A text-input device and method is provided. The device includes a display unit that displays a user interface, which is divided into a plurality of areas each including a plurality of cells where predetermined text is displayed, an input unit that includes a plurality of text-input units to provide a focusing signal that focuses on a predetermined cell in the displayed user interface and a selecting signal that selects the focused cell, a user interface providing unit that generates a control signal corresponding to the selected cell with reference to a mapping table according to whether the selecting signal is available, and a control unit that performs a control command based on the control signal, wherein the plurality of text-input units correspond to the areas