Provided is a character input method and apparatus. The character input method includes assigning character groups, each of which includes at least two characters, to at least two key regions generated by dividing a region of the touch screen and displaying the character groups in the corresponding key regions, based on one-to-one correspondence, if a press event occurs in one of the key regions, enlarging and displaying characters included in the key region where the press event occurs, determining whether one of a release event and a drag event occurs in one of the key regions where the characters are displayed enlarged, if it is determined that the drag event occurs, indicating the key region where the drag event occurs according to distance and direction of the drag event, and if the release event occurs in the indicated key region, outputting characters included in the indicated key region on the touch screen. Thus, a user can easily find a desired character and accurately input the character, thereby performing key input more conveniently and quickly.