In this article
PHONETIC returns the phonetic (furigana) characters stored with Japanese text typed on a Japanese input method. Text without stored furigana (anything typed in English, or pasted) gives #N/A, as the example shows.
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Syntax
=PHONETIC(reference)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
reference |
A cell with Japanese text |
Examples
Example 1
=PHONETIC(A2)Result: #N/A. See the worked example table below for more cases.
PHONETIC in practice
Where you will use it
- Sorting Japanese names by reading
- Japanese customer lists
- Form data from Japan
Worked example
| Text | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tanaka | =PHONETIC(A2) | #N/A |
| Excel | =PHONETIC(A3) | #N/A |
| Pune | =PHONETIC(A4) | #N/A |
Results calculated in Excel. Calculated on an English Excel: no furigana is stored with these cells, so the result is #N/A.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Typed or pasted text | Only text entered with a Japanese IME keeps furigana |
| Ranges | Only the first cell is used |
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