An improved Yomi and Kanji phrase editing method and system are provided. In accordance with the invention, a structured document editor includes a normal state, a Yomi state, a Kanji state, and an active state. In the normal state, when the operator types Yomi characters on the keyboard, the corresponding Yomi character is directly displayed on the display. In the Yomi state, when a Yomi character is typed on the keyboard, a Yomi text node structure is assembled. The text node structure in the Yomi state will include the Yomi character string along with control information. When the operator wishes to convert the Yomi phrases into the corresponding Kanji phrases, the Yomi string is accessed from the Yomi text node structure and is subjected to a conversion process. The process returns each Kanji phrase and the corresponding Yomi phrase and a bookmark to the conversion table which was used in carrying out the conversion. In accordance with the invention, the returned Kanji phrase and corresponding Yomi phrase and the bookmark are assembled into a new text node structure. The new text node structure assembles a Kanji phrase structure and a corresponding Yomi phrase structure for each Kanji phrase returned in the conversion process. The Kanji phrase structure includes a pointer to the corresponding Yomi phrase structure and the Yomi phrase structure, in turn, includes a return pointer to the Kanji phrase structure. Also included in the Kanji phrase structure and Yomi phrase structure is control information which provides for the display of the Kanji phrase structure which will substitute the Yomi phrase structure.