal vowels.
    Tone number12(6)34578 Pitch˦˥˩˧˩˧˨˦˧˥ Oral vowelsNone𚿰𚿱𚿲𚿳𚿵𚿶 Nasal vowels𚿷𚿸𚿹𚿺𚿻𚿽𚿾 Pe̍h-ōe-jīaáàahâāa̍h
* When a text is written vertically, these signs are written on the right side of letters. Taiwanese kana is only attested in vertical orientation, so it is unknown where the signs would be placed if it were written horizontally.
* Initial consonants [m], [n], [ŋ] are always written with nasal vowel tone signs, whereas [b], [l], [ɡ] are always with oral vowels. Note that [ŋ] and [ɡ] share the same initial kana.

## Taiwanese kana chart
### Rime chart

ア、イ :
| Vowel | Open syllable | Final nasals | Final nasals | Final nasals | Final plosives | Final plosives | Final plosives | Final plosives |
| Vowel | Open syllable | [m] | [n] | [ŋ] | [p̚] | [t̚] | [k̚] | [ʔ] |
| [a] | アア | アム | アヌ | アン | アㇷ゚ | アッ | アㇰ | アァ |
| [ai] | アイ | | | | | | | |
| [au] | アウ | | | | | | | アゥ |
| [ia] | イア | イァム | | イァン | イァㇷ゚ | | イァㇰ | イァ |
| [iau] | イァウ | | | | | | | イァゥ |
| [i] | イイ | イム | イヌ | | イㇷ゚ | イッ | | イィ |
| [iu] | イウ | | | | | | | イゥ |
| [ie] | | | イェヌ | イェン | | イェッ | イェㇰ | |
| [iɔ] | | | | イォン | | | イォㇰ | |
| [io] | イヲ | | | | | | | イ𛅦 |
ウ、エ、オ、ヲ、ム、ン :
| Vowel | Open syllable | Final nasals | Final nasals | Final nasals | Final plosives | Final plosives | Final plosives | Final plosives |
| Vowel | Open syllable | [m] | [n] | [ŋ] | [p̚] | [t̚] | [k̚] | [ʔ] |
| [u] | ウウ | | ウヌ | | | ウッ | | ウゥ |
| [ui] | ウイ | | | | | | | |
| [ɯ] | ウウ | | ウン | | | | | |
| [ɯi] | ウイ | | | | | | |
| [e] | エエ | | | | | | | エェ |
| [ɔ] | オオ | オム | | オン | オㇷ゚ | | オㇰ | オォ |
| [ə] | オオ | | | | | | | |
| [əe] | オエ | | | | | | | |
| [ua] | ヲア | | ヲァヌ | ヲァン | | ヲァッ | | ヲァ |
| [uai] | ヲァイ | | | | | | | |
| [ue] | ヲエ | | | | | | | ヲェ |
| [o] | ヲヲ | | | | | | | ヲ𛅦 |
| [m̩] | ム | | | | | | | ム |
| [ŋ̍] | ン | | | | | | | ン |

### Syllable chart

| | None | p | pʰ | b | m | t | tʰ | l | n | ts/tɕ | tsʰ/tɕʰ | s/ɕ | dz/dʑ | k | kʰ | ɡ/ŋ | h |
| a | アア | パア | パ̣ア | バア | マア | タア | タ̣ア | ラア | ナア | サア | サ̣ア | サア | | カア | カ̣ア | ガア | ハア |
| aʔ | アァ | パァ | パ̣ァ | バァ | | タァ | タ̣ァ | ラァ | ナァ | サァ | サ̣ァ | サァ | | カァ | カ̣ァ | | ハァ |
| ai | アイ | パイ | パ̣イ | バイ | マイ | タイ | タ̣イ | ライ | ナイ | サイ | サ̣イ | サイ | | カイ | カ̣イ | ガイ | ハイ |
| au | アウ | パウ | パ̣ウ | バウ | マウ | タウ | タ̣ウ | ラウ | ナウ | サウ | サ̣ウ | サウ | | カウ | カ̣ウ | ガウ | ハウ |
| auʔ | | | パ̣ゥ | | マゥ | タゥ | | ラゥ | ナゥ | | サ̣ゥ | | | カゥ | | | |
| am | アム | | | | | タム | タ̣ム | ラム | | サム | サ̣ム | サム | | カム | カ̣ム | ガム | ハム |
| an | アヌ | パヌ | パ̣ヌ | バヌ | | タヌ | タ̣ヌ | ラヌ | | サヌ | サ̣ヌ | サヌ | | カヌ | カ̣ヌ | ガヌ | ハヌ |
| aŋ | アン | パン | パ̣ン | バン | | タン | タ̣ン | ラン | | サン | サ̣ン | サン | | カン | カ̣ン | ガン | ハン |
| ap̚ | アㇷ゚ | | | | | タㇷ゚ | タ̣ㇷ゚ | ラㇷ゚ | | サㇷ゚ | サ̣ㇷ゚ | サㇷ゚ | | カㇷ゚ | カ̣ㇷ゚ | | ハㇷ゚ |
| at̚ | アッ | パッ | | バッ | | タッ | タ̣ッ | ラッ | | サッ | サ̣ッ | サッ | | カッ | カ̣ッ | | ハッ |
| ak̚ | アㇰ | パㇰ | パ̣ㇰ | バㇰ | | タㇰ | タ̣ㇰ | ラㇰ | | サㇰ | サ̣ㇰ | サㇰ | | カㇰ | カ̣ㇰ | ガㇰ | ハㇰ |
| ia | イア | ピア | | | ミア | チア | チ̣ア | | ニア | チア | チ̣ア | シア | ジア | キア | キ̣ア | ガア | ヒア |
| iaʔ | イァ | ピァ | ピ̣ァ | | | チァ | チ̣ァ | リァ | | チァ | チ̣ァ | シァ | | キァ | キ̣ァ | ガァ | ヒァ |
| iau | イァウ | ピァウ | ピ̣ァウ | ビァウ | ミァウ | チァウ | チ̣ァウ | リァウ | ニァウ | チァウ | チ̣ァウ | シァウ | ジァウ | キァウ | キ̣ァウ | ギァウ | ヒァウ |
| iauʔ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | カ̣ァゥ | ガァゥ | ハァゥ |
| iam | イァム | | | | | チァム | チ̣ァム | リァム | | チァム | チ̣ァム | シァム | ジァム | キァム | キ̣ァム | ギァム | ヒァム |
| iaŋ | イァン | ピァン | ピ̣ァン | | | | | リァン | | チァン | チ̣ァン | シァン | ジァン | | キ̣ァン | ギァン | ヒァン |
| iap̚ | イァㇷ゚ | | | | | チァㇷ゚ | チ̣ァㇷ゚ | リァㇷ゚ | | チァㇷ゚ | チ̣ァㇷ゚ | シァㇷ゚ | ジァㇷ゚ | キァㇷ゚ | キ̣ァㇷ゚ | ギァㇷ゚ | ヒァㇷ゚ |
| iak̚ | | ピァㇰ | ピ̣ァㇰ | | | チァㇰ | | | | | チ̣ァㇰ | シァㇰ | | | キ̣ァㇰ | | |
| i | イイ | ピイ | ピ̣イ | ビイ | ミイ | チイ | チ̣イ | リイ | ニイ | チイ | チ̣イ | シイ | ジイ | キイ | キ̣イ | ギイ | ヒイ |
| iʔ | | ピィ | ピ̣ィ | ビィ | ミィ | チィ | チ̣ィ | | ニィ | チィ | チ̣ィ | シィ | | | キィ | | |
| im | イム | | | | | チム | チ̣ム | リム | | チム | チ̣ム | シム | ジム | キム | キ̣ム | ギム | ヒム |
| in | イヌ | ピヌ | ピ̣ヌ | ビヌ | | チヌ | チ̣ヌ | リヌ | | チヌ | チ̣ヌ | シヌ | ジヌ | キヌ | キ̣ヌ | ギヌ | ヒヌ |
| ip̚ | イㇷ゚ | | | | | | | リㇷ゚ | | チㇷ゚ | チ̣ㇷ゚ | シㇷ゚ | ジㇷ゚ | キㇷ゚ | キ̣ㇷ゚ | | ヒㇷ゚ |
| it̚ | イッ | ピッ | ピ̣ッ | ビッ | | チッ | | | | チッ | チ̣ッ | シッ | ジッ | キッ | キ̣ッ | | ヒッ |
| iu | イウ | ピウ | | ビウ | | チウ | チ̣ウ | リウ | ニウ | チウ | チ̣ウ | シウ | ジウ | キウ | キ̣ウ | ギウ | ヒウ |
| iuʔ | イゥ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ヒゥ |
| iɛn | イェヌ | ピェヌ | ピ̣ェヌ | ビェヌ | | チェヌ | チ̣ェヌ | リェヌ | | チェヌ | チ̣ェヌ | シェヌ | ジェヌ | キェヌ | キ̣ェヌ | ギェヌ | ヒェヌ |
| iɪŋ | イェン | ピェン | ピ̣ェン | ビェン | | チェン | チ̣ェン | リェン | | チェン | チ̣ェン | シェン | | キェン | キ̣ェン | ギェン | ヒェン |
| iɛt̚ | イェッ | ピェッ | ピ̣ェッ | ビェッ | | チェッ | チ̣ェッ | リェッ | | チェッ | チ̣ェッ | シェッ | ジェッ | キェッ | キ̣ェッ | ギェッ | ヒェッ |
| iɪk̚ | イェㇰ | ピェㇰ | ピ̣ェㇰ | ビェㇰ | | チェㇰ | チ̣ェㇰ | リェㇰ | | チェㇰ | チ̣ェㇰ | シェㇰ | | キェㇰ | | ギェㇰ | ヒェㇰ |
| iɔŋ | イォン | | | | | チォン | チ̣ォン | リォン | | チォン | チ̣ォン | シォン | ジォン | キォン | キ̣ォン | ギォン | ヒォン |
| iɔk̚ | イォㇰ | | | | | チォㇰ | チ̣ォㇰ | リォㇰ | | チォㇰ | チ̣ォㇰ | シォㇰ | ジォㇰ | キォㇰ | キ̣ォㇰ | ギォㇰ | ヒォㇰ |
| io | イヲ | ピヲ | ピ̣ヲ | ビヲ | | チヲ | チ̣ヲ | リヲ | | チヲ | チ̣ヲ | シヲ | ジヲ | キヲ | キ̣ヲ | ギヲ | ヒヲ |
| ioʔ | イ𛅦 | | | | | チ𛅦 | | リ𛅦 | | チ𛅦 | チ̣𛅦 | シ𛅦 | | キ𛅦 | キ̣𛅦 | ギ𛅦 | ヒ𛅦 |
| ui | ウイ | プイ | プ̣イ | ブイ | ムイ | ツイ | ツ̣イ | ルイ | | ツイ | ツ̣イ | スイ | | クイ | ク̣イ | グイ | フイ |
| ɯi | ウイ | プゥイ | プ̣ゥイ | | | ツゥイ | ツ̣ゥイ | | | ツゥイ | ツ̣ゥイ | | | クゥイ | ク̣ゥイ | グゥイ | フゥイ |
| u | ウウ | プウ | プ̣ウ | ブウ | | ツウ | ツ̣ウ | ルウ | | ツウ | ツ̣ウ | スウ | ズウ | クウ | ク̣ウ | グウ | フウ |
| uʔ | ウゥ | プゥ | プ̣ゥ | | | ツゥ | ツ̣ゥ | | | ツゥ | ツ̣ゥ | | | | ク̣ゥ | | |
| ɯ | ウウ | | | | | ツウ | ツ̣ウ | ルウ | | ツウ | ツ̣ウ | スウ | ズウ | クウ | ク̣ウ | グウ | フウ |
| un | ウヌ | プヌ | プ̣ヌ | ブヌ | | ツヌ | ツ̣ヌ | ルヌ | | ツヌ | ツ̣ヌ | スヌ | ズヌ | クヌ | ク̣ヌ | グヌ | フヌ |
| ɯn | ウン | | | | | | | | | | | スゥヌ | | クゥヌ | ク̣ゥヌ | グゥヌ | フゥン |
| ut̚ | ウッ | プッ | プ̣ッ | ブッ | | ツッ | ツ̣ッ | ルッ | | ツッ | ツ̣ッ | スッ | | クッ | ク̣ッ | | フッ |
| ɯt̚ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | グゥッ | |
| m̩ | ム | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | フム |
| m̩ʔ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | フム |
| ŋ̍ | ン | プン | | | ムン | ツン | ツ̣ン | | ヌン | ツン | ツ̣ン | スン | | クン | ク̣ン | | フン |
| ŋ̍ʔ | | | プ̣ン | | | | | | | | ツ̣ン | スン | | | | | フン |
| e | エエ | ペエ | ペ̣エ | ベエ | メエ | テエ | テ̣エ | レエ | ネエ | セエ | セ̣エ | セエ | | ケエ | ケ̣エ | ゲエ | ヘエ |
| eʔ | エェ | ペェ | | ベェ | メェ | テェ | テ̣ェ | レェ | ネェ | セェ | セ̣ェ | セェ | | ケェ | ケ̣ェ | ゲェ | ヘェ |
| ə | オオ | ポオ | ポ̣オ | ボオ | | トオ | ト̣オ | ロオ | | ソオ | ソ̣オ | ソオ | ゾオ | コオ | コ̣オ | ゴオ | ホオ |
| əʔ | オォ | ポォ | | ボォ | | トォ | | ロォ | | ソォ | ソ̣ォ | ソォ | | コォ | コ̣ォ | | |
| ɔ | オオ | ポオ | ポ̣オ | ボオ | モオ | トオ | ト̣オ | ロオ | ノオ | ソオ | ソ̣オ | ソオ | | コオ | コ̣オ | ゴオ | ホオ |
| ɔʔ | | | | | モォ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ɔm | オム | | | | | トム | | | | | | ソム | | | | | |
| ɔŋ | オン | ポン | ポ̣ン | ボン | | トン | ト̣ン | ロン | | ソン | ソ̣ン | ソン | | コン | コ̣ン | ゴン | ホン |
| ək̚ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | コォク | コ̣ォク | | |
| ɔk̚ | オㇰ | ポㇰ | ポ̣ㇰ | ボㇰ | | トㇰ | ト̣ㇰ | ロㇰ | | ソㇰ | ソ̣ㇰ | ソㇰ | | コㇰ | コ̣ㇰ | ゴㇰ | ホㇰ |
| ua | ヲア | ポア | ポ̣ア | ボア | モア | トア | ト̣ア | ロア | ノア | ソア | ソ̣ア | ソア | | コア | コ̣ア | ゴア | ホア |
| uaʔ | ヲァ | ポァ | ポ̣ァ | ボァ | | | ト̣ァ | ロァ | | ソァ | ソ̣ァ | ソァ | ゾァ | コァ | コ̣ァ | | ホァ |
| uai | ヲァイ | | | | | | | | | ソァイ | | ソァイ | | コァイ | コ̣ァイ | | ホァイ |
| uan | ヲァヌ | ポァヌ | ポ̣ァヌ | ボァヌ | | トァヌ | ト̣ァヌ | ロァヌ | | ソァヌ | ソ̣ァヌ | ソァヌ | | コァヌ | コ̣ァヌ | ゴァヌ | ホァヌ |
| uaŋ | ヲァン | | | | | | | | | | ソ̣ァン | | | | | | |
| uat̚ | ヲァッ | ポァッ | ポ̣ァッ | ボァッ | | トァッ | ト̣ァッ | ロァッ | | ソァッ | | ソァッ | | コァッ | コ̣ァッ | ゴァッ | ホァッ |
| ue | ヲエ | ポエ | ポ̣エ | ボエ | | トエ | | ロエ | | ソエ | ソ̣エ | ソエ | ゾエ | コエ | コ̣エ | ゴエ | ホエ |
| ueʔ | ヲェ | ポェ | ポ̣ェ | ボェ | | | | | | | | ソェ | | コェ | コ̣ェ | ゴェ | ホェ |
| əe | | | | | | トォエ | ト̣ォエ | ロォエ | | ソォエ | ソ̣ォエ | ソォエ | | コォエ | コ̣ォエ | ゴォエ | ホォエ |
| o | ヲヲ | ポヲ | ポ̣ヲ | ボヲ | | トヲ | ト̣ヲ | ロヲ | | ソヲ | ソ̣ヲ | ソヲ | | コヲ | コ̣ヲ | ゴヲ | ホヲ |
| oʔ | ヲ𛅦 | ポ𛅦 | ポ̣𛅦 | | | ト𛅦 | ト̣𛅦 | ロ𛅦 | | ソ𛅦 | ソ̣𛅦 | ソ𛅦 | | コ𛅦 | | | ホ𛅦 |
* Tone signs are always needed for a syllable.
* [ɡ] always takes oral vowel tone signs; [m], [n], [ŋ] always take nasal vowel tone signs.
* Some spellings are not clear. 仔(á) was sometimes written as ア rather than アア. 的(ê) was sometimes written as エ rather than エエ.
* [ɔ] is spelt with オ, such as in オオ, ポオ, イオ, ピオ, and so on.

## Example

| Audio File: | |
| Taiwanese kana: | シェヌ シイ𚿷 コン𚿰、ハㇰ𚿶 シェン チァム𚿵 チァム𚿵 チ̣ア𚿷。 |
| IPA: | [ ɕiɪn˧ ɕĩ˥ kɔŋ˥˩ hak̚˧ ɕiɪŋ˥ tiam˧ tiam˧ tʰiã˥ ] |
| Pe̍h-ōe-jī: | Sian-siⁿ kóng, ha̍k-seng tiām-tiām thiaⁿ. |
| Tâi-lô: | Sian-sinn kóng, ha̍k-sing tiām-tiām thiann. |
| Traditional Chinese: | 先生講、學生恬恬聽。 |
| Translation: | A teacher is speaking. Students are quietly listening. |

## Unicode support

Amongst software/encodings, Mojikyo fully supports the system.
Unicode has been able to represent small ku (ㇰ) and small pu (ㇷ゚) since Unicode 3.2, small katakana wo (𛅦) since Unicode 12.0, and tone signs since Unicode 14.0 (2021).
It also requires the use of the combining overline and combining dot below with kana to represent overlined and underdotted kana (like so: チ̅, ツ̣). Font support for these small kana and for sensible rendering of these uncommon combining sequences is in practice limited; overlines are simulated in the tables above using markup.
Kana Extended-B Official Unicode Consortium code chart (PDF) :
| | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | A | B | C | D | E | F |
| U+1AFFx | 𚿰 | 𚿱 | 𚿲 | 𚿳 | | 𚿵 | 𚿶 | 𚿷 | 𚿸 | 𚿹 | 𚿺 | 𚿻 | | 𚿽 | 𚿾 | |
| Notes 1.^ As of Unicode version 16.0 2.^ Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points |||||||||||||||||