1-Min Typing Test / Typing Guide / Keyboard layout guide
Keyboard layout guide
Some learners are not blocked by finger technique first. They are blocked by not fully knowing where the keys live yet. This page is for that earlier stage.
Switch between JIS and US layouts to see letters, numbers, symbols, Enter, Backspace, Shift, Space, and arrow keys before you move on to the finger map or the typing test itself.
Learn the positions first
Switch between JIS and US to compare the symbol clusters, control keys, and Japanese-input keys.
A JIS keyboard adds Japanese-input keys such as `半角/全角`, `無変換`, `変換`, and `かな`. If you mainly type in Japanese, this is usually the most practical starting point.
Keys to learn first
Enter / Backspace
These handle line breaks and corrections, so they matter from day one.
Shift / Space / Tab
These are the core support keys for almost any typing session.
Japanese-input keys
JIS adds IME-oriented keys around the spacebar and upper left corner.
What stands out on JIS
- The top-left key is `半角/全角`, which is closely tied to Japanese input behavior.
- Around the spacebar, JIS adds `無変換`, `変換`, and `かな` for IME control.
- Keys such as `@`, `[`, `:`, `]`, and `¥` do not sit in exactly the same places as they do on US layouts.
A US keyboard keeps the symbol clusters tighter, especially around `[ ] \` and `; ' /`. It is common in English-heavy workflows, coding setups, and many international keyboards.
Keys to learn first
Enter / Backspace
These are still the first keys to locate without hesitation.
Shift / Space / Tab
They support almost every basic typing action.
Symbol cluster near Enter
US places several punctuation keys in a tighter block, which is useful to learn early.
What stands out on US
- There are no JIS-only IME keys such as `半角/全角`, `無変換`, or `変換`.
- `[` `]` `\` stay together near the top-right letter block, which makes symbol lookup simpler once learned.
- Shifted symbols on the number row differ from JIS, so punctuation muscle memory does not transfer one-to-one.
How to use this page
Start by finding Enter, Backspace, Shift, Space, and Tab without thinking. Once those feel familiar, add the symbol row and layout-specific keys. This page is about key positions, not finger assignment.
Back to the 1-minute typing test
Once the layout feels less mysterious, go back to the test and turn that map into actual typing practice.
Back to the 1-minute typing test