Katakana "Tsu" Coloring Pages

The "Tsu" in "Tree"

Katakana "Tsu" is the 3rd letter in the Ta-row.
The word for this coloring page is "Tree". Here, it means a Christmas tree that you decorate for Christmas.
On the left side, we drew 1 Christmas tree.
It has a star on top, round ornaments and ribbons on the branches, and a flowerpot at the bottom.
"Tree" is an English word that means "木" (ki).

Katakana "Tsu" Comes from the Kanji "川"

Katakana are characters made from parts or shapes of Kanji.
Katakana "Tsu" was created from the shape of the Kanji 「川」.
The 3 lines of 「川」 became the 3 strokes of Katakana "Tsu".
Hiragana "つ" was also made from the same Kanji, 「川」, by changing its shape.
It is so neat that the 1-stroke "つ" and the 3-stroke Katakana "Tsu" came from the very same Kanji!

How to Write Katakana "Tsu"

You write Katakana "Tsu" in 3 strokes.
For the 1st and 2nd strokes, write 2 dots at the top, from left to right.
Make each dot with a quick flick from top-left to bottom-right.
For the 3rd stroke, make a long curved sweep from top-right to bottom-left.
The key is to make the 3rd stroke long and smooth, reaching past the dots.

The Difference Between Katakana "Tsu" and "Shi"

The Katakana "Shi" looks a lot like Katakana "Tsu".
For Katakana "Tsu", the dots are side by side at the top, and you sweep the last line from top to bottom.
For "Shi", the dots are stacked on the left, and you sweep the last line from bottom to top.
These letters are easy to mix up, so try writing them next to each other to compare!

Words with Small "ッ" and Katakana "Tsu"

A small "ツ", which is "ッ", is used for sounds where you pause briefly.
It is used in words like "サッカー" (soccer) and "ソックス" (socks).
Words that start with Katakana "Tsu" include ツバメ (swallow), ツクシ (field horsetail), ツル (crane), ツナ (tuna), and ツアー (tour).
Swallows, field horsetails, and cranes are names of living things. Tuna and tour are words that came from other countries.
The "ー" in "ツリー" (tree) goes straight down because the text is written vertically!

Look closely at the shape of Katakana "Tsu"

A Christmas tree is shaped like a triangle, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, isn't it?
The tree on the coloring page spreads out softly, with the branches getting longer near the bottom, too.
Let's point with your finger and count how many decorations there are!

Color the big Katakana "Tsu" in Christmas colors

Color the big Katakana "Tsu" in your favorite colors.
If you use Christmas red, green, and gold, it will match the tree!
It is also fun to use different colors for the two dots and the swooshing stroke.

Color the tree in green and bright ornament colors

Color the tree leaves in green or dark green.
If you make the outside a little lighter and the inside a little darker, the tree will look nice and full!
Color the star at the top in yellow or gold, and the round ornaments in lots of colors like red, blue, gold, and silver.
If you color the ribbon red or pink, it will look super fancy!
Color the flowerpot brown or red. It is also fun to draw present boxes around it!

How to trace the letters

Trace the Katakana "Tsu" in the bottom right boxes with a pencil.
For the two dots, make them the same height and put a little space between them to make it look nice.
For the 3rd stroke, start from the top right and make a smooth swoosh down to the bottom left.
Once you write it 8 times, compare it with "シ" (shi) and check how they are different!

Finally, let's read the word too

In the top right, next to the big Katakana "Tsu", the word "ツリー" (Tree) is written from top to bottom.
When you finish coloring, trace it with your finger and read "ツリー" out loud!
When pictures, letters, and words connect, it becomes much easier to remember the letters.
When your coloring page is all done, it is great to hang it on the wall or keep it in a folder!

Fir Trees for Christmas Trees

Fir trees are often used for Christmas trees.
Fir trees are evergreens, which means their leaves do not fall off even in winter.
Because they stay green even in the cold winter, people say they have been loved as a symbol of energy and life.

The Star on Top

The star you put on top of the tree is also called a top star.
It is said to show the shining star that appears in the Christmas story.
People often put it on at the very end of decorating the tree.

December 7th is Christmas Tree Day

December 7th is known as "Christmas Tree Day."
It is said to be the day when the first Christmas tree in Japan was decorated in Yokohama, a long time ago.
It is fun to decide with your family which day you will set up your tree!

All Kinds of "Trees"

Since "tree" means a plant with a trunk and branches, you can find it in other words too.
For example, the tall tower in Tokyo called "Tokyo Skytree" has "tree" in its name!
The name comes from the wish for the tower to stand tall, just like a tree.