# Romaji to Kanji typing program? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501 "2007-10-12T19:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/1 "2007-10-12T19:39:26Z")
Does anyone know where I can download a program where you type romaji and it converts to hiragana as you type, and then you can choose from a list of kanji. I know that there is a Mac program that does this, but I haven’t been able to find one for the PC. ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/2 "2007-10-12T19:45:36Z")
If you’re using Windows you want an _Input Method Editor_ (IME). Specifically, I think you want the Microsoft Japanese Language IME. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/3 "2007-10-12T19:53:27Z")
[QUOTE=BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed] Does anyone know where I can download a program where you type romaji and it converts to hiragana as you type, and then you can choose from a list of kanji. I know that there is a Mac program that does this, but I haven’t been able to find one for the PC. [/QUOTE] Actually, you probably already realize that even on a native Japanese OS, they are typing Romaji to get kanji and kana. As **Omi no Kami** points out, for Windows all you need to do is activate support for East Asian languages, and then add Japanese as a supported language. You can then choose the type of keyboard you have (for instance, Japanese or U.S.) and the input languages you want to use. A Japanese keyboard has dedicated toggle keys on it for switching input modes, but it’s almost as easy on a western keyboard as well. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/4 "2007-10-13T01:46:34Z")
Ah yes, that did it. ありがとうございもうす。 ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/5 "2007-10-13T03:09:01Z")
[QUOTE=BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed] Ah yes, that did it. ありがとうございもうす。 [/QUOTE] Because the question has been answered and this is the SDMB, I feel obligated to pick a nit: it’s ありがとうございます ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/6 "2007-10-13T05:19:53Z")
[QUOTE=jovan] Because the question has been answered and this is the SDMB, I feel obligated to pick a nit: it’s ありがとうございます [/QUOTE] And since this is the SDMB, I can continue the nitpicking. It’s ありがとうございました。 ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/7 "2007-10-13T05:20:06Z")
Well, it looks like you’ve figured out the IME but another helpful (free) program is the [JWPCE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/jwpce). It’s got a lot of features that make learning Japanese easier such as dictionaries, multi-radical kanji look-up, etc. Plus, the Japanese Windows IME has this weird habit of disappearing which can be kinda annoying but you can always find the JWPCE. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/8 "2007-10-13T06:49:54Z")
[QUOTE=tremorviolet] Well, it looks like you’ve figured out the IME but another helpful (free) program is the [JWPCE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/jwpce). It’s got a lot of features that make learning Japanese easier such as dictionaries, multi-radical kanji look-up, etc. Plus, the Japanese Windows IME has this weird habit of disappearing which can be kinda annoying but you can always find the JWPCE. [/QUOTE] As a word processor, it’s near useless but it’s true that the kanji lookup is very useful for learners. The dictionary is also not very good, especially for learners, as it lists a great many very obscure words. Nowadays, online tools such as [http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/) are much better, imho. Also, your link was broken, this one works: [JWPce - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWPce) ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/9 "2007-10-13T06:54:47Z")
[QUOTE=TokyoPlayer] And since this is the SDMB, I can continue the nitpicking. It’s ありがとうございました。 [/QUOTE] Sorry, I blame it on sleeping. And **Tokyo** , I thought that was just when you wanted to be extra polite? Or is it something like “thank you for what you did” when you put it in the past tense? ---
**Author:** ![mdusenbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mdusenbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdusenbury)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/10 "2013-02-11T19:44:00Z")
> [@Omi\_no\_Kami](#): > > If you’re using Windows you want an _Input Method Editor_ (IME). Specifically, I think you want the Microsoft Japanese Language IME. This doesn’t work for Windows 7. It did for earlier versions. Does anyone have other suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romaji-to-kanji-typing-program/422501/11 "2013-02-11T20:03:44Z")
> [@mdusenbury](#): > > This doesn’t work for Windows 7. It did for earlier versions. Does anyone have other suggestions? Haha, I guess since I started this thread when I needed it 5 years ago I’ll return the favor by trying to help now. I have Win7 and run MS IME no problem. What issues are you having with it specifically? Otherwise I’ve seen [Google IME](http://www.google.co.jp/intl/ja/ime/) (sorry, couldn’t find the page in English quickly) recommended, but haven’t tried it myself.