CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE

PURPOSE:To retrieve a KANJI (Chinese character) having a undefined radical by retrieving the radical based on the number of strokes. CONSTITUTION:For instance, the number of radical strokes '4' is supplied via an input means 1b and a stroke number/radical converting part 4 retrieves the radical of the input stroke number '4' and outputs it to a control part 5. The part 5 sends the radical corresponding to the stroke number '4' to a display part 2 to display it on a display device. An operator selects a desired radical via a radical selection means 1c and the part 5 outputs selected radical information to a radical/KANJI converting part 3. The part 3 retrieves the KANJI corresponding to the selected radical and displays it on the part 2 via the part 5. Thus it is possible to easily retrieve the KANJI even though its radical is not defined.