Katakana is a Japanese writing system used for foreign words and loanwords. Some common synonyms for Katakana include "phonetic script", "foreign script", and "angular script". It is usually distinguished from Hiragana, which is used for Japanese words, and Kanji, which is used for Chinese characters. Other synonyms you might come across for Katakana include "kana script", "Kana characters", and "Kana syllabary". Katakana has 46 basic characters, and additional sounds can be created by adding vowels, consonants, or marks to these basic characters. While Katakana is primarily used for foreign words, it has also become popular in Japan for stylistic writing or to draw attention to certain words.