Copying or typing Japanese kanji: how it's done

You can copy Japanese kanji right here, and to type them yourself you don't need a special keyboard: you type the reading in Latin letters (nihon), the system turns it into kana (にほん), and the spacebar offers kanji options (日本). Japanese input can be enabled in the language settings on Windows, macOS, Android, and iPhone.

A Japanese person types in Latin letters — and that's not a paradox. Input works like a translator from sound to symbol: you write "ai", press space, and choose from a list 愛, 藍, 相. Typing speed isn't any slower than ours, because the system guesses from context.

How to enable Japanese input

Windows: "Settings" → "Time & Language" → "Language" → add Japanese. Switch with Win+Space, kana mode with the key above Tab.
macOS: "System Settings" → "Keyboard" → "Input Sources" → add Japanese — Romaji.
Android: in your keyboard settings, add the Japanese language; a layout with Latin letters and a kana toggle will appear.
iPhone: "Settings" → "General" → "Keyboard" → "Keyboards" → add Japanese (romaji or kana).
Type the reading in Latin letters, press space — the system will suggest kanji options, choose the one you need and confirm with Enter.

How to know which option to choose

The list is sorted by frequency and by the context of previous words. If you typed "ai", 愛 usually comes first. Check the hint: next to an option the system shows an explanation or an example word — that's enough to avoid confusing 愛 (love) and 相 (mutual).

Japanese keyboard on a phone: romaji or kana

On a phone, the Japanese layout comes in two forms. Romaji is the familiar QWERTY, where you type the reading in Latin letters, just like on a computer. Kana is a grid of twelve keys arranged by the rows of the syllabary: あ, か, さ, and so on. Tapping the か key gives か, while swiping left, up, right, and down gives き, く, け, and こ. Japanese people use this flick input most often, but for a beginner it's easier to start with romaji.

If you just need to copy a character

Copy a character right from here: 愛力夢縁龍桜心光 — they are all genuine and have unambiguous readings.
Check that you copied the Japanese form, not the simplified Chinese one: 愛, not 爱.
The font on your device may render the character slightly differently — that's normal, the shape depends on the typeface.
Don't blindly copy text from images using OCR: it often confuses similar characters (未 and 末, 土 and 士).

Why a character may show up as a box

A box instead of a kanji means the font doesn't have that symbol. A standard system font covers common kanji, but rare characters require a font with full Japanese support — for example Noto Sans JP.

Write the character by hand

Typing is easier than writing. Trace the character along the guides and compare the feeling.

FAQ

How do I type Japanese kanji?: Add a Japanese input language to your system, type the reading in Latin letters (nihon), press space, and choose a kanji from the suggested list (日本).
Do I need a special Japanese keyboard?: No. Japanese people type on a regular Latin layout: the system itself converts Latin letters into kana, and kana into kanji.
How do I enable the Japanese layout on a phone?: On iPhone: "Settings" → "General" → "Keyboard" → "Keyboards" → "New Keyboards" → Japanese. On Android — in your keyboard's settings, add the Japanese language. You switch layouts with the globe icon or by long-pressing the spacebar.
Where can I get a kanji just to copy?: You can copy one right from the tables on this site. The main thing is to check that it's the Japanese form (愛), not the simplified Chinese one (爱).
Why do I see boxes instead of kanji?: The font you're using doesn't have these symbols. A font with full Japanese support helps, for example Noto Sans JP.

Updated: 2026-09-29