A character entry method and apparatus in a terminal in which characters are grouped into a plurality of character sets and a representative character of each of the character sets is imprinted on a respective key are provided. In the character entry method, when a key imprinted with a representative character is pressed, characters belonging to a character set represented by the representative character are displayed and a character among the displayed characters is marked with a selection indication. When a move key is pressed, the duration is identified and compared with a criterion time. If the selection indication is equal to or longer than the criterion time, the character marked with the selection indication is entered.