13847
I am having high confusion between katakana _n_ `ン` and katakana _so_ `ソ`.
They look very similar even with the different stroke directions, they look
very similar. Could anyone suggest how to differentiate between them?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-23T19:19:15.803
13846
2018-01-30T08:16:01.237
2017-02-05T18:07:36.390
1628
4370
question
katakana
Difference between katakana so and n
I think this image sums it up perfectly:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/g26gq.jpg)

Basically, it has to do with the angle you're draw it from and where it goes.
You'll see variations on the bigger stroke on the right, especially in hand
writing, but this clears up 99% of instances for me.

Edit: source=<http://ani-nouto.animeblogger.net/2012/08/11/guide-to-katakana-
ri-so-n/>
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-23T20:56:28.823
13847
2013-12-23T21:01:46.797
2013-12-23T21:01:46.797
165
165
13846
answer
It's easy once you get the difference between シ (shi) and ツ (tsu) For these,
it's easy to remember because of how the hiragana versions are written.

し is written from the top, to bottom, to right. And thus, the katakana version
is written left to right, and has a more horizontal angle.

つ is written curving down, so ツ is also written top-to-bottom, being more
vertically oriented.

The same thing goes for ソ and ン, except without the hiragana equivalents.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-23T22:22:06.867
13848
2013-12-23T22:22:06.867
4378
13846
answer
Japanese is to complicated at times: keep the explanation simple:

Here is my mnemonic ソthe line points 'south' for 'so' ンthe line points 'north'
for 'n'

Like it?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-26T02:45:07.917
13885
2013-12-26T02:45:07.917
4390
13846
answer
I do not know why my answer is so often different from others' on here but to
me the best answer is "CONTEXT".

How useful is it that the two katakana look different in printed blocks? That
kind of "knowledge" is not worth a yen when dealing with handwriting or even
something printed. You are NOT going to see a ソ or ン blown-up all out of
proportion so you could spot the difference.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-26T05:43:00.920
13887
2013-12-26T05:43:00.920
13846
answer
shi and n have the small line more horizontal, while so and tsu have them
leaning more vertically. It is the best I can come up with.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-12T09:29:36.470
54425
2017-11-12T09:29:36.470
26455
13846
answer
Yes they are similar and yes they are distinguishable by two differences:

The stroke order can be seen in many fonts and the strokes are opposite for
these two katakana.

N: bottom to top / So: top to bottom /

Also

N: flatter S: more vertical
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-28T14:56:22.803
56254
2018-01-28T14:56:22.803
27483
13846
answer
You need to be careful on the start point and stroke inclination as you can
see on the image above

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/016B5.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/016B5.jpg)

・ソ so

・リ ri

・ン n

Btw, Marilyn Manson is written in Japanese katakana character as マリリン マンソン.

マソソソ マソソソ❌

マリリリ マリリリ❌

マンンン マンンン❌

マリリン マンソン✅

source [Twitter
@ukotius](https://twitter.com/ukotius/status/954824876744876032)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-30T08:16:01.237
56298
2018-01-30T08:16:01.237
22344
13846
answer