How to Type Japanese on iPhone in 5 Easy Steps

日本語入力 Nihongo nyūryoku means “Japanese input,” which is the polite little name for the magic that lets your iPhone turn plain letters like nihongo into 日本語 Nihongo, meaning “Japanese.” Example: 日本語入力をオンにしました。 Nihongo nyūryoku o on ni shimashita. “I turned on Japanese input.”

The good news: you do not need a Japanese iPhone, a secret keyboard app, or a dramatic montage with cherry blossoms. Your iPhone already has Japanese typing built in. You just have to invite it to the keyboard party.

The slightly annoying news: iPhone menus move around a little between iOS versions. Because apparently buttons enjoy traveling. Still, the path is almost always close to Settings → General → Keyboard, and the steps below will get you typing Japanese fast.

If you are also building your Japanese from zero, keep Yak Yacker’s Learn Japanese hub nearby. And when you want to check your level later, try the Japanese placement test or the Japanese vocabulary test.

Table of Contents

The Fast Version

Here is the whole process before we slow it down and make it friendly.

Open Settings on your iPhone.
Tap General.
Tap Keyboard, then Keyboards.
Tap Add New Keyboard.
Choose Japanese, then select Kana, Romaji, or both.

After that, open any app where you can type, tap the globe key, choose Japanese, and start typing. Your iPhone will offer Japanese conversion choices, including hiragana, katakana, and kanji. It is basically a tiny language assistant living under your thumb. Very convenient. Slightly smug.

Step One: Open Keyboard Settings

Start with the boring but powerful place: Settings. On your iPhone, open Settings, then tap General. From there, tap Keyboard.

The Japanese word 設定 Settei means “settings.” Example: 設定を開きます。 Settei o hirakimasu. “I open Settings.” You probably will not see this word in your English iPhone menu, but it is handy if you ever use a Japanese device, follow Japanese tutorials, or accidentally change your phone language and briefly enter the tech wilderness.

Inside Keyboard, tap Keyboards. This screen shows every keyboard currently installed on your iPhone, such as English, emoji, and anything else you have added. If your keyboard list is already chaotic, congratulations, you are a modern person.

Step Two: Add The Japanese Keyboard

Tap Add New Keyboard. Scroll until you find Japanese. Tap it.

You may see two Japanese keyboard options: Kana and Romaji. You can add one or both. If you are a beginner, adding both is a smart move. You can test them, choose your favorite, and feel very official while doing it.

Keyboard Type	Japanese	Rōmaji	Meaning	Best For
Kana	仮名	Kana	Japanese syllabary characters	Learners who want to type directly with hiragana sounds and use flick input
Romaji	ローマ字	Rōmaji	Roman letters used to write Japanese sounds	Beginners who want to type Japanese using English letters

Both work. Neither is morally superior. The Kana keyboard feels more “Japanese” once you get used to it. The Romaji keyboard feels easier if your brain still wants to type Japanese through English letters. That is completely normal.

Step Three: Choose Kana, Romaji, Or Both

If you choose Romaji, you type Japanese sounds with the regular alphabet. For example, type nihongo, and your iPhone can suggest 日本語 Nihongo, meaning “Japanese.” Example: 日本語を勉強しています。 Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu. “I am studying Japanese.”

If you choose Kana, you type using a Japanese-style keyboard. On iPhone, this often means flick input. You tap or flick from a key to choose sounds. For example, the あ key can help you enter あ, い, う, え, or お depending on the direction you flick. It feels odd for about ten minutes, then your thumbs begin acting like they have always known this. Suspicious, but useful.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
漢字	Kanji	Chinese-origin characters used in Japanese	漢字を入力します。	Kanji o nyūryoku shimasu.	I enter kanji.
平仮名	Hiragana	Basic Japanese phonetic script	平仮名で書きます。	Hiragana de kakimasu.	I write in hiragana.
片仮名	Katakana	Script often used for foreign words and emphasis	片仮名も使います。	Katakana mo tsukaimasu.	I also use katakana.
仮名	Kana	Hiragana and katakana together	仮名を練習します。	Kana o renshū shimasu.	I practice kana.
ローマ字	Rōmaji	Roman letters for Japanese sounds	ローマ字で入力できます。	Rōmaji de nyūryoku dekimasu.	You can type using romaji.
入力	Nyūryoku	Input; entering text	名前を入力してください。	Namae o nyūryoku shite kudasai.	Please enter your name.

Step Four: Switch To The Japanese Keyboard

Now open Messages, Notes, Safari, or any app where you can type. Tap the text field so the keyboard appears. Then tap the globe key until you see the Japanese keyboard.

If you have many keyboards, press and hold the globe key. A list should appear. Choose Japanese from the list. This is faster than tapping the globe fifteen times like you are trying to summon a tiny digital dragon.

The phrase 切り替える Kirikaeru means “to switch.” Example: キーボードを切り替える。 Kībōdo o kirikaeru. “I switch the keyboard.” This verb is useful whenever you talk about changing modes, languages, screens, or plans.

Step Five: Type, Convert, And Select The Right Japanese

Here is the part that feels like magic the first time: Japanese typing is often a two-step process. First, you type the sound. Then, your iPhone suggests possible written forms. You choose the one you want.

For example, type watashi. Your iPhone may show わたし Watashi, meaning “I/me,” and 私 Watashi, meaning “I/me” in kanji. Example: 私は学生です。 Watashi wa gakusei desu. “I am a student.”

This is called conversion. The Japanese word 変換 Henkan means “conversion.” Example: ひらがなを漢字に変換します。 Hiragana o kanji ni henkan shimasu. “I convert hiragana into kanji.”

Yak wisdom: type the sound first, then choose the meaning. Japanese keyboards are less “type every character manually” and more “negotiate politely with the suggestion bar.”

Romaji Typing Examples For Beginners

With the Romaji keyboard, you type Japanese pronunciation using English letters. Your iPhone changes it into Japanese script. This is usually the easiest starting point if you already know some Japanese sounds.

Type This	Japanese Result	Rōmaji	English Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
nihongo	日本語	Nihongo	Japanese language	日本語が好きです。	Nihongo ga suki desu.	I like Japanese.
kanji	漢字	Kanji	Kanji characters	漢字は面白いです。	Kanji wa omoshiroi desu.	Kanji is interesting.
arigatou	ありがとう	Arigatō	Thank you	ありがとうございます。	Arigatō gozaimasu.	Thank you very much.
ohayou	おはよう	Ohayō	Good morning	おはようございます。	Ohayō gozaimasu.	Good morning.
sensei	先生	Sensei	Teacher	先生に聞きます。	Sensei ni kikimasu.	I ask the teacher.
gakkou	学校	Gakkō	School	学校へ行きます。	Gakkō e ikimasu.	I go to school.
tomodachi	友達	Tomodachi	Friend	友達と話します。	Tomodachi to hanashimasu.	I talk with a friend.
tabemasu	食べます	Tabemasu	Eat	寿司を食べます。	Sushi o tabemasu.	I eat sushi.
ikimasu	行きます	Ikimasu	Go	駅へ行きます。	Eki e ikimasu.	I go to the station.
kaimasu	買います	Kaimasu	Buy	本を買います。	Hon o kaimasu.	I buy a book.

Notice a small typing trick: long vowels often use extra letters in romaji typing. For example, gakkou becomes 学校 Gakkō, meaning “school.” Example: 学校は近いです。 Gakkō wa chikai desu. “The school is near.” Your iPhone usually understands common spellings, so do not panic if you are not perfect right away.

How To Type Small っ, ん, And Long Vowels

Some Japanese sounds look mysterious until you learn the keyboard trick. Then they become normal. Still annoying sometimes, but normal.

What You Want	Type This In Romaji	Japanese	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
Small っ	Double the next consonant, like kk or tt	切手	Kitte	Postage stamp	切手を買います。	Kitte o kaimasu.	I buy a postage stamp.
ん before vowels	Type nn if needed	案内	Annai	Guidance; information	案内を見ます。	Annai o mimasu.	I look at the information.
Long お sound	Usually ou	東京	Tōkyō	Tokyo	東京に住んでいます。	Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.	I live in Tokyo.
Long え sound	Often ei	先生	Sensei	Teacher	先生は親切です。	Sensei wa shinsetsu desu.	The teacher is kind.
Small ゃ, ゅ, ょ	Type kya, shu, cho, etc.	今日	Kyō	Today	今日は忙しいです。	Kyō wa isogashii desu.	Today is busy.

For small っ, think of it as a tiny pause. In romaji typing, you usually double the consonant after it. So kitte becomes 切手 Kitte, meaning “postage stamp.” Example: 切手はいくらですか。 Kitte wa ikura desu ka. “How much is the postage stamp?”

Useful Japanese Phrases To Practice Typing

Now for the fun part: actual phrases. Type these into Notes or Messages and watch your iPhone suggest different Japanese forms. Choose the best-looking option, and do not worry if the first suggestion is weird. Japanese input predictions sometimes act confident while being wrong. Relatable, honestly.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
こんにちは	Konnichiwa	Hello	こんにちは、元気ですか。	Konnichiwa, genki desu ka.	Hello, how are you?
ありがとう	Arigatō	Thank you	ありがとう、助かりました。	Arigatō, tasukarimashita.	Thank you, that helped.
すみません	Sumimasen	Excuse me; sorry	すみません、駅はどこですか。	Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka.	Excuse me, where is the station?
お願いします	Onegai shimasu	Please; I request it	水をお願いします。	Mizu o onegai shimasu.	Water, please.
大丈夫です	Daijōbu desu	It is okay; I am okay	はい、大丈夫です。	Hai, daijōbu desu.	Yes, it is okay.
分かりました	Wakarimashita	I understand	はい、分かりました。	Hai, wakarimashita.	Yes, I understand.
分かりません	Wakarimasen	I do not understand	すみません、分かりません。	Sumimasen, wakarimasen.	Sorry, I do not understand.
もう一度	Mō ichido	One more time	もう一度お願いします。	Mō ichido onegai shimasu.	One more time, please.
ゆっくり話してください	Yukkuri hanashite kudasai	Please speak slowly	ゆっくり話してください。	Yukkuri hanashite kudasai.	Please speak slowly.
写真を撮ってもいいですか	Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka	May I take a photo?	ここで写真を撮ってもいいですか。	Koko de shashin o totte mo ii desu ka.	May I take a photo here?
トイレはどこですか	Toire wa doko desu ka	Where is the restroom?	すみません、トイレはどこですか。	Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka.	Excuse me, where is the restroom?
また後で	Mata ato de	See you later	では、また後で。	Dewa, mata ato de.	Well then, see you later.

How To Pick The Right Kanji Suggestion

Japanese has many words that sound the same but use different kanji. Your iPhone will guess from context, but it does not read your soul. Thankfully. So you need to check the suggestion before sending.

For example, hashi can become several words. The pronunciation is similar, but the meaning changes completely. This is why the suggestion bar matters.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
橋	Hashi	Bridge	橋を渡ります。	Hashi o watarimasu.	I cross the bridge.
箸	Hashi	Chopsticks	箸を使います。	Hashi o tsukaimasu.	I use chopsticks.
端	Hashi	Edge; end	机の端に置きます。	Tsukue no hashi ni okimasu.	I put it on the edge of the desk.

Context helps. If you type a full sentence, your iPhone usually gives better suggestions. Typing only one word can make the keyboard guess like a tired fortune teller.

Kana Keyboard Tips For Flick Input

If you use the Kana keyboard, the layout is based around Japanese sound groups. You tap or flick to choose the sound you want. This can feel slower at first, but many Japanese speakers type extremely fast with it.

The word 練習 Renshū means “practice.” Example: 毎日練習します。 Mainichi renshū shimasu. “I practice every day.” That is the secret. Not exciting. Annoyingly effective.

Kana Key	Possible Sounds	Rōmaji	Practice Word	Word Rōmaji	Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
あ	あ・い・う・え・お	a, i, u, e, o	青	Ao	Blue	青が好きです。	Ao ga suki desu.	I like blue.
か	か・き・く・け・こ	ka, ki, ku, ke, ko	書く	Kaku	Write	名前を書く。	Namae o kaku.	I write my name.
さ	さ・し・す・せ・そ	sa, shi, su, se, so	寿司	Sushi	Sushi	寿司を食べます。	Sushi o tabemasu.	I eat sushi.
た	た・ち・つ・て・と	ta, chi, tsu, te, to	友達	Tomodachi	Friend	友達に会います。	Tomodachi ni aimasu.	I meet a friend.
な	な・に・ぬ・ね・の	na, ni, nu, ne, no	猫	Neko	Cat	猫が寝ています。	Neko ga nete imasu.	The cat is sleeping.

With flick input, do not rush at the start. Accuracy first, speed later. Your thumbs will adapt. Thumbs are weirdly talented.

Common Problems And Quick Fixes

If Japanese typing is not working, it is usually one of these simple problems. Happily, none of them require throwing your phone into the sea.

Problem	Likely Cause	Quick Fix
You cannot find Japanese in the keyboard	You may be in the wrong Keyboard screen	Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard
The globe key does not show Japanese	The Japanese keyboard was not added yet	Add Japanese again and make sure Kana or Romaji is selected
You type romaji but get English	You are still on the English keyboard	Tap or hold the globe key and switch to Japanese
The wrong kanji appears	The keyboard guessed the wrong meaning	Type more of the sentence, then choose the correct suggestion
You cannot type small っ	The doubled consonant was not typed	Type double consonants, such as kitte for 切手 Kitte, “stamp”
Japanese suggestions disappeared	Predictive text or keyboard behavior may be off	Check Keyboard settings and restart the app if needed

Quick Reference: Japanese Typing Words

These words are useful when reading Japanese keyboard guides, app settings, or language-learning explanations.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English Meaning	Example Japanese	Example Rōmaji	English Translation
文字	Moji	Character; letter	文字を入力します。	Moji o nyūryoku shimasu.	I enter characters.
文章	Bunshō	Sentence; text	文章を書きます。	Bunshō o kakimasu.	I write a sentence.
候補	Kōho	Suggestion; candidate	正しい候補を選びます。	Tadashii kōho o erabimasu.	I choose the correct suggestion.
選ぶ	Erabu	To choose	漢字を選ぶ。	Kanji o erabu.	I choose kanji.
消す	Kesu	To delete; erase	間違いを消す。	Machigai o kesu.	I delete the mistake.
送る	Okuru	To send	メッセージを送る。	Messēji o okuru.	I send a message.
間違い	Machigai	Mistake	間違いを直します。	Machigai o naoshimasu.	I fix the mistake.
予測	Yosoku	Prediction	予測が便利です。	Yosoku ga benri desu.	Prediction is convenient.

A Simple Practice Routine

Typing Japanese gets easier when you practice with short, useful sentences. Five minutes is enough. No need to create a heroic study schedule that collapses by Thursday.

Open the Notes app.
Switch to the Japanese keyboard with the globe key.
Type five greetings, such as こんにちは Konnichiwa, meaning “Hello.” Example: こんにちは、田中さん。 Konnichiwa, Tanaka-san. “Hello, Mr./Ms. Tanaka.”
Type five daily words, such as 学校 Gakkō, meaning “school.” Example: 学校へ行きます。 Gakkō e ikimasu. “I go to school.”
Type three full sentences and choose the correct kanji suggestions.
Read your sentences out loud once. Yes, out loud. The room can handle it.

If you want more structured practice after this, the guide at this Japanese learning resource can help you keep moving instead of just collecting keyboards like digital souvenirs.

Quick FAQ

Should Beginners Use Kana Or Romaji On iPhone?

Beginners can start with Romaji because it feels familiar. But it is worth trying Kana early, especially if you want to get faster at Japanese-style typing. A good plan is to install both and use Romaji for comfort, Kana for practice.

Can I Type Kanji Directly?

Usually, you type the pronunciation first, then choose kanji from the suggestion bar. For example, type hon and choose 本 Hon, meaning “book.” Example: 本を読みます。 Hon o yomimasu. “I read a book.”

Why Does My iPhone Choose The Wrong Kanji?

Many Japanese words share the same pronunciation. Type more context before choosing. For example, 雨 Ame means “rain.” Example: 雨が降っています。 Ame ga futte imasu. “It is raining.” But 飴 Ame means “candy.” Example: 飴を食べます。 Ame o tabemasu. “I eat candy.” Same sound, very different weather report.

Do I Need A Special App?

No. The built-in iPhone Japanese keyboard is enough for normal messages, notes, searches, and study. Special apps can be useful later, but you do not need one just to type Japanese.

Yak Takeaway

To type Japanese on iPhone, go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Japanese. Add Romaji if you want the easiest start. Add Kana if you want the authentic thumb workout. Add both if you enjoy having options like a sensible person.

Then switch keyboards with the globe key, type the pronunciation, and choose the right Japanese from the suggestion bar. Practice with real phrases like ありがとう Arigatō, meaning “Thank you.” Example: ありがとう、またね。 Arigatō, mata ne. “Thanks, see you.”

That is it. Your iPhone can now type Japanese. Your thumbs are bilingual. Please use this power responsibly, or at least to send better messages than “sushi lol.”