Using the IME Control to Input Asian Characters

To input Asian characters, such as Japanese, traditional and simplified Chinese, and Korean, you will need to use the IME (Input Method Editor). The IME is automatically installed when you install Windows 2000. The following example outlines the steps required to launch and use the Japanese IME.

  1. Place your cursor in an edit box or document (if you don't, the IME will not appear).
  2. Select Japanese as your input locale using the icon in the taskbar.
  3. The IME will automatically appear. If the edit box accepts Japanese characters, the IME should be enabled. If Japanese characters are restricted, the IME should be disabled (grayed out).
  4. If the letter A appears in the IME, the IME control is inactive. This is the Direct Input mode. To activate the IME, click the letter A and select a method to input Japanese characters (or use the hotkeys ALT+~).
  5. The most commonly used type of Japanese character is Hiragana. It is the top selection in the IME. When you select Hiragana input, the Hiragana letter a will appear in the IME.
  6. After you have activated the IME for Japanese character input, begin typing Japanese words or names that you know using the English keyboard, such as kimono, sushi, bonsai, sashimi, kawasaki, and so on.
  7. As the characters are being input, they will first appear in Hiragana. A dotted underline will appear under the word, for example "kawasaki."
  8. Japanese contains many homonyms, so you must select the specific characters in which you want to write the word. To do so, press the spacebar. The most common characters used to write the word will appear with a dark underline.
  9. If these are the characters with which you want to write the word kawasaki, press ENTER. The underline will disappear and you can begin typing a new word.
  10. If you would like to choose another character, continue pressing the spacebar while the word is still underlined. After you press the spacebar twice, a list of possible ways to write the word will appear. Use the mouse or type the number next to the character to select the one you want. Then press ENTER.