Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type Japanese characters?
Click the kana on the virtual keyboard, which uses the Japanese JIS kana layout, or turn on transliteration mode and type in romaji: konnichiha becomes こんにちは as you type. Kanji need a full input method (IME) on your computer or phone.
What is Hiragana?
Hiragana is one of three Japanese writing systems. It's a syllabary with 46 basic characters used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements.
How do I type Katakana?
Press the あ/ア button: the keys and romaji input then produce katakana instead of hiragana. With transliteration on, typing ko-hi- gives コーヒー. Press the button again to go back to hiragana.
How do I type Kanji?
Kanji (Chinese characters) typically require an IME system where you type in romaji (Roman letters) and select the appropriate kanji. This basic keyboard focuses on kana.
What's the difference between Hiragana and Katakana?
Both represent the same sounds but are used differently: Hiragana for native words and grammar, Katakana for foreign words and emphasis. Each has 46 basic characters.
Can I type in romaji (Roman letters)?
Yes. Turn on transliteration mode and type Japanese in Latin letters (Hepburn or kunrei spelling): ka gives か, shi or si gives し, nn gives ん. With the あ/ア button the same romaji gives katakana.
How do I type small characters (っ, ゃ, ゅ, ょ)?
On the on-screen keyboard, Shift gives the small kana: Shift + あ い う え お for ぁ ぃ ぅ ぇ ぉ, Shift + や ゆ よ for ゃ ゅ ょ and Shift + つ for っ. In romaji, double the consonant for っ (kitte → きって) or type xtu, and kya, sho, ju for the combined sounds.
How do I type the long vowel mark (ー)?
Shift + ほ on the on-screen keyboard types ー, and in transliteration mode the hyphen key does: ko-hi- gives コーヒー in katakana mode. The mark is mostly used in katakana.
What is the dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜)?
They voice a kana: ゛ turns か into が and は into ば, ゜ turns は into ぱ. On this keyboard, type the kana and then press ゛ or ゜: the mark merges with it into a single character. In romaji just type ga, ba or pa.
Can I type Japanese punctuation?
Yes. Shift + ね, る and め give 、 。 and ・, and Shift + ゛ and ゜ give the quotation brackets 「 and 」.