B
バビブベボ — The B Row
01
Why the B row is the H row + ゛
The B row is the H row with a dakuten (゛): ハ→バ, ヒ→ビ, フ→ブ, ヘ→ベ, ホ→ボ, voicing “h” into “b.” The H row is the only base that takes two different marks: a dakuten for these B sounds, and a handakuten (゜) for the P row coming next. Learn ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ once and you've unlocked fifteen characters.
H row + ゛ = B row: write the base katakana, then add two ticks at the upper right. Keep the dakuten ゛ (two ticks) clearly distinct from the handakuten ゜ (a small circle) you'll use for the P row — ticks make “b,” circle makes “p.”
02
Pronunciation at a glance
03
Loanwords built on the B row
The B row opens a wide field of everyday loanwords. Here are two for each character.
バナナbananabanana
バスbasubus
ビールbīrubeer
ビデオbideovideo
ブログburogublog
ブーツbūtsuboots
ベッドbeddobed
ベンチbenchibench
ボールbōruball
ボタンbotanbutton
04
What's next
Next is the パ-row (パ ピ プ ペ ポ) — the H row again, but with a handakuten (゜), a small circle, voicing “h” into “p.” It's the only handakuten row, and it completes the voiced sounds.