This kana represents the sound 'ya' and is used in katakana for loanwords, foreign names, and onomatopoeia. It can also appear as a small 『ャ』 in combination kana (e.g., キャ, シャ) to form contracted sounds. As a base character, it functions as a standard mora. For example: 『ヤンキーが はしって いる』 (yankī ga hashitte iru, 'A Yankee is running').