When you copy Japanese text from a PDF and paste it into Word, the font often changes to a different one like MS Mincho or Yu Gothic. This happens because PDF files store text with a specific font name that Word cannot find or match correctly on your system. In this article, you will learn why the font changes and how to keep your original Japanese font intact when pasting.
Key Takeaways: Fix Japanese Font Changes When Pasting From PDF Into Word
- Home > Paste > Paste Special > Unformatted Text: Strips all font formatting from the pasted text, leaving only plain text that you can reformat manually.
- Home > Styles > Clear Formatting: Removes the unwanted font applied by the paste operation and reverts the text to the Normal style font.
- Use a dedicated PDF-to-Word converter (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Export PDF): Retains the original Japanese font mapping more reliably than copy-paste.
Why Word Changes the Japanese Font When Pasting From a PDF
PDF files embed font information that includes the font name, style, and character encoding. When you copy text from a PDF and paste it into Word, Word tries to match the original font name to a font installed on your computer. If the exact font is not installed, Word substitutes a default Japanese font such as MS Mincho, MS Gothic, or Yu Gothic. This substitution happens because the PDF font name may be a non-standard name or a font that does not exist on your system. Additionally, PDFs often use CID (Character Identifier) fonts that map characters differently than TrueType or OpenType fonts in Word.
Steps to Keep the Original Japanese Font When Pasting From PDF
Method 1: Paste as Unformatted Text and Reapply the Font
- Copy the Japanese text from the PDF
Use Ctrl+C to copy the text from your PDF viewer. - Open your Word document
Place the cursor where you want to insert the text. - Use Paste Special
Go to Home > Paste > Paste Special. In the dialog box, select Unformatted Text and click OK. This removes all font information and pastes plain text. - Apply the desired Japanese font
Select the pasted text. On the Home tab, choose your preferred Japanese font from the Font dropdown, such as MS Mincho or Yu Gothic.
Method 2: Clear Formatting After Pasting
- Paste the text normally
Copy from the PDF and paste into Word using Ctrl+V. - Select the pasted text
Click and drag to highlight the text that changed font. - Clear formatting
On the Home tab, in the Font group, click Clear All Formatting (the eraser icon). The text reverts to the Normal style font. - Reapply the correct font
With the text still selected, choose your Japanese font from the Font dropdown.
Method 3: Use a PDF-to-Word Converter
- Export the PDF to Word format
Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro or a third-party converter. Choose Export PDF and select Microsoft Word as the output format. - Open the converted file in Word
The converted document retains the original Japanese fonts more accurately because the converter maps the font names correctly. - Check the font mapping
If the font still appears different, install the original font used in the PDF on your computer.
Method 4: Install the Missing Japanese Font
- Identify the original font
Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and go to File > Properties > Fonts to see which fonts are used. - Download and install the font
Search for the font name online and download a licensed version. Install the font by right-clicking the font file and selecting Install. - Restart Word
Close and reopen Word. The font is now available and will not be substituted.
If Word Still Changes the Japanese Font After These Fixes
Paste Options Dropdown Does Not Show Unformatted Text
If the Paste Special option is grayed out, the clipboard may contain an image instead of text. Copy the text again using a text-only copy method, such as selecting the text in the PDF and using Ctrl+Shift+C in some PDF viewers.
Font Changes Only in Certain Parts of the Document
This usually occurs when the PDF contains multiple font families. Clear formatting on the entire affected section and then apply a consistent font style. Use the Format Painter to copy the correct font from a neighboring paragraph.
Japanese Characters Display as Boxes or Question Marks
This indicates that the pasted text uses a character encoding not supported by the current font. Switch to a Unicode-compliant font like MS Mincho or Yu Gothic. If the issue persists, paste as unformatted text and then apply the font.
Paste Methods Comparison: Keeping Japanese Font Integrity
| Item | Paste Special (Unformatted Text) | Clear Formatting After Paste | PDF-to-Word Converter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Font retention | None (plain text) | Reverts to Normal style | High (maps original fonts) |
| Manual reformatting needed | Yes | Yes | Minimal |
| Best for | Small text snippets | Quick clean-up after paste | Large documents or complex layouts |
| Risk of character corruption | Low | Low | Very low |
Now you can paste Japanese text from a PDF into Word without losing the correct font. Start by using Paste Special as Unformatted Text for small sections, then apply your preferred Japanese font. For large documents, use a dedicated PDF-to-Word converter to preserve the original font mapping. As an advanced tip, you can create a Word macro that automatically clears formatting and applies a specific Japanese font after every paste operation.