Hey! I'm new here :3 How do you type in Japanese? - Feed Post by TokiDoki
Hey! I'm new here :3 How do you type in Japanese?
posted by TokiDoki
Comments 12
Also new here and want to know this too :D (even if I cant write or read those )
Yeah :D Only know the basics, but it would be good to type them :D
Go to control panel and add Japanese keyboard for Microsoft. For android phones, download app called Simeji
Being able to type Japanese on your computer/phone is a very useful part of learning Japanese. I actually think a lot of other users on here also don't know how to be able to type Japanese? It would be nice if everyone on here knew how and was able to do it. :)
What operating system are you trying to type Japanese on? I can help with Windows 7 or XP. ^^- Vista :D but 7 and Vista are nearly the same to me
- For Windows, there are two choices for Japanese input: Microsoft IME (which comes with Windows) or Google IME (which you have to download).
A lot of people think Google IME is better, and it's probably easier to download and install --
Simply go to the following link:
http://www.google.co.jp/intl/ja/ime/download.html
Then on that page, click the install button '同意してインストール'. That should download and install it automatically, and once the process is done, just click '閉じる' to exit. ^^
Once you have it installed, it's not too difficult to use, but I can help with that to. 
I use google IME and it works great!
@mog86uk solid explanation!- I don't actually use Google IME, but I do have it installed. I tried it and was very impressed by some of the helpful features and its simplicity.
But instead I use Microsoft IME, which is quite a bit more awkward to set up and use. I use this because I don't type Japanese using normal 'romaji input', but instead I type Japanese using 'kana input'. Sadly for me, I don't think Google IME has a kana input option(?).
Here's an example of the difference between romaji input and kana input on an English keyboard...
These are the keys you need to press to type the word 'ひらがな':
Romaji input = H I R A G A N A
Kana input = V O T [ U
I know that looks insanely crazy to use instead, but most of the time it means you don't have to press as many keys. V=ひ, O=ら, T=か, [=゛, U=な. On a Japanese keyboard, each key has the kana written on it, but I have an English keyboard...
I've heard that even in Japan, romaji input is actually a lot more common than kana input. For me though, kana input is what I'm used to most now, as I have been using it for over a year and can now touch-type it about as fast and naturally as English. I now prefer using kana input, but I think people with smaller hands are less likely to get on well with it...
Anyway, I don't recommend learning kana input when starting out (if ever), so stick to romaji input and enjoy the much better Google IME. ^^ - @mog86uk Wow I've actually never seen a kana keyboard in person before but I could imagine how much more convenient it must be.
- Just to make sure no one misunderstands: Romaji input still produces Japanese characters on the screen. For example, you type 'H' then 'I' and then these two letters automatically change into 'ひ'.
I read what I had written and it felt like some people new to Japanese could potentially get the wrong impression about what I mean...
Has anyone successfully managed to install Japanese input? and have you figured out how to use it yet? :) - Woah! Posts galore :D Thanks a bunch guys - I'm going to go install one of those right now, that's really helped! :)
- @TokiDoki How'd installing go? Were you able to get it working? ^^
