How to use PHONETIC function in Excel?

The PHONETIC function in Excel is used to extract the phonetic (furigana) characters from a text string. This function is particularly useful when working with Japanese text, as it can help to display the reading of kanji characters in hiragana or katakana. However, it is important to note that the PHONETIC function is not widely used outside of Japanese language contexts, and its functionality may be limited in non-Japanese versions of Excel.

Here’s how you can use the PHONETIC function in Excel:

Syntax

PHONETIC(reference)

reference: This is a required argument. It refers to the cell or range of cells from which you want to extract the furigana.

Steps to Use PHONETIC Function

Ensure Phonetic Text Exists: First, make sure that the cells contain text with phonetic information. This is typically set using phonetic guides in the original text input, commonly used in Japanese Excel sheets.
Select the Cell for Furigana: Click on the cell where you want to display the phonetic reading.
Enter the PHONETIC Function: In the selected cell, type the formula to apply the PHONETIC function, entering the reference to the cell with the text from which you want to extract the phonetic characters.

Example:

   =PHONETIC(A1)

This formula will extract the phonetic reading from cell A1.

Press Enter: Once you have entered the formula, press Enter. The cell should now display the phonetic reading of the text from the referenced cell.

Important Considerations

Language-Specific: This function is mostly useful and effective with Japanese text that includes built-in phonetic guides.
Excel Version: Ensure that you are using a version of Excel that supports Japanese phonetic guides, as this feature may not be fully available or function correctly in some language versions of Excel.
Manual Phonetic Guide: In many cases, especially when dealing with imported text or data, you might need to manually input phonetic guides for the PHONETIC function to work properly.

The PHONETIC function can be a valuable tool in multilingual environments where understanding the pronunciation of text is crucial, particularly for non-native speakers of Japanese.

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