Usage
Note: For instructions on switching between Rōmaji input and Kana input, refer to Settings - Keyboard Tab.
Changing Input Modes
Hiragana IME has five input modes, as shown in the table below:
Symbol | Input Mode | Description |
---|---|---|
あ | Hiragana Mode | A mode for entering kanji and kana mixed text |
A | Alphanumeric Mode | A mode for entering Latin alphabets and numbers |
ア | Katakana Mode | A mode for entering katakana |
A | Full-width |
A mode for entering Latin alphabets and numbers using full-width characters |
ア | Half-width |
A mode for entering katakana using half-width characters |
Note: You would switch between Hiragana and Alphanumeric modes frequently; the other input modes are rarely used.
The current input mode is displayed in the right corner of the desktop top bar.
- With Japanese keyboards, you can switch between Hiragana and Alphanumeric modes by pressing 変換 and 無変換 keys, respectively.
- With US keyboards, you can toggle between Hiragana and Alphanumeric modes by pressing the Caps Lock key. Hiragana IME is in Hiragana mode when the Caps Lock LED is turned on.
Inputting Kanji and Katakana Words
To enter a Kanji or Katana word, type the word in Hiragana first, then press the 変換 key to convert the word into Kanji or Katakana. The text cursor should be at the end of the word before you convert it. For example, to enter the sentence "しろうとむけのワープロの登場を期待したいですね。", type as follows in Hiragana mode:
siroutomukenowa-puro変換notouzyou変換wokitai変換sitaidesune.
Or as follows using Kana input:
しろうとむけのわーぷろ変換のとうじょう変換をきたい変換したいですね。
Homonyms: With Kanji, there are words with the same reading but different meanings, like "衛星" (satellite) and "衛生" (hygiene). These words are called homonyms. When you encounter homonyms, use the 変換 key to select the right word from the candidate list. You can also use the up and down arrow keys to select the candidate.
Later, when you convert the same homonym again, the last selected word will appear first in the candidate list. Less frequently used homonyms will move towards the end of the list. So you won't have to keep selecting between homonyms over time.
Entering Words with Okurigana
To enter a word with okurigana, press the 変換 key right after the part written in kanji. For example, to enter the sentence "赤いチューリップの花が咲きました。", you will type as follows:
aka変換ityu-rippu変換nohana変換gasa変換kimasita.
Or like below using Kana input:
あか変換いちゅーりっぷ変換のはな変換がさ変換きました。
When there are multiple conversion candidates, select the one that ends with a '―' (horizontal bar). For example, when you enter "咲き", select the candidate "さ―". Initially, the conversion candidate ending with a '―' may be at the bottom of the list. However, after using the word, it will move to the top of the list. In this way, you can save the keystrokes.
When you type the first okurigana for a word, the word appears in kanji. If you press the 変換 key instead of typing okurigana, all candidates will appear.
Here are some examples:
- おく変換→ おく―Enter → 後,遅,送,贈
- おく変換→ おく―る → 送る,贈る
As you type okurigana, the candidate list becomes shorter.
Changing the Length of the Reading
When you want to enter "生きがい論", you will type as below:
生きがいろん変換
When converting a word into Kanji or Katakana, Hiragana IME selects words with the longest reading. Therefore, Hiragana IME initially selects "概論" instead of "論". The screen will be changed like below:
生き概論
Press the Tab key to shorten the reading. The reading will be shortened to 'いろん', and the screen will change to:
生きが異論
Press the Tab key to shorten the reading again to 'ろん'. The screen will change to "生きがい論" as intended, like below:
生きがい論
When using a shortened word next time, it will appear at the beginning of the candidate list, just like homonyms do.