ヴィ

• IPA^(key): [bʲi]

ヴィ (romaji vi)

1. The katakana syllable ヴィ (vi). Its equivalent in hiragana is ゔぃ (vi).

• Unlike the hiragana system, used for Japanese language words that kanji does not cover, the katakana syllabary is used primarily for transcription of foreign language words into Japanese and the writing of loan words (collectively gairaigo), as well as to represent onomatopoeias, technical and scientific terms, and the names of plants, animals, and minerals. It is also occasionally used colloquially in some words for emphasis. Names of Japanese companies, as well as certain Japanese language words, are also sometimes written in katakana rather than the other systems. Formerly, female given names were written in katakana. ^[edit]
• This is a relatively recent addition to kana usage to represent the non-native sound vi. As such, this is only found in borrowed words. Many speakers, especially older people, may pronounce this more as /bi/, [bʲi].

• ヸ (vi)

ヴィ (rōmaji vi)

1. Rare form of ブイ (bui, “vee”). The name of the Latin-script letter V.

   Vヴィ－タイガー・ジェット

   Vi-Taigā Jetto

   Vee-Tiger Jet

   VWヴィダブル－タイガー・カタパルト

   Vi-Daburu-Taigā Kataparuto

   Vee-Double-Tiger Catapult

   VWXYZヴィトゥズィ－ドラゴン・カタパルトキャノン

   Vi-tu-Zi-Doragon Kataparuto Kyanon

   Vee-to-Zee-Dragon Catapult Cannon