What’s the small ヶ in Japanese names and words?

The small ヶ is a classic Japanese name and place name that often trips up learners because of that mysterious little character!

The most common reading for ヶ is が as in:

• 鶴(つる)ヶ(が)崎(さき)

  • 鶴(つる)（つる）: crane (the bird)
  • ヶ（が）: a possessive particle (explained below)
  • 崎(さき)（さき）: cape or peninsula

What does the small ヶ indicate?

Even though it looks like a small Katakana “ke” (ケ), in this context, it is not read as “ke.” It is a shorthand for the Kanji 箇 or 个.

In Japanese names and place names, it functions as the possessive particle “ga” (が). It acts like an apostrophe “s” or the word “of” in English.

• 鶴(つる)ヶ(が)崎(さき): Literally, “The Cape of the Crane.”

You will see this “small ga” in many famous place names:

• 霞(かすみ)ヶ(が)関(せき): the government district in Tokyo (“Gate of Mist”)
• 自由(じゆう)ヶ(が)丘(おか): a trendy area in Tokyo (“Hill of Liberty”)
• 茅(ち)ヶ(が)崎(さき): a famous beach city in Kanagawa

Usage in Counting (The “ka” reading)

While it is read as *”ga”* in names, the same symbol is read as *”ka”* when used as a counter for months or locations.

• 3(さん)ヶ(か)月(げつ): 3 months
• 5(ご)ヶ(か)所(しょ) (Go-ka-sho): 5 places