How to Type Japanese on iPhone and Android | Smartphone | How to Use the Japanese Keyboard

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of typing in Japanese on your smartphone, whether you have an iPhone or an Android device. By the end, you'll be familiar with the Japanese keyboard layout and how to use it effectively to type in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

Step 1: Install the Japanese Keyboard

Before you can start typing in Japanese, ensure that you have the Japanese keyboard installed on your smartphone.

• For iPhone: Follow the instructions provided in this iPhone Japanese Keyboard Guide.
• For Android: Follow the instructions in this Android Gboard Guide.

Step 2: Understand the Japanese Keyboard Layout

Once you have the Japanese keyboard installed, familiarize yourself with its layout.

• The keyboard has three main scripts:

  • Hiragana: The basic phonetic script.
  • Katakana: Primarily used for foreign words and names.
  • Kanji: Characters that represent whole words or concepts.

• When typing, start with Hiragana, which can then be converted to Katakana or Kanji as needed.

Step 3: Typing in Hiragana

To type in Hiragana:

• Tap the Hiragana key on your keyboard.
• For example, to type "あ" (a), simply tap the corresponding key.
• Swiping your finger on the keyboard can help select different characters.

Step 4: Using Long Vowels and Quotation Marks

• To enter long vowels, tap the character and then add a horizontal line.
• For quotations, use the double quotation marks available on the keyboard.

Step 5: Accessing Small Hiragana

To type small Hiragana characters:

• Tap the desired Hiragana character and look for options to insert a smaller version (e.g., small "つ" for a double consonant).
• Small versions can be useful for casual writing or specific phonetic needs.

Step 6: Utilizing Punctuation and Special Characters

• Access Japanese punctuation marks (comma, period, question mark, exclamation mark) by tapping the relevant keys.
• Use the space and new line options, which are represented by the Kanji "空白" (kuhaku) for space and "改行" (kaiyou) for new line.

Step 7: Choosing Words and Confirming Selections

• After typing, you may see multiple Kanji options. You can select the correct word by tapping on the suggestions available.
• To confirm your choice, tap the "確定" (kakutei) key.

Conclusion

You now have a solid understanding of how to type in Japanese on your smartphone. With practice, you can easily switch between Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. For further learning, stay tuned for the next tutorial on typing Japanese on a PC, where you'll also learn how to use Romaji for easier typing. Happy typing!