Type in Japanese with a US keyboard

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2

If you want to use Fcitx to input Japanese, you also need to install at least one Japanese IME (Mozc or anthy).

I recommend you read the Arch wiki carefully.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fcitx5#Japanese

Also, you might want to use Fcitx5, the latest version of Fcitx.

After you installed the Japanese IME, open your Fcitx configuration tool and click the “Add input method” at the right bottom.

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image1178×959 42.5 KB

I’m actually using a JP keyboard with US layout to type in Japanese. (yeah, I know it sounds wired.)

Fcitx5 is really a good and powerful input framework for multi-language usage, enjoy it.

3

I ran these following commands:

☁  ~  sudo pacman -S fcitx5-mozc

[sudo] password for soumi: 
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...
:: fcitx5 and fcitx are in conflict. Remove fcitx? [y/N] y
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: removing fcitx breaks dependency 'fcitx' required by fcitx-qt5
☁  ~  sudo pacman -Rs fcitx fcitx5            
error: target not found: fcitx5
☁  ~  sudo pacman -Rs fcitx
checking dependencies...
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: removing fcitx breaks dependency 'fcitx' required by fcitx-qt5
☁  ~  sudo pacman -Rs fcitx-qt5   
checking dependencies...

Packages (1) fcitx-qt5-1.2.6-1

Total Removed Size:  0.69 MiB

:: Do you want to remove these packages? [Y/n] y
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) removing fcitx-qt5                           [######################] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/2) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/2) Refreshing PackageKit...
☁  ~  sudo pacman -Rs fcitx
checking dependencies...

Packages (1) fcitx-4.2.9.8-1

Total Removed Size:  34.89 MiB

:: Do you want to remove these packages? [Y/n] y
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) removing fcitx                               [######################] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/7) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/7) Refreshing PackageKit...
(3/7) Probing GTK2 input method modules...
(4/7) Probing GTK3 input method modules...
(5/7) Updating icon theme caches...
(6/7) Updating the desktop file MIME type cache...
(7/7) Updating the MIME type database...
☁  ~  sudo pacman -S fcitx5-mozc

resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

Packages (4) fcitx5-5.0.9-1  unicode-cldr-annotations-38.0-2
             xcb-imdkit-1.0.3-1  fcitx5-mozc-2.26.4360.102.gca82d39-1

Total Download Size:   20.85 MiB
Total Installed Size:  68.41 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y
:: Retrieving packages...
 fcitx5-mozc-2.26...    14.4 MiB  2.22 MiB/s 00:06 [######################] 100%
 unicode-cldr-ann...     3.4 MiB  1111 KiB/s 00:03 [######################] 100%
 fcitx5-5.0.9-1-x...     2.8 MiB  1967 KiB/s 00:01 [######################] 100%
 xcb-imdkit-1.0.3...   344.4 KiB   349 KiB/s 00:01 [######################] 100%
 Total (4/4)            20.9 MiB  1515 KiB/s 00:14 [######################] 100%
(4/4) checking keys in keyring                     [######################] 100%
(4/4) checking package integrity                   [######################] 100%
(4/4) loading package files                        [######################] 100%
(4/4) checking for file conflicts                  [######################] 100%
(4/4) checking available disk space                [######################] 100%
:: Processing package changes...
(1/4) installing xcb-imdkit                        [######################] 100%
(2/4) installing unicode-cldr-annotations          [######################] 100%
(3/4) installing fcitx5                            [######################] 100%
(4/4) installing fcitx5-mozc                       [######################] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/4) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/4) Refreshing PackageKit...
(3/4) Updating icon theme caches...
(4/4) Updating the desktop file MIME type cache...
☁  ~  sudo pacman -S fcitx5     
warning: fcitx5-5.0.9-1 is up to date -- reinstalling
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

Packages (1) fcitx5-5.0.9-1

Total Installed Size:  11.10 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:       0.00 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y
(1/1) checking keys in keyring                     [######################] 100%
(1/1) checking package integrity                   [######################] 100%
(1/1) loading package files                        [######################] 100%
(1/1) checking for file conflicts                  [######################] 100%
(1/1) checking available disk space                [######################] 100%
:: Running pre-transaction hooks...
(1/1) Creating Timeshift snapshot before upgrade...
==> skipping timeshift-autosnap due skipRsyncAutosnap in /etc/timeshift-autosnap.conf set to TRUE.
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) reinstalling fcitx5                          [######################] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/4) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/4) Refreshing PackageKit...
(3/4) Updating icon theme caches...
(4/4) Updating the desktop file MIME type cache...

[Hori ~]# nano /etc/environment

  GNU nano 5.9                    /etc/environment                              
#
# This file is parsed by pam_env module
#
# Syntax: simple "KEY=VAL" pairs on separate lines
#
GTK_IM_MODULE=fcitx
QT_IM_MODULE=fcitx
XMODIFIERS=@im=fcitx












                                [ Read 8 lines ]
^G Help      ^O Write Out ^W Where Is  ^K Cut       ^T Execute   ^C Location
^X Exit      ^R Read File ^\ Replace   ^U Paste     ^J Justify   ^/ Go To Line

It led me to another problem…when I try to run fcitx 5 Configuration, it gives me this error:

You're currently running KDE, but KCModule for fcitx couldn't be found, the package name of this KCModule is usually kcm-fcitx or kde-config-fcitx. Now it will open config directory.

The file or folder /home/soumi/.config/fcitx5 does not exist.

What should I do? Did I do something wrong?

4

Have you installed the fcitx5-configtool package?

5

not yet. i’ll try that

6

If you do not install that package, then I’m afraid that you will have to create the configuration file and do all the config on your own.

7

Hi. Was working on it a while ago.
Here’s the forum thread.

Probably more of the same but more condensed. Have a look.

You either do mozc with ibus or mozc with fcitx.

Fcitx5 and all necessary components are in the repos and are faster to install.

Ibus has better integration with in gnome.

1 Like
8

I finished installing the package. What should I do next?

9

Thanks for this! I will try this. I just want to ask. Does ibus conflict with fcitx5 in KDE Plasma? Thanks

10

Ibus and fcitx5 are two tools for the same purpose.

For plasma I recommend fcitx5.

11

Start your Fcitx, then you should be able to see an icon appear in your panel. Right-click on it, choose “Configure”, and you should be able to open the GUI configuration tool.

Also, remember to add Fcitx to autostart list.

12

I have now tried this. I can now type in Japanese! Thanks. Btw I want to ask…what’s the keyboard shortcut for switching languages in fcitx5? Thanks

13

If it’s not there after that logging out and in should fix it.

14

How can I do that? adding something to autostart list is something new to me. Thanks

15

image
image1224×873 34.5 KB

Voilà.

2 Likes
16

I personally haven’t had to do it manually. If after logging out and logging in. You have the keyboard icon in the system tray - then you are fine.

1 Like
17

Oh thank you for that.

18

Nice thanks for the help

19

Something other than installation and configuration, if you are using a US keyboard, you will not be able to use the “無変換” key. This key is really useful for Japanese input, espescially for Katagana and half-width Katagana. This key is the only point I like about Japanese keyboard.

1 Like
20

If you have an empty desktop in front of you, you can just start typing and krunner will find it for you. It also searches among your files and browser bookmarks.

1 Like
21

Soumi. The config tool allows you to change the fcitx5 activation key (to be able to change the keyboard) and the scrolling combination, if you have more than one input language besides your main language.

1 Like