Format CJK text

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to apply composition settings in Adobe InDesign to control line breaks, spacing, and character rotation in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean typography.

InDesign provides specialized formatting options for CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) text to control line breaks, spacing, and display in vertical layouts.

These options refine typography by addressing common typesetting needs, such as preventing unwanted line breaks in number sequences, controlling ideographic spacing, and managing character rotation.

Keep characters together across lines with Bunri-kinshi

Keep specified characters together so they are not split across lines or spaced during full justification.

Select the text you want to affect using the Type tool.

Select Type > Paragraph.

Select the panel menu icon, then select Bunri-kinshi.

Keep number sequences intact with Rensuuji

You can preserve number sequences across line breaks and to handle punctuation spacing in number strings in accordance with JIS specifications.

Select the text containing numbers you want to protect using the Type tool.

Select Type > Paragraph.

Select the panel menu icon, then select Rensuuji.

Ideographic space adjustments at line start and end

Select the text you want to affect using the Type tool.

Select Type > Paragraph.

Select the panel menu icon, then select Absorb ideographic space at line end.

Turn off Roman word wrap with Arbitrary hyphenation

Allow Roman words to break without hyphenation rules, without adding a hyphen at the line end. This feature only affects text with the Language set to Japanese in the Character panel and has no effect on text in Roman languages. You can include it in paragraph styles through Japanese Composition Settings.

Select the text you want to affect using the Type tool.

Select Type > Paragraph.

Select the panel menu icon, then select Arbitrary hyphenation.

Rotate half-width characters in vertical text with Roman rotation in Vertical Text

You can maintain consistent vertical alignment when mixing Roman letters or numbers with CJK text in vertical layouts.

Select the text you want to affect using the Type tool.

Select Type > Paragraph.

Select the panel menu icon, then select Roman rotation in Vertical Text. Half-width characters, such as Roman text and numbers, rotate to align vertically with surrounding CJK characters.

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