Empty slots are sounds Japanese doesn't have. There's no yi, ye, wi, wu or we.
A small mark on a kana changes its sound. The shape stays the same.
かka→がgatwo strokes
はha→ぱpaa circle
The two strokes are called dakuten. The circle is handakuten.
a
i
u
e
o
—
k
s
t
n
h
m
y
r
w
n
g
z
d
b
p
Worth knowing
- しshiSounds like "she", not "see".
- ちchiSounds like the "chee" in cheek.
- つtsuStarts with a ts, like the end of "cats".
- ふfuSofter than an English f. Your lips barely touch.
- をwoSay it "o". It only ever marks the object of a sentence.
- んnThe only kana that's a consonant on its own.
- ぢjiSame sound as じ. You'll rarely meet it.
- づzuSame sound as ず. You'll rarely meet it.