How to Type Katakana: A Katakana Flashcards Guide
Type katakana on any device: converting from hiragana, the long dash, and the keys for ティ, ディ and ウォ, with audio for every example.
Typing katakana works just like typing hiragana: you type the sounds in normal letters. There's one extra step to get katakana, and a few new keys for the long dash and sounds like ティ (ti). If you've practised with katakana flashcards, you already know most of the romaji you need.
This guide covers the conversion step, the long dash, and every tricky key, with audio for the examples so you can check how each word sounds.
How Does Typing Katakana Work?
You type romaji, Japanese input turns it into hiragana, and then you convert it to katakana. For example, typing terebi gives てれび (terebi), which you convert to テレビ (terebi).
If you haven't turned on Japanese input yet, start with Typing Hiragana. It covers setup on phones and computers.
How Do You Convert to Katakana?
| Device | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Type the word, then press F7 before Enter | F6 gives hiragana, F8 half-width katakana |
| Mac | Type the word, then choose Transliterate to Katakana from the Input menu | Before you confirm |
| Any device | Press Space to see suggestions | Loanwords usually appear in katakana |
On a phone, the suggestions above the keyboard usually include the katakana version too. Tap it to use it, and it's done.
What about phone keyboards?
On a phone, the Japanese Romaji keyboard works like a computer: type the romaji, then tap the katakana suggestion above the keyboard. The Kana keyboard lets you flick to choose characters, and it offers katakana in its suggestions too.
For loanwords, the quickest way on a phone is usually to type the word in romaji and tap the katakana suggestion. You don't have to convert anything by hand.
What is half-width katakana?
F8 on Windows gives half-width katakana, a narrower style used on some receipts and old systems. You'll rarely need to type it, so stick with the normal full-width form.
How Do You Type the Long Dash?
Press the hyphen key. In Japanese input it gives the long vowel mark, so ko-hi- becomes コーヒー (koohii, coffee).
| Word | Keys |
|---|---|
| コーヒー (koohii, coffee) | ko-hi- |
| ケーキ (keeki, cake) | ke-ki |
| スーパー (suupaa, supermarket) | su-pa- |
How Do You Type Extended Sounds?
Most are typed the way they sound. Three need care, because the obvious romaji already belongs to another character: ティ (ti) is thi, ディ (di) is dhi, and ウォ (wo) is who.
| Word | Sound | Keys |
|---|---|---|
| ファイル (fairu, file) | fa | fairu |
| パーティー (paatii, party) | thi | pa-thi- |
| ディナー (dinaa, dinner) | dhi | dhina- |
| シェフ (shefu, chef) | she | shefu |
| ウェブ (webu, web) | we | webu |
| ウォッチ (wocchi, watch) | who | whocchi |
| ヴァイオリン (vaiorin, violin) | va | vaiorinn |
For a small vowel on its own, type x or l in front: xa gives ァ (a). The extended sounds themselves are explained in Extended Katakana.
What stays the same as hiragana?
- ン (n): type
nn. - Small ッ (tsu): double the next consonant, like
chikettofor チケット (chiketto, ticket). - Combinations:
shagives シャ (sha),kyogives キョ (kyo).
What Should You Type First?
Start with simple loanwords you already know. Play each one, type it, then convert it to katakana. Once these feel easy, move on to words with the long dash and the extended sounds below.
| Word | Keys |
|---|---|
| テレビ (terebi, TV) | terebi, then convert |
| ホテル (hoteru, hotel) | hoteru, then convert |
| タクシー (takushii, taxi) | takushi-, then convert |
| カメラ (kamera, camera) | kamera, then convert |
| チケット (chiketto, ticket) | chiketto, then convert |
How Do Katakana Flashcards Help You Type?
The katakana flashcards on JLPTCARDS.com are a typing quiz. You see a character and type its romaji, which is the same skill as Japanese input in reverse.
Characters you get wrong keep coming back, and your accuracy is tracked. So every round of flashcards is also typing practice, and every typed word reinforces the characters.
- Turn on Japanese input on your phone or computer.
- Type five loanwords and convert them to katakana.
- Practise the long dash with the hyphen key.
- Practise thi, dhi and who until they feel natural.
- Run a round of the katakana flashcards to test the romaji.
- Type the words in the deck below, then check each card.
Any Tips for Typing Faster?
- Convert whole words, not single characters. Type the full loanword, then convert once.
- Watch the suggestions. For common loanwords, the katakana version is often the first suggestion.
- Practise your name. It's the katakana word you'll type most. See Your Name in Katakana.
- Say the word as you type it. Typing the sounds you say keeps the romaji and the katakana linked in your head.
- Check the result. Before you confirm, look at the katakana. A missing dash or a チ (chi) where you wanted ティ (ti) is easy to spot once you look.
How Long Until It Feels Natural?
If you can already type hiragana, katakana takes a day or two to get used to. The conversion step quickly becomes automatic.
The special spellings, thi, dhi and who, take a little longer because you use them less. Type a few words with them every day for a week and they'll stick.
What Mistakes Do Beginners Make?
- Typing ti for ティ (ti). That gives チ (chi). Use thi.
- Typing wo for ウォ (wo). That gives ヲ (wo). Use who.
- Typing a vowel instead of the dash. ko-hi- gives コーヒー (koohii); koohii gives a different spelling.
- Pressing Enter too soon. Convert first, then confirm.
What Should You Learn Next?
- The long dash and small ッ (tsu): Katakana Long Vowels and Small Tsu.
- Lots of loanwords to type and read: Katakana Reading Practice.
Where Can You Practise for Free?
The katakana flashcards are free for the basic and dakuten sets. The combination and extended sets are part of Premium. For whole words to type, try the Katakana Words flashcards.
Practise Typing These Words
The back of each card shows what to type. Open a notes app with Japanese input on, type each word, convert it to katakana, then flip to check.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type katakana instead of hiragana?
Type the word in romaji, then convert it: F7 on Windows, or Transliterate to Katakana from the Input menu on a Mac. Pressing Space also usually suggests a katakana version for loanwords.
How do I type the long dash in katakana?
Press the hyphen key. In Japanese input it gives the long vowel mark: ko-hi- becomes コーヒー (koohii).
How do I type ティ (ti)?
Type thi. Typing ti gives チ (chi), because ti is another way to spell chi.
How do I type ウォ (wo)?
Type who. Typing wo gives ヲ (wo), a different character.
How do I type a small ァ (a) on its own?
Type xa or la. The same works for the other small vowels: xi, xu, xe, xo.
Do katakana flashcards help with typing?
Yes. The katakana flashcards on JLPTCARDS.com are a typing quiz, so you practise the romaji for every character as you learn it.
Start Typing Katakana Today
One conversion step, the hyphen key, and three special spellings: that's all typing katakana takes. Pair it with katakana flashcards and you'll be reading and typing loanwords in no time.
Open the free katakana flashcards on JLPTCARDS.com and start with a round of the ア (a) row.
References
- Microsoft Support, Microsoft Japanese IME (F6, F7 and F8). https://support.microsoft.com/windows/microsoft-japanese-ime-da40471d-6b91-4042-ae8b-713a96476916
- Apple, Japanese Input Method User Guide for Mac: Change the Japanese characters you entered (Transliterate to Katakana). https://support.apple.com/guide/japanese-input-method/jpim10231/mac
- Apple, Japanese Input Method User Guide for Mac: Roman characters and corresponding kana. https://support.apple.com/guide/japanese-input-method/jpim10277/mac