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Definition 2024


U+30E7, ョ
KATAKANA LETTER SMALL YO

[U+30E6]
Katakana
[U+30E8]

Japanese

Combining form

  1. Small combining form of katakana (yo) used in 拗音 (yōon) morae that end in o, such as ショ (sho), チョ (cho), and キョ (kyo). Historically not distinguished from full-size version.

Usage notes

Unlike the hiragana system, used for Japanese language words that kanji does not cover, the katakana syllabary is used primarily for transcription of foreign language words into Japanese and the writing of loan words (collectively gairaigo), as well as to represent onomatopoeia, technical and scientific terms, and the names of plants, animals, and minerals. Names of Japanese companies, as well as certain Japanese language words, are also sometimes written in katakana rather than the other systems. [edit]

Related terms

  • (small ya)
  • (small yu)
  • (hiragana small yo)
  • (full-size yo)

See also