Katakana Letter Small Yu Letter
ュ is the Katakana small letter “yu,” used in Japanese to form compact syllables like ヂュ and ニュ.
U+30E5
“ュ” is a small Katakana character used as a modifier for the “yu” sound. It’s common in modern Japanese spellings, especially when a syllable starts with sounds that combine with “yu.” You can copy it directly or generate it using Unicode.
Katakana Letter Small Yu Letter Meaning
ュ (Unicode: U+30E5, Unicode name: KATAKANA LETTER SMALL YU) is a small Katakana letter used to build combined syllables in Japanese. Rather than appearing alone as a full stand-alone syllable, it typically modifies surrounding characters to represent sounds such as “-yu” in sequences (for example, forms that correspond to “du/zu” + “yu” or “ni” + “yu,” depending on the preceding character). In practice, it affects reading and pronunciation, so using the correct small version (not a full “ユ”) is important for accurate Japanese text.
Common uses
- •Writing Japanese katakana spellings that use the small “-yu” sound (e.g., デュ / ニュ-style combinations)
- •Correctly rendering product names and brand spellings in Japanese text
- •Formatting subtitles and UI strings for Japanese localization
- •Transcribing loanwords or names that include “yu” with a preceding consonant sound in katakana
- •Typing and proofreading Japanese katakana to ensure the small character is used where required
Examples
ュ — Katakana Letter Small Yu (U+30E5)
- ュにゅう
- ュにゅーす
- ュてぃゅ
- ュにゅい
- ュでゅーす
Variations
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+30E5 | |
| HTML Entity | ュ | |
| HTML Code | ュ | |
| CSS | \30E5 | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 12517 | |
| Decimal | 12517 |
How to type Katakana Letter Small Yu Letter (ュ)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 12517 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 30E5 then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 30E5. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 30e5, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ュ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does the Katakana Letter Small Yu letter mean?
ュ (Unicode: U+30E5, Unicode name: KATAKANA LETTER SMALL YU) is a small Katakana letter used to build combined syllables in Japanese. Rather than appearing alone as a full stand-alone syllable, it typically modifies surrounding characters to represent sounds such as “-yu” in sequences (for example, forms that correspond to “du/zu” + “yu” or “ni” + “yu,” depending on the preceding character). In practice, it affects reading and pronunciation, so using the correct small version (not a full “ユ”) is important for accurate Japanese text.
Is ュ the same as ユ?
No. ュ is the Katakana small letter “yu” (U+30E5). ユ is the full-sized katakana letter “yu,” and they are used differently in Japanese spelling.
How do I enter ュ in Unicode-based systems?
Use code point U+30E5. Examples: HTML entity ュ or CSS/JS escapes like \\30E5 or \\u{30E5}.
When should I use the small version ュ?
Use ュ when the Japanese spelling calls for the compact “-yu” modifier in a katakana syllable combination (not when a full “yu” letter is needed).
What is the Unicode name for ュ?
The Unicode name is KATAKANA LETTER SMALL YU.