仮名

• Reading: かな
• Romaji: kana
• Kanji breakdown: 仮 (ka/kari) — temporary, borrowed; 名 (mei/na) — name, character
• Pronunciation: /ka.na/

Meaning

Kana; the Japanese phonetic syllabary comprising hiragana and katakana, developed from simplified Chinese characters.

仮名 (literally 'borrowed names') were developed in the Heian period by simplifying Chinese characters to represent Japanese sounds. Hiragana became associated with native Japanese literary expression — especially by women at court — while katakana was used in Buddhist texts and official contexts. Together they form the phonetic backbone of the Japanese writing system alongside kanji.

Examples

1. 仮名は平安時代に漢字をもとに作られた。 Kana were created during the Heian period based on Chinese characters.
2. 仮名だけで書かれた文章は柔らかい印象を与える。 Text written entirely in kana gives a soft impression.
3. ひらがなとカタカナを合わせて仮名と呼ぶ。 Hiragana and katakana together are referred to as kana.

Usage Guide

Context: linguistics, Japanese history, education

Tone: academic

Origin & History

From 仮 (temporary, borrowed) and 名 (name, character). In contrast to 真名 (the 'true' characters — kanji borrowed directly from China), 仮名 are the adapted phonetic forms.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal