What Does a Japanese Keyboard Look Like?
A Japanese keyboard, also known as a Kana keyboard or Hiragana keyboard, is a type of keyboard designed specifically for writing Japanese characters. It is a crucial tool for Japanese language learners and native speakers alike, as it allows them to input and read Japanese text with ease.
Physical Characteristics
A Japanese keyboard typically consists of a flat, rectangular keyboard with a unique layout. Here are some key features to look out for:
- Key layout: Japanese keyboards have a different key layout than Western keyboards. The most common layout is the Kana layout, which consists of 47 keys, including 26 Hiragana and 21 Katakana characters.
- Key size: Japanese keyboards have smaller key sizes than Western keyboards, with each key being about 1.2 cm (0.5 inches) in length.
- Key spacing: The key spacing between each key is also smaller than on a Western keyboard, with each key being about 0.5 cm (0.2 inches) apart.
- Number pad: Japanese keyboards often have a separate number pad, which is usually located on the right-hand side of the keyboard.
Key Features
Here are some key features to look out for when choosing a Japanese keyboard:
- Hiragana and Katakana keys: These keys are used to input Hiragana and Katakana characters, respectively.
- Shift keys: Japanese keyboards often have a Shift key, which is used to input Hiragana characters.
- Number keys: Japanese keyboards often have a separate Number key, which is used to input numbers.
- Punctuation keys: Japanese keyboards often have a separate Punctuation key, which is used to input punctuation marks.
Table: Key Layout
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
| B | ||
| C | ||
| D | ||
| E | ||
| F | ||
| G | ||
| H | ||
| I | ||
| J | ||
| K | ||
| L | ||
| M | ||
| N | ||
| O | ||
| P | ||
| Q | ||
| R | ||
| S | ||
| T | ||
| U | ||
| V | ||
| W | ||
| X | ||
| Y | ||
| Z |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 0 |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Shift | ||
| Number | ||
| Punctuation |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Backspace | ||
| Delete |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Caps Lock | ||
| Num Lock |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Esc |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| F1-F12 |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Alt |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Windows |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Menu |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Undo |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Redo |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Help |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Save |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Exit |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Back |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Home |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| End |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Page Up |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Page Down |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Enter |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Shift + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Windows + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Menu + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Print + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Undo + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Redo + Tab |
Table: Key Layout (continued)
| Key | Hiragana | Katakana |
|---|---|---|
| Help + Tab |
**Table: