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Definition 2024


U+30F4, ヴ
KATAKANA LETTER VU
Composition: [U+30A6] + [U+3099]

[U+30F3]
Katakana
[U+30F5]
See also: and

Japanese

Stroke order

Syllable

(romaji vu)

  1. The katakana syllable (vu). Its equivalent in hiragana is (vu).

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]
  • This is a relatively recent addition to kana usage to represent the non-native sound vu. As such, this is only found in borrowed words. Older speakers may pronounce this more as /bu/, [bɯᵝ].

See also