Typing Japanese is easier than you'd think. You type romaji (Roman letters), and the computer converts it to kana automatically. No need to memorize a Japanese keyboard layout.
Once you get the rhythm, you can type Japanese as fast as English.
How Japanese Input Works
The standard method is romaji input using an IME (Input Method Editor):
- Type romaji: k-a
- See hiragana appear: か
- Press space for kanji suggestions: 可, 化, 火...
- Press Enter to confirm
Your regular keyboard becomes a Japanese typing machine.
Setting Up Japanese Input
Windows
- Settings → Time & Language → Language
- Add Japanese
- Switch with Win + Space or Alt + Shift
macOS
- System Preferences → Keyboard → Input Sources
- Add Japanese - Romaji
- Switch with Ctrl + Space or click the menu bar flag
iOS/Android
Add Japanese keyboard in Settings → Keyboard/Languages
Basic Romaji Input
Type exactly how it sounds:
The Full Hiragana Chart
| a | i | u | e | o |
|---|
| - | a | i | u | e | o |
| k | ka | ki | ku | ke | ko |
| s | sa | si/shi | su | se | so |
| t | ta | ti/chi | tu/tsu | te | to |
| n | na | ni | nu | ne | no |
| h | ha | hi | hu/fu | he | ho |
| m | ma | mi | mu | me | mo |
| y | ya | - | yu | - | yo |
| r | ra | ri | ru | re | ro |
| w | wa | - | - | - | wo |
| n | n/nn | | | | |
Note: Both "si" and "shi" work for し. Both "tu" and "tsu" work for つ. Use whichever feels natural.
Voiced Consonants (Dakuten)
Add the voiced consonant sound:
Full chart:
| a | i | u | e | o |
|---|
| g | ga | gi | gu | ge | go |
| z | za | zi/ji | zu | ze | zo |
| d | da | di | du | de | do |
| b | ba | bi | bu | be | bo |
| p | pa | pi | pu | pe | po |
Small Characters (Yōon)
Small や, ゆ, よ create combination sounds:
| Type | Get | Sound |
|---|
| kya | きゃ | kya |
| shu | しゅ | shu |
| cho | ちょ | cho |
| nya | にゃ | nya |
| ryo | りょ | ryo |
The pattern: consonant + y + vowel (except for sh, ch, j which just use the vowel).
Forcing Small Characters
To type a small character by itself, prefix with x or l:
| Type | Get |
|---|
| xa/la | ぁ |
| xi/li | ぃ |
| xtu/ltu | っ |
| xya/lya | ゃ |
Double Consonants (っ)
The small っ (sokuon) indicates a doubled consonant. Type the consonant twice:
| Type | Get | Meaning |
|---|
| kitte | きって | stamp |
| gakkou | がっこう | school |
| zasshi | ざっし | magazine |
| nippon | にっぽん | Japan |
The double consonant creates っ automatically.
The "n" Problem
ん requires special handling before vowels and y:
| Type | Get |
|---|
| kana | かな (ka-na) |
| kanna | かんあ? No... |
| kan'a | かんあ (kan-a) |
Use nn or n' to force ん before vowels:
- hannin → はんにん (criminal)
- kan'i → かんい (simple)
- shin'you → しんよう (trust)
Before consonants, single n works: kanta → かんた
Switching Between Hiragana and Katakana
During Typing
- F6: Convert to hiragana (ひらがな)
- F7: Convert to katakana (カタカナ)
- F8: Convert to half-width katakana (ｶﾀｶﾅ)
- F9: Convert to full-width romaji (ａｂｃ)
- F10: Convert to half-width romaji (abc)
Before Typing
Toggle katakana mode:
- Windows: Ctrl + Caps Lock (or dedicated key)
- macOS: Ctrl + K
Kanji Conversion
After typing hiragana, press Space to see kanji options:
- Type: nihon
- See: にほん
- Press Space: 日本, 二本, 尼本...
- Arrow keys to select
- Enter to confirm
Tips
- Tab: Preview conversion without committing
- Escape: Cancel conversion, keep hiragana
- Enter (without Space): Keep as hiragana
The IME learns your preferences over time.
Long Vowels
Hiragana
Type the vowel extension:
- おかあさん = okaasan (mother)
- おにいさん = oniisan (older brother)
- おおきい = ookii (big)
Katakana
Use the prolonged sound mark ー:
- コーヒー = ko-hi- or koohii
- ケーキ = ke-ki or keeki
The - key types ー in katakana mode.
Special Characters
| Character | Type |
|---|
| 。(period) | . |
| 、(comma) | , |
| ・(middle dot) | / |
| ー (long vowel) | - |
| 「」(quotes) | [ ] |
| 『』(double quotes) | |
| ～ (wave dash) | ~ |
Common Typing Mistakes
1. Forgetting Double "n"
Wrong: kani → かに (crab)
Right: kanni → かんい (relationship) - wait, that's still wrong
Actually: kan'i → かんい
2. Using English Punctuation
Wrong: nihon. → にほん. (English period)
Right: nihon。→ にほん。(Japanese period)
Most IMEs convert automatically, but check your settings.
3. Not Using Conversion
Typing everything in hiragana is technically correct but slow. Use kanji conversion for:
- Faster reading (kanji is more compact)
- Clearer meaning (homophones distinguished)
- Looking native (mixed script is standard)
4. Over-Converting
Not everything should be kanji. Keep these in hiragana:
- Particles: は, が, を, に, で
- Common words: ある, いる, する, こと
- Verb endings: ~ます, ~ました
Speed Tips
1. Trust the IME
Type full words or phrases, then convert. Don't convert character by character.
Slow: に (convert) ほん (convert) ご (convert)
Fast: nihongo (convert once) → 日本語
2. Learn Number Input
- 1 → １ (full-width)
- F10 after number → 1 (half-width)
Full-width numbers look better in Japanese text.
3. Use Predictions
The IME suggests completions. Press Tab to cycle through predictions instead of typing everything.
4. Shortcut Your Common Phrases
Register frequently used phrases as shortcuts in your IME settings.
Practice Exercises
Beginner
Type these basic words:
- あいうえお (aiueo)
- かきくけこ (kakikukeko)
- たべもの (tabemono - food)
- のみもの (nomimono - drink)
Intermediate
Try sentences:
- これはペンです (koreha pen desu)
- 日本語を勉強しています (nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu)
- 今日は何曜日ですか (kyouha nanyoubi desuka)
Advanced
Practice speed with paragraphs. Copy Japanese text and try to match the original.
Practice Resources
Beyond the Basics
Once comfortable with basic input:
- Learn keyboard shortcuts - Each IME has its own
- Customize predictions - Add technical terms, names
- Try kana input - Direct hiragana keyboard (advanced)
- Use voice input - For practice and speed
Typing is a practical skill that reinforces reading. The more you type, the more naturally Japanese characters come to mind.
Ready to start typing? Our Japanese Typing Practice tool gives you structured exercises from basic kana to full sentences.
