cha / チャ
The first CH combined kana — チ plus a small ャ becomes “cha,” one syllable. Opens chance, challenge, and channel.
Pronunciation
The compound character チャ represents the syllable 'cha', formed by combining チ (chi) with a small ャ. Common in loanwords for chance, challenge, chime, chart, charge, channel, chapter, and matcha green tea.
チャ is チ (chi) plus a small ャ, read as one syllable, “cha.” It opens loanwords like チャンス (chance), チャレンジ (challenge), チャイム (chime), チャンネル (channel).
How to write チャ
Trace チャ on the canvas at the top of the page. Animated arrows show each stroke's direction; trace along them and the stroke fills in. Each numbered step below explains what that stroke does.
Write チ exactly: a short top bar, a longer bar across the middle, then a long stroke descending and curving to the lower left.
Write a small ャ tucked into the lower right at about half height — a miniature ヤ (a hooking stroke, then a vertical).
Origin
Katakana チャ combines チ — from the kanji 千 (chi) — with a small ャ (reduced ヤ, from 也). Together they spell a single “cha” sound.
Common words starting with チャ
Printable practice sheet
Print this worksheet to practice writing チャ by hand — the top row shows the stroke order to trace, then fill the blank squares.
Lock it into memory
Reading is only half of it. Drill the katakana you’ve learned with spaced-repetition flashcards — the fastest way to make them stick.