Keyboard shortcuts for Japanese conversions on Mac
After you set up a Japanese input source, you can use the keyboard shortcuts shown in the tables below to convert characters while using any one of the Japanese input sources.
For keyboard shortcuts you can use to switch from one input source to another, see Switch to a Japanese input source.
Note: Keyboard shortcuts in apps may vary depending on the language and keyboard layout you’re using on your Mac. If the shortcuts below don’t work as you expect, look in the app menus in the menu bar to see the correct shortcuts. You can also use the Keyboard Viewer to see your current keyboard layout, known as an input source.
Convert from one input source to another
On your Mac, switch to a Japanese input source.
In an app, enter text.
Use the keyboard shortcuts shown in the table below to convert characters to different input modes. If the shortcut contains a function key, such as F8, you may need to also press the Fn key; for example, press Fn-F8.
Action
Keyboard shortcut
Convert characters to hiragana
Control-J or F6
Convert characters to katakana
Control-K or F7
Convert characters to full-width romaji
Control-L or F9
Convert characters to romaji (the default)
Control-Semicolon (;) or F8
Convert characters to half-width katakana
(in Japanese – Kana or Japanese – Romaji Input Sources settings only if Half-width Katakana is selected)
Control-Semicolon (;) or F8
Convert characters to romaji
Control-Colon (:) or F10
Convert characters to romaji
(with ANSI keyboard selected)
Control-Apostrophe (')
Convert kana to kanji
On your Mac, switch to a Japanese input source.
In an app, enter text.
Use the keyboard shortcuts shown in the table below to convert kana to kanji.
When selecting segments of a conversion, a bold underline indicates the selection.
Note: When writing horizontally, use the arrow keys in the keyboard shortcuts below. When writing vertically, use the other set of arrow keys instead. For example, the Left Arrow key instead of the Down Arrow key.
Action
Mac keyboard shortcut
Windows-style keyboard shortcut
Convert to kanji
Space bar
Space bar
Select the next kanji candidate
Down Arrow key
Space bar
Control-N
Down Arrow key
Space bar
Select the previous kanji candidate
Up Arrow key
Shift-Space bar
Control-P
Up Arrow key
Shift-Space bar
Jump through 8 candidate rows
Shift-Up Arrow or Down Arrow key
Control-V
Control-R
Shift-Left Arrow or Right Arrow key
Page Up key or Page Down key
Revert back to yomi while still selecting a kanji (before conversion)
Escape key
Escape key
Control-Z
Confirm kanji conversion
Return
Return
Display alternate kanji candidates for already converted text
Control-Shift-R
Option-Shift-R
Press the Kana key twice
Control-Shift-R
Alt-Shift-R
Press the Kana key twice
Select the next segment of a conversion (a bold underline indicates the selection)
Up Arrow key
Control-B
Up Arrow key
Select the previous segment of a conversion (a bold underline indicates the selection)
Down Arrow key
Control-F
Down Arrow key
Expand the selected segment
Shift-Right Arrow key
Control-W
Control-O
Shift-Right Arrow key
Control-L
Decrease the selected segment
Shift-Left Arrow key
Control-I
Shift-Left Arrow key
Control-K
Move cursor up
Up Arrow key
Control-E
Left Arrow key
Control-E
Move cursor down
Down Arrow key
Control-X
Right Arrow key
Control-X
Move cursor left
Left Arrow key
Control-S
Left Arrow key
Control-S
Move cursor right
Right Arrow key
Control-D
Right Arrow key
Control-D
Delete character backwards
Delete key
Control-H
Delete key
Control-H
Delete all text that is considered for conversion
Escape key
Clear key
Escape key
Undo conversion
Control-Delete key
Press the Kana key twice
Control-Delete key
Press the Kana key twice
Convert Eiji (western characters) to kana
Press the Kana key twice
Press the Kana key twice
Convert kana to Eiji (western characters)
Press the Eisu Alphanumeric key twice
Press the Eisu Alphanumeric key twice