Japanese Writing Practice: By Hand and by Keyboard

Writing practice: by hand and on screen

“I am studying Japanese. Every day I write a few kanji.” The text starts one square down, the paragraph indent.

Short answer: Japanese is written by hand on squared manuscript paper (原稿用紙) in schools and exams, and typed everywhere else. By hand, each character gets its own square, punctuation included. On a keyboard, you type romaji and the computer converts it: type nihongo, press space, and choose 日本語. Practise both with short, real texts: a self-introduction, a message, a diary entry.

Typing Japanese

Every computer and phone has a Japanese input method (IME). Type in romaji; it becomes kana, then converts to kanji.

Punctuation and spacing

Japanese uses its own marks, each the width of one character.

Model text: a self-introduction

Copy it by hand once, then rewrite it about yourself.

私わたしwatashiIはwa(topic)ロンドンRondonLondonにniin住んでいますすんでいますsunde imasulive

Watashi wa Rondon ni sunde imasu.“I live in London.”Why: Place に + 住んでいる.

会社員かいしゃいんkaishainoffice workerでdeand毎日まいにちmainichievery day電車でんしゃdenshatrainでdeby通勤していますつうきんしていますtsūkin shite imasucommute

Kaishain de, mainichi densha de tsūkin shite imasu.“I work in an office and commute by train every day.”Why: Noun + で links two facts.

趣味しゅみshumihobbyはwa(topic)写真しゃしんshashinphotosをo(object)撮ることとることtoru kototakingですdesuis

Shumi wa shashin o toru koto desu.“My hobby is photography.”Why: Verb + こと.

いつかitsukasome day日本にほんNihonJapanでdein働きたいはたらきたいhatarakitaiwant to workですdesu(polite)

Itsuka Nihon de hatarakitai desu.“One day I would like to work in Japan.”Why: たい for a wish.

Model text: a diary entry

Plain style, three sentences.

今日きょうkyōtodayはwa(topic)雨あめamerainだったdattawas

Kyō wa ame datta.“It rained today.”Why: Plain past.

家いえiehomeでdeatカレーkarēcurryをo(object)作ったつくったtsukuttamade

Ie de karē o tsukutta.“I made curry at home.”Why:

思ったおもったomottathoughtよりyorithan美味しくおいしくoishikutastyできたdekitaturned out

Omotta yori oishiku dekita.“It turned out better than I expected.”Why: できる: turn out.

Writing prompts by level

Topics to write about, from A1 to B2.

Check yourself

Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.

Type “nihongo” and convert.
Show answer
nihongoType romaji, press space, choose the kanji.
the Japanese full stop
Show answer
maru
manuscript paper
Show answer
genkō yōshi

Model text: a message to a friend

Casual style, as in a chat app.

昨日きのうkinōyesterdayはwa(topic)ありがとうarigatōthanks

Kinō wa arigatō!“Thanks for yesterday!”Why: Thanking for the previous day is a Japanese habit.

すごくsugokureally楽しかったたのしかったtanoshikattawas fun

Sugoku tanoshikatta.“It was so much fun.”Why: Casual: no です.

またmataagain行こういこうikōlet’s goねneOK?

Mata ikō ne.“Let’s go again some time.”Why: Volitional + ね.