Katakana quiz

katakana.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# coding=utf-8

import random

vowels = ["a", "i", "u", "e", "o"]
predicate_consonants = ["k", "g", "s", "z", "t", "d", "n", "h", "b", "p"]

syllables = []
_chars = "アイウエオカキクケコガギグゲゴサシスセソザジズゼゾタチツテトダヂヅデドナニヌネノハヒフヘホバビブベボパピプペポ"

_map = {}

def make_syllables():
    syllables = vowels.copy()
    for c in predicate_consonants:
        for v in vowels:
            syl = "{}{}".format(c, v)
            if syl == "si" : syl = "shi"
            if syl == "zi" : syl = "ji"
            if syl == "ti" : syl = "chi"
            if syl == "tu" : syl = "tsu"
            syllables.append(syl)
    return syllables

def make_map(syllables, _chars):
    return dict(zip(syllables, _chars))

def make_random_word(syllables, _map):
    wordlength = random.randint(2, 5)
    word = {"en": "", "ja": ""}
    for i in range(wordlength):
        syllable = random.choice(syllables)
        word["ja"] = word["ja"] + _map[syllable]
        word["en"] = word["en"] + syllable
    return word

def main():
    syllables = make_syllables()
    _map = make_map(syllables, _chars)
    print("Katakana quiz")

    _user_input = ""
    while _user_input.strip() == "":
        word = make_random_word(syllables, _map)
        print("Write this (made-up) word: {}".format(word["en"]))
        _user_input = input()
        print("                   Answer: {}".format(word["ja"]))
        print("")

if __name__ == "__main__": main()