An introductory guide to writing and typing in Japanese, covering the hiragana alphabet, computer keyboard settings, and specialty hardware options.
The Japanese language is very different from anything a native English speaker is usually accustomed to, but thanks to the many cultural exports Japan has offered throughout the years—such as Pokémon, anime, and Japanese music—the language has gained a much larger following. While knowing Japanese may not have many practical applications outside of visiting Tokyo or Osaka, understanding it opens the door to a rich subculture of technology, gaming, animation, television, literature, and music. For anyone looking for something truly unique, learning how to write in Japanese is a great place to start.
The Japanese Alphabet in Freehand
The Japanese phonetic alphabet is called hiragana. There are 48 characters in the standard version of this alphabet, with each sound in the Japanese language having a corresponding character. Here are the original 48 sounds along with their Japanese characters:
- a あ
- ka か
- sa さ
- ta た
- na な
- i い
- ki き
- shi し
- chi ち
- ni に
- u う
- ku く
- su す
- tsu つ
- nu ぬ
- e え
- ke け
- se せ
- te て
- ne ね
- o お
- ko こ
- so そ
- to と
- no の
- ha は
- ma ま
- ya や
- ra ら
- wa わ
- hi ひ
- mi み
- ri り
- wi ゐ
- fu ふ
- mu む
- yu ゆ
- ru る
- n ん
- he へ
- me め
- re れ
- we ゑ
- ho ほ
- mo も
- yo よ
- ro ろ
- wo を
Typing in Japanese Using Your Computer Keyboard
If you are using Windows, you can adjust your computer's settings to enable typing in Japanese by following these simple steps:
- Click the Start button and open the Control Panel.
- Under the Control Panel, locate the keyboard or language settings tab.
- Select the language option and find "Japanese" in the drop-down list. Click it to activate the Japanese character input. Windows will then provide a short walkthrough on how to use this feature.
- You can easily toggle your keyboard input back and forth between Japanese and standard English at your convenience.
Getting a Custom Keyboard
There are also specialty keyboards available that feature Japanese characters instead of the usual English letters. Using such a keyboard can be much more convenient because you won't need to rely on an input method editor (IME) translator. If you are already proficient in the Japanese language, you can also purchase Japanese software that can further streamline your typing experience.
There are plenty of options available to make your computer more Japanese-friendly. Whether you are trying to type a document in Japanese or making your business more in sync with the Japanese market, learning how to type Japanese characters can certainly go a long way.
How to Write Japanese Characters
An introductory guide to writing and typing in Japanese, covering the hiragana alphabet, computer keyboard settings, and specialty hardware options.
The Japanese language is very different from anything a native English speaker is usually accustomed to, but thanks to the many cultural exports Japan has offered throughout the years—such as Pokemon, anime, and Japanese music—the language has gained a much larger following. While knowing Japanese may not have many practical applications outside of visiting Tokyo or Osaka, understanding it opens the door to a rich subculture of technology, gaming, animation, television, literature, and music. For anyone looking for something truly unique, learning how to write in Japanese is a great place to start.
The Japanese Alphabet in Freehand
The Japanese phonetic alphabet is called hiragana. There are 48 characters in the standard version of this alphabet, with each sound in the Japanese language having a corresponding character. Here are the original 48 sounds along with their Japanese characters:
- a あ
- ka か
- sa さ
- ta た
- na な
- i い
- ki き
- shi し
- chi ち
- ni に
- u う
- ku く
- su す
- tsu つ
- nu ぬ
- e え
- ke け
- se せ
- te て
- ne ね
- o お
- ko こ
- so そ
- to と
- no の
- ha は
- ma ま
- ya や
- ra ら
- wa わ
- hi ひ
- mi み
- ri り
- wi ゐ
- fu ふ
- mu む
- yu ゆ
- ru る
- n ん
- he へ
- me め
- re れ
- we ゑ
- ho ほ
- mo も
- yo よ
- ro ろ
- wo を
Typing in Japanese Using Your Computer Keyboard
If you are using Windows, you can adjust your computer's settings to enable typing in Japanese by following these simple steps:
- Click the Start button and open the Control Panel.
- Under the Control Panel, locate the keyboard or language settings tab.
- Select the language option and find "Japanese" in the drop-down list. Click it to activate the Japanese character input. Windows will then provide a short walkthrough on how to use this feature.
- You can easily toggle your keyboard input back and forth between Japanese and standard English at your convenience.
Getting a Custom Keyboard
There are also specialty keyboards available that feature Japanese characters instead of the usual English letters. Using such a keyboard can be much more convenient because you won't need to rely on an input method editor (IME) translator. If you are already proficient in the Japanese language, you can also purchase Japanese software that can further streamline your typing experience.
There are plenty of options available to make your computer more Japanese-friendly. Whether you are trying to type a document in Japanese or making your business more in sync with the Japanese market, learning how to type Japanese characters can certainly go a long way.
How to Write Japanese Characters
By Howtodotips
An introductory guide to writing and typing in Japanese, covering the hiragana alphabet, computer keyboard settings, and specialty hardware options.