A Japanese input method lets you enter kana and select kanji on an ordinary keyboard.

The idea

On Windows, add Japanese in Settings under Time & language and Language & region; select Japanese and the Microsoft IME hiragana mode. On a Mac, open System Settings, Keyboard, Text Input, Edit, add Japanese and choose Romaji. Type hashi to get はし, then use Space to select 橋 or 箸 for the context; confirm with Enter before submitting. Live Conversion on Mac may convert automatically. Menu names and shortcuts can vary.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
橋はしbridge
箸はしchopsticks

Examples

  • 橋はしを歩あるいて渡わたります。I walk across the bridge.
  • 箸はしでご飯はんを食たべます。I eat rice with chopsticks.
  • 私わたしは学校がっこうへ行いきます。I go to school.
  • 水みずを一杯いっぱい飲のみます。I drink a glass of water.
  • 今日きょうは雨あめです。It is raining today.
  • 電車でんしゃで東京とうきょうへ行いきます。I go to Tokyo by train.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not accept the first candidate without checking its meaning: 橋 is a bridge, whereas 箸 means chopsticks. Enter may first confirm an unfinished composition rather than submit the answer.

Try it yourself

  1. Complete the Japanese sentence for this meaning: I walk across the bridge. ＿を歩あるいて渡わたります。（橋はし／箸はし）

    Show answer or example answer

    橋

    The relevant sentence says: I walk across the bridge.

  2. Complete the Japanese sentence for this meaning: I eat rice with chopsticks. ＿でご飯はんを食たべます。（橋はし／箸はし）

    Show answer or example answer

    箸

    The relevant sentence says: I eat rice with chopsticks.

  3. Complete the Japanese sentence for this meaning: It is raining today. 今日きょうは＿です。（雨あめ／山やま）

    Show answer or example answer

    雨 / あめ

    The relevant sentence says: It is raining today.

Use it today

In a text field type hashi, select the bridge character, confirm it, then type it again and select the chopsticks.