Edit and use your user dictionaries
You can add words, lists of words, or symbols to any Japanese user dictionary. You can also export your dictionary as a backup or to share it, and import dictionaries.
When you’re signed in to iCloud on your Mac and other devices using the same Apple ID, your user dictionaries are automatically updated and available on all your devices. To see your dictionaries on iOS devices, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
Add words
While using a Japanese input mode, choose Edit Text Substitutions from the Input menu in the menu bar.
In the Text pane of Keyboard preferences, click the Add button
.In the Replace field, type the hiragana reading of the word (up to 32 characters).
If you add an adjective, enter the reading in its dictionary form. The ending must be 〜い (~i). For example, あたらしい (atarashii) or たかい (takai).
If you add an adverb, don’t include inflective endings, such as 〜な (-na) or 〜だ (-da).
Click the With column, then type the replacement word (up to 64 characters).
Delete words
You can delete words from your Japanese user dictionary (but not the basic dictionary). You can’t undo this action.
While using a Japanese input mode, choose Edit Text Substitutions from the Input menu in the menu bar.
In the Text pane of Keyboard preferences, select the word to remove, then click the Remove button
.
Add frequently used symbols
While using a Japanese input mode, click the Input menu in the menu bar, then choose Edit Text Substitutions.
In the Text pane of Keyboard preferences, click the Add button
.In the Replace field, type the hiragana reading for the symbol.
Click the With column, click the Input menu in the menu bar, then choose Show Emoji & Symbols.
If you don’t see Show Emoji & Symbols, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, click Keyboard, then select “Show keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar.”
Find the symbol you want, then click it.
Export or import user dictionaries
While using a Japanese input mode, choose Edit Text Substitutions from the Input menu in the menu bar.
In the Text pane of Keyboard preferences, Command-click each word you want to export, or press Command-A to select all of the words.
Drag the selected words from the Text pane to the desktop or to any folder in the Finder.
The backup file Text Substitutions.plist is created. You can edit the file using TextEdit.
To import a Text Substitutions.plist file, drag the file into the Text pane of Keyboard preferences while using a Japanese input mode.