Quick Answer
Type Japanese online at KeyLingo with romaji compose — nihongo → 日本語 with kanji candidates, or hiragana/katakana fallback. 314-word dictionary, kana charts, JIS layout. Browser-based; not a replacement for Google Japanese Input.
How to Type Japanese Online
KeyLingo opens in Romaji Compose mode — type Latin letters (konnichiwa, arigatou) and see real-time conversion to ひらがな or カタカナ. Toggle output script in the toolbar. Use the JIS virtual keyboard or kana picker to insert characters directly.
Romaji Conversion Rules
Standard Hepburn-style romaji: shi not si, tsu not tu, chi not ti, fu not hu. Small tsu: double consonant (kitte → きって) or xtu/ltu. Long vowels: ou, oo, or macrons. Switch to Romaji mode to type Latin without conversion.
Browser vs OS IME
For daily Japanese writing with kanji prediction, install Google Japanese Input or Microsoft IME. KeyLingo is for occasional kana typing, learning, homework, and devices where you cannot install software. We do not access OS candidate lists.
Hiragana & Katakana
Browse 46+46 basic kana plus voiced forms and punctuation. Hiragana for native Japanese words; katakana for loanwords (コーヒー coffee, ホテル hotel).
Typing Japanese on Mobile
KeyLingo defaults to romaji compose on phones. Disable aggressive autocorrect if it breaks romaji sequences. Use phrase copy buttons for quick LINE or social messages.
Privacy-Local Typing
All typing and conversion run locally in your browser. KeyLingo never uploads your text.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I type Japanese online without installing a keyboard?
- Open KeyLingo Japanese Keyboard, type romaji in the editor, and watch it convert to hiragana or katakana. Toggle ひらがな/カタカナ in the toolbar.
- Does this convert romaji to kanji?
- Yes — with Kanji assist on (default), type romaji words like nihongo or watashi and press space to pick kanji candidates. Unknown words fall back to hiragana/katakana. Dictionary coverage is a learning subset, not a full IME.
- Is this the same as Google Japanese Input?
- No. OS IMEs offer full kanji prediction and phrase segmentation. KeyLingo is a browser fallback for kana typing and learning.
- How do I type small っ (sokuon)?
- Double the consonant: kitte → きって. You can also type xtu or ltu before the next syllable.
- Can I output katakana instead of hiragana?
- Yes. Click カタカナ in the toolbar — romaji converts to katakana (アイウエオ…).
- Is my typing sent to a server?
- No. Conversion runs locally in your browser.