In modern Japanese, the hiragana and katakana syllabaries each contain 46 basic characters, or 71 including diacritics. With one or two minor exceptions, each different sound in the Japanese language (that is, each different syllable, strictly each mora) corresponds to one character in each syllabary.
(kÅ-Åptâ², kÅâ²Åptâ²) tr.v. co-optÂ·ed, co-optÂ·ing, co-opts. 1. To elect as a fellow member of a group. 2. To appoint summarily. 3. To take or assume for one's own use; appropriate: co-opted the criticism by embracing it.
âº to decide on or choose, esp. to choose a person for a particular job by voting: [ T ] We elect representatives every two years. [ T ] She was elected to the board of directors. [ + to infinitive ] He was invited to join them at the concert, but he elected to stay home and watch the ballgame.