1932
I noticed that "dame", which means "not good" or "don't do that", is sometimes
written in manga as katakana. I was wondering, is it because katakana is used
to express a strong feeling?

Sometimes, there are also other words written in katakana. In general, what
are possible reasons why people would choose _katakana_ for a word instead of
_hiragana_ or _kanji_ , especially when that word is not usually spelled with
_katakana_?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-07-14T13:56:22.927
1930
2019-05-21T06:00:29.147
2014-12-12T00:00:07.300
4964
300
question
katakana
Why are katakana preferred over hiragana or kanji sometimes?
There are several usages for katakana.

  1. To describe (what feels like) Western origin words
  2. To describe onomatopoeia
  3. To describe the fact that it is normally written in kanji, but that it is written without it because either the writer wants to write faster, has no access to the kanji form (as in the case where the writer is given the name in a romanized transcription or the writer just heard the name), forgot the kanji form, or does not want to bother to write in kanji for any other reason.

`だめ` has the kanji form `駄目`, and in this case, the reason is likely 3.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-07-14T14:17:43.907
1931
2011-07-14T16:22:58.680
2011-07-14T16:22:58.680
128
1930
answer
In addition to user458s list:  

  * To give visual and/or _very_ slight semantic emphasis. Almost like using **bold** or _italics_ in English.

> それはだめだよ！
>
> それはダメだよ！

You can see that the latter stands out more. As for the onomatopoeia, those
are often a little emphasized too, so it probably overlaps with reason 2 a
good amount.  

  * Plant, animal, and mineral names are often written in katakana.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-07-14T14:38:08.537
1932
2014-12-15T04:37:14.050
2014-12-15T04:37:14.050
29
78
1930
answer
* Style - Simply as personal style
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-07-14T15:07:55.417
1933
2014-12-15T04:38:30.260
2014-12-15T04:38:30.260
29
264
1930
answer
I think it's sometimes used when it's more like a series of syllables being
pronunced, rather than real Japanese. An equivalent in English would be Ginger
Megg's mother saying something like "Giiingerrr!" when he's in big trouble.
The English language Wikipedia says

> Katakana are also sometimes used to indicate words being spoken in a foreign
> or otherwise unusual accent, by foreign characters, robots, etc. For
> example, in a manga, the speech of a foreign character or a robot may be
> represented by コンニチワ konnichiwa ("hello") instead of the more typical
> hiragana こんにちは

I haven't heard of any examples, apart from reading that McDonald's "Mr James"
originally spoke only in katakana.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-27T03:24:01.997
5328
2014-12-15T04:38:58.527
2014-12-15T04:38:58.527
29
91
1930
answer
Japanese often use katakana for certain Japanese-origin words when they are
difficult to write or imagine in kanji. I guess it's because they sound
somewhat like 'foreign' or 'onomatopoeia' to Japanese.

Common examples I can think of are:

```

    滅茶苦茶 as メチャクチャ
    御洒落 as オシャレ
    出鱈目 as デタラメ
    駄洒落 as ダジャレ
    辻褄 as ツジツマ
    我儘 as ワガママ
    馬鹿 as バカ
    
```

Of course these are not foreign words, and even elementary school children
understand their meanings. However, they are so difficult or bothering to
write in kanji that it became very common to write them down either in
hiragana or katakana, even for adults using word processors. Daring to use
kanji may look as if you were an old man.

Whether to use hiragana or katakana is up to the writer's taste. I don't
believe it has something to do with emphasizing. Generally, using hiragana
tends to give soft, childish, cute or girly impressions, although the nuance
is fairly subtle.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-28T06:53:47.763
15102
2017-03-26T23:47:45.163
2017-03-26T23:47:45.163
5010
5010
1930
answer
There are various reason depending on situation. Yesterday i saw a frog shaped
earpick on which it was written カエル instead of かえる. I asked about it and i was
told that these things are done so as to avoid any confusion about the product
or the instruction given for the user or consumer. かえる can also mean to return
, or to change. Also some people can't read Kanji. These are the reason that
leads to writing some catchy phrases or words so that there is no ambiguity
between both parties. These are informal...

edit: to grab eyes as well...
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-18T18:32:59.717
28759
2015-10-18T19:09:42.310
2015-10-18T19:09:42.310
11481
11481
1930
answer
There is also the case where some words are written in katakana on signals so
that everyone, even children, can notice easily and understand. For example,
the warning signals about Bear in the forest say クマ instead of 熊, or カラス
(crow) instead of 烏.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-11-02T06:23:56.733
40580
2019-05-21T06:00:29.147
2019-05-21T06:00:29.147
125
18225
1930
answer