kana

[ kah-nuh; Japanese kah-nah ]

noun

1. a Japanese syllabic script consisting of 71 symbols and having two written varieties.

kana

/ ˈkɑːnə /

noun

1. the Japanese syllabary, which consists of two written varieties See hiragana katakana

Word History and Origins

Origin of kana¹

1720–30; < Japanese; earlier kanna, kari-na makeshift names (i.e., characters) as opposed to ma-na true characters, i.e., kanji

Word History and Origins

Origin of kana¹

C18: from Japanese, literally: borrowed or provisional letters; compare kanji , which are regarded as real letters

Example Sentences

The second quake occurred at 7:05 a.m. in roughly the same area, just east of Kana Dume Road, and registered a magnitude 2.8.

From Los Angeles Times

"This study opens new avenues for understanding the composition and evolution of small bodies in our solar system. By considering the impact of terrestrial weathering on meteorites, we can refine our interpretations of asteroid compositions and advance our knowledge of the solar system's early history," said Kana Amano, a former PhD student at the early Solar System evolution Research Group at Tohoku University and co-author of the paper.

From Science Daily

Linebacker Kana’i Mauga was signed to the active roster, and cornerback Tyler Hall and linebacker Malik Reed were activated off the practice squad.

From Seattle Times

Halef Gunawan and his partner, Michael Demmons, sometimes take turns exploring while the other stays with their German shepherd, Kana.

From Seattle Times

When the family visited Joshua Tree, Demmons went on a solo hike that he was eager to try, while Gunawan walked Kana around the visitors center.

From Seattle Times