Writing

Writing Japanese involves two distinct challenges: physical kanji writing (stroke order, character shape, handwriting practice) and digital composition (IME input, keyboard skills, written grammar). This guide covers both.

Physical Writing: Kanji by Hand

Why Physical Writing Matters

Even in the age of smartphones and keyboards, physical kanji writing practice provides unique benefits:

1. Deeper encoding: Writing forces active retrieval and motor memory encoding, resulting in stronger retention
2. Recognition speed: Knowing stroke order helps you recognize kanji faster (your brain predicts how a character is being built)
3. Required for JLPT N4+: Writing sections on the JLPT require producing kanji from memory
4. Practical situations: Filling out forms, writing notes, personal communications in Japan still involve handwriting
5. Aesthetic and cultural value: Japanese calligraphy (書道, shodou) is a recognized art form

Stroke Order Principles

Japanese stroke order follows predictable rules in ~90% of cases:

Rule	Example
Top to bottom	三 — horizontal strokes from top to bottom
Left to right	川 — left stroke, then middle, then right
Horizontal before vertical (crossing)	十 — horizontal first, then vertical
Outer frame before inside	国 — draw the outer frame, then the inner, then close the frame
Center before sides (for vertically symmetric characters)	小 — center stroke first
Bottom horizontal last (for some characters)	王 — three horizontals top-to-bottom, then vertical

Stroke Types

Each stroke has a specific endpoint:

• とめ (tome): Stop abruptly — pen lifts
• はね (hane): Spring/flick — pen springs up at the end
• はらい (harai): Fade/sweep — pen lifts while moving

The same kanji written with wrong stroke endings looks unnatural to native eyes, similar to a handwritten "g" that doesn't curve correctly.

Handwriting Practice Resources

Resource	Type	Notes
Skritter (skritter.com)	App — SRS writing	Best kanji writing app; detects stroke order; SRS scheduling; ~$15/mo
Kanji Study (app)	App	Write kanji on screen; stroke feedback; cheaper than Skritter
Kakikata Navi (kakikata-navi.com)	Web	Printable kanji worksheets; free
Arch Chinese	Web	Free stroke order animations; printable worksheets
KanjiAlive (kanjialive.com)	Web	Beautiful stroke animations with cultural context
Genki kanji workbook	Physical workbook	Grid paper workbook for Genki I/II kanji

Practice Method

For each new kanji, follow this process:

1. Study: Watch stroke order animation (Skritter, KanjiAlive, or Jisho)
2. Trace: Trace the kanji 5–10 times on paper to get the shape
3. Write from memory: Cover the example and write it from memory 5 times
4. Review: Next day, write from memory again without looking
5. Vocabulary context: Write an example word using the kanji (not just the kanji alone)

Digital Input: Japanese IME

Most writing in Japan today is done digitally via Japanese Input Method Editor (IME). Understanding IME is essential for:

• Typing messages, emails, essays
• Using Japanese apps and websites
• Communicating with Japanese speakers online

How Japanese IME Works

On all major platforms:

1. Type romaji (or kana): Type "ta-be-ru" or "たべる"
2. IME shows hiragana candidates: たべる
3. Press spacebar or Tab: IME shows kanji conversion candidates: 食べる / 食べ留 / etc.
4. Select correct kanji: Press Enter to confirm or select from dropdown

The IME learns your preferences over time — frequently used conversions move to the top of the list.

IME on Different Platforms

macOS:

• Go to: System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → Add Japanese (Romaji/Kana)
• Toggle with Ctrl+Shift+J or the input menu in the menu bar

Windows:

• Settings → Time & Language → Language → Add Japanese
• Microsoft IME installed by default; Alt+` or Win+Space to toggle

iOS/iPhone:

• Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Japanese (Romaji)
• Toggle with Globe key at bottom of keyboard

Android:

• Settings → General Management → Language → Manage Input Methods → Japanese keyboard
• Google Japanese Input (Gboard with Japanese) is recommended

IME Vocabulary

Common IME terminology:

• 変換 (henkan): Convert hiragana to kanji
• 確定 (kakutei): Confirm the selection
• 変換候補 (henkan kouho): Conversion candidates (the dropdown list)
• 全角 (zenkaku): Full-width characters (Japanese default)
• 半角 (hankaku): Half-width characters (English default)

Special IME Characters

Many special Japanese characters are accessed via IME:

• 。(Japanese period): type "kuten" or just "。" on JP keyboard
• 、(Japanese comma): type "touten"
• 「」(Japanese quotation): type "kagikakko"
• ・ (middle dot): type "nakaguro"
• 〜 (wave dash): type "~" in hiragana mode
• … (ellipsis): type "..." in hiragana mode

Written Grammar Differences

Written Japanese (書き言葉, kakikotoba) differs from spoken Japanese in several ways:

Formal Writing Particles

• 〜において: in/at (more formal than で)
• 〜に関して: concerning (more formal than について)
• 〜に基づいて: based on

Written Style Markers

• である: formal "is/am/are" (plain formal, used in academic writing)
• だ: casual "is/am/are" (plain casual, used in personal writing)
• であります: very formal/official (military, official documents)
• です/ます: standard polite (letters, emails, blogs)

Academic/Formal Writing

Japanese academic papers use:

• である調 (de aru cho): formal plain style throughout
• Passive voice: 〜れた/られた (less assertive)
• Nominalizations: こと/の to nominalize clauses
• Formal connectives: したがって (therefore), また (also), しかし (however), なお (furthermore)

Composition Practice

For N4–N3 Learners

• Lang-8/HiNative: Post Japanese sentences/paragraphs; native speakers correct them; free
• iTalki journal: Write a Japanese diary; share with tutor for correction
• HelloTalk corrections: Post text; native speakers can correct your Japanese
• Start with: 3–5 sentences about your day → expand to short paragraphs

For N2–N1 Learners

• Tandem + writing: Send long-form messages; request detailed correction
• Italki + essay review: Pay a teacher to review your writing
• JLPT N2/N1 writing practice: Practice formal essay structure (意見文, iken-bun) — introduction, body, conclusion
• Read 社説 (shasetsu, newspaper editorials) to absorb formal written style

Writing Templates

Basic Japanese email structure:

件名 (subject): 〜についてのお問い合わせ

〇〇様

お世話になっております。(Osewa ni natte orimasu. — Standard business opening)
[Name/affiliation]の[Your name]と申します。(Moushimasu — humble form of "I am")

[body]

何卒よろしくお願いいたします。(Nanitozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. — Standard closing)

[Your name]
[Contact info]

Casual message opening/closing:

• Opening: やあ！(ya! — very casual) / こんにちは (konnichiwa — neutral) / お疲れ様 (otsukaresama — informal work context)
• Closing: よろしく (yoroshiku — casual close) / またね (mata ne — see you) / ありがとう (arigatou — thank you)