How to Type in Japanese, Korean and Chinese on Any Device

Before you start: choose an input style

Each language offers more than one way to type. Here are the most common choices for beginners.

iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings, then tap General.
2. Tap Keyboard, then Keyboards.
3. Tap Add New Keyboard.
4. Choose the language. For Japanese, pick Romaji or Kana. For Korean, pick Standard. For Chinese, pick Simplified or Traditional, then Pinyin – QWERTY or Handwriting.
5. Tap Done.

To switch: while typing, tap the globe or emoji key to cycle through keyboards. Or touch and hold it, then slide to the one you want.

Android phones and tablets (Gboard)

Most Android devices use Google's Gboard keyboard. If yours uses a different keyboard, the steps will be similar in its settings.

1. Open any app where you can type, like Messages, and tap a text box.
2. Tap the menu icon at the top left of the keyboard, then tap Settings (you may need to tap More first).
3. Tap Languages, then add a keyboard.
4. Search for Japanese, Korean or Chinese and select it.
5. Pick a layout, then tap Done.

To switch: touch and hold the space bar to choose a language. You can also turn on a globe key in Gboard's preferences.

Mac

1. Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click Keyboard in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
3. Under Text Input, click Edit.
4. Click the + (Add) button and search for the language.
5. Choose an input source, such as Japanese Romaji, Korean 2-Set or Chinese Pinyin, then click Add.

To switch: use the Input menu in the menu bar. Or press Control-Space to jump to the last input source. On newer keyboards, you can set the Globe (fn) key to change input sources in Keyboard settings.

Windows 11

1. Open Start, then Settings.
2. Go to Time & language, then Language & region.
3. Next to Preferred languages, click Add a language.
4. Search for Japanese, Korean or Chinese (Simplified or Traditional) and select it.
5. Follow the prompts to install it. You can skip the optional display language if you only want to type.

To switch: press the Windows key + Space bar, or click the language icon near the clock on the taskbar. Windows 10 uses similar steps, though some menu names differ.

Some input methods have their own mode switch. For example, the Japanese keyboard can toggle between English letters and hiragana. Look for a small "A" or "あ" icon in the taskbar.

Chromebook

1. Click the time in the bottom-right corner, then the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Find the keyboard or languages and inputs section.
3. Open input settings and choose to add an input method.
4. Search for Japanese, Korean or Chinese and add it.

To switch: press Ctrl + Shift + Space to cycle through input methods. Press Ctrl + Space to jump back to the previous one.

Tips for kids learning to type

• Start on a phone or tablet. Handwriting and tap keyboards feel natural for many kids.
• Try handwriting input for characters. Drawing a character can reinforce stroke order and recognition.
• Use romaji or pinyin as a bridge. Typing sounds helps kids connect pronunciation to writing.
• Practice with short messages. Have your child text a greeting to a relative or write a short diary line each day.
• Read the candidate list carefully. In Japanese and Chinese, the same sound can match many characters. Choosing the right one is a real skill.

A live class can make typing practice more meaningful. Teachers often have kids type answers in chat or work on shared documents in the target language.

What to watch for

Frequently asked questions