How to Type Japanese

We use the following keys to convert Hiragana into Katakana.

MS-IME	Space key or F7 (Function 7)
KOTOERI	Space key or [Control] + [ K ]

See the Key Tables for other functions

About Space Key under the Japanese typing mode

The space key is also called "Henkan key" which means "Convert key" in Japan.
Here, we use it to convert characters you typed into Katakana, but you can convert it into Kanji.
Look at the following example.

You typed "A ME RI KA", then IME converts it into アメリカ. Because "A ME RI KA" is a common Katakana word and it is in a dictionary of IME.

On the other hand, "A ME RU KA" is not in a dictionary as a word, but "A ME RU" is in as a word.
"AMERU" is the potential form of "AMU" (to knit).
So, IME converts it into 編める (ameru = be able to knit) + Ka? (question marker).

Common Katakana words are in a dictionary so you can convert it by the space key.
If it is not in a dictionary, you need to use the function key.

You will learn haw to type in Kanji in Lesson 8. You can of course jump to there.

Vowels & Consonants

アイス

(ice cream)

ア	イ	ス
A	I	SU

1.	Type	A I S U	あいす is displayed in Hiragana.
2.	Space key / F7		あいす is converted into アイス.
3.	Enter key		アイス is typed in.

テスト

(test)

テ	ス	ト
TE	SU	TO

1.	Type	T E S U T O	てすと is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		てすと is converted into テスト.
3.	Enter key		テスト is typed in.

ネクタイ

(necktie)

ネ	ク	タ	イ
NE	KU	TA	I

1.	Type	N E K U T A I	ねくたい is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ねくたい is converted into ネクタイ.
3.	Enter key		ネクタイ is typed in.

ミルク

(milk)

ミ	ル	ク
MI	RU	KU

1.	Type	M I R U K U	みるく is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		みるく is converted into ミルク.
3.	Enter key		ミルク is typed in.

ホテル

(hotel)

ホ	テ	ル
HO	TE	RU

1.	Type	H O T E R U	ほてる is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ほてる is converted into ホテル.
3.	Enter key		ホテル is typed in.

テレビ

(TV)

テ	レ	ビ
TE	RE	BI

1.	Type	T E R E B I	てれび is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		てれび is converted into テレビ.
3.	Enter key		テレビ is typed in.

ビデオ

(video)

ビ	デ	オ
BI	DE	O

1.	Type	B I D E O	びでお is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		びでお is converted into ビデオ.
3.	Enter key		ビデオ is typed in.

カメラ

(camera)

カ	メ	ラ
KA	ME	RA

1.	Type	K A M E R A	かめら is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		かめら is converted into カメラ.
3.	Enter key		カメラ is typed in.

Input シ、チ、ツ and ン

シ	SHI or SI	We use "SHI"
チ	CHI or TI	We use "CHI"
ツ	TSU or TU	We use "TSU"
ン	NN

システム

(system)

シ	ス	テ	ム
SHI	SU	TE	MU

1.	Type	S H I S U T E M U	しすてむ is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		しすてむ is converted into システム.
3.	Enter key		システム is typed in.

チリ

(Chile)

チ	リ
CHI	RI

1.	Type	C H I R I	ちり is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ちり is converted into チリ.
3.	Enter key		チリ is typed in.

タイツ

(tights)

タ	イ	ツ
TA	I	TSU

1.	Type	T A I T S U	たいつ is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		たいつ is converted into タイツ.
3.	Enter key		タイツ is typed in.

フランス

(France)

フ	ラ	ン	ス
FU	RA	NN	SU

1.	Type	F U R A N N S U	ふらんす is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ふらんす is converted into フランス.
3.	Enter key		フランス is typed in.

Input ジ、ヂ and ヅ、ズ

ジ	JI / ZI
ヂ	DI	In modern Japanese, this is rarely used.
ヅ	DU	In modern Japanese, this is rarely used.
ズ	ZU

ブラジル

(Brazil)

ブ	ラ	ジ	ル
BU	RA	JI	RU

1.	Type	B U R A JI R U	ぶらじる is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ぶらじる is converted into ブラジル.
3.	Enter key		ブラジル is typed in.

クイズ

(quiz)

ク	イ	ズ
KU	I	ZU

1.	Type	K U I Z U	くいず is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		くいず is converted into クイズ.
3.	Enter key		クイズ is typed in.

Practice more words in Katakana

トイレ

(toilet)

ト	イ	レ
TO	I	RE

1.	Type	T O I R E	といれ is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		といれ is converted into トイレ.
3.	Enter key		トイレ is typed in.

ピザ

(pizza)

ピ	ザ
PI	ZA

1.	Type	P I Z A	ぴざ is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ぴざ is converted into ピザ.
3.	Enter key		ピザ is typed in.

サラダ

(salad)

サ	ラ	ダ
SA	RA	DA

1.	Type	S A R A D A	さらだ is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		さらだ is converted into サラダ.
3.	Enter key		サラダ is typed in.

バス

(bus)

バ	ス
BA	SU

1.	Type	B A S U	ばす is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ばす is converted into バス.
3.	Enter key		バス is typed in.

パソコン

(personal computer)

パ	ソ	コ	ン
PA	SO	KO	NN

1.	Type	P A S O K O N N	ぱそこん is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		ぱそこん is converted into パソコン.
3.	Enter key		パソコン is typed in.

アニメ

(cartoon, animation, Japanese ANIME)

ア	ニ	メ
A	NI	ME

1.	Type	A N I M E	あにめ is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		あにめ is converted into アニメ.
3.	Enter key		アニメ is typed in.

イギリス

(England)

イ	ギ	リ	ス
I	GI	RI	SU

1.	Type	I G I R I S U	いぎりす is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		いぎりす is converted into イギリス.
3.	Enter key		イギリス is typed in.

アメリカ

(America)

ア	メ	リ	カ
A	ME	RI	KA

1.	Type	A M E R I K A	あめりか is displayed. It is underlined.
2.	Space key / F7		あめりか is converted into アメリカ.
3.	Enter key		アメリカ is typed in.

How to correct a typO before Enter key

	Cancel converting
	Move a cursor
	Move a cursor

For instance, you typed A M E R U K A instead of A M E R I K A.

編めるか

アメリカ

(America)

ア	メ	リ	カ
A	ME	RI	KA	○
A	ME	RU	KA	×

1.	Type	A M E R U K A	あめるか
2.	Space key		編めるか
3.	Esc (Escape) key		編めるか turns back to あめるか
4.	Left key		あめる｜か
5.	Delete る by Bksp (BackSpace)		あめ｜か
6.	Type	R I	あめりか
7.	Space key		アメリカ.

For instance, you typed E N N J I M I A instead of E N N J I N I A.

エンジ未亜

エンジニア

(engineer)

エ	ン	ジ	ニ	ア
E	NN	JI	NI	A	○
E	NN	JI	MI	A	×

1.	Type	E N N J I M I A	えんじみあ
2.	Space key		エンジ未亜
3.	Esc (Escape) key		エンジ未亜 turns back to えんじ未亜
4.	Esc (Escape) key again		えんじ未亜 turns back to えんじみあ
5.	Left key		えんじみ｜あ
6.	Delete み by Bksp (BackSpace)		えんじ｜あ
7.	Type	N I	えんじにあ
8.	Space key		エンジニア.

How to Type Japanese

Type Japanese words in Katakana - Vowels and Consonants