A character input device comprising: input means configured to receive an input of a character and an input of a command to delete the character; display means configured to display the character inputted through the input means; deletion character information storage means (13, 23) for storing a deletion character string deleted from a character string in response to the input of the command to delete the deletion character string through the input means; and control means (14, 24) configured to access the deletion character information storage means (13,23) and to determine whether or not a character inputted through the input means and at least a portion of the deletion character string stored in the deletion character information storage means (13, 23) match, and to display a portion of the deletion character string as an input candidate on the display means when a match has been determined; characterised in that the deletion character information storage means (13, 23) is further configured to store deletion direction information indicating whether the deletion character string has been deleted from the beginning or the end of the string, and wherein the control means (14, 24) is configured to determine whether the deletion character string has been deleted from the beginning or the end of the string based on the deletion direction information of the deletion character information storage means (13, 23) when a match has been determined, the displayed portion of the deletion character string including the inputted character on the end of the deletion character string as an input candidate, when determining that the deletion character string has been deleted from the beginning, and the displayed portion of the deletion character string including the inputted character on the beginning of the deletion character string as an input candidate, when determining that the deletion character string has been deleted from the end. input means configured to receive an input of a character and an input of a command to delete the character; display means configured to display the character inputted through the input means; deletion character information storage means (13, 23) for storing a deletion character string deleted from a character string in response to the input of the command to delete the deletion character string through the input means; and control means (14, 24) configured to access the deletion character information storage means (13,23) and to determine whether or not a character inputted through the input means and at least a portion of the deletion character string stored in the deletion character information storage means (13, 23) match, and to display a portion of the deletion character string as an input candidate on the display means when a match has been determined; characterised in that the deletion character information storage means (13, 23) is further configured to store deletion direction information indicating whether the deletion character string has been deleted from the beginning or the end of the string, and wherein the control means (14, 24) is configured to determine whether the deletion character string has been deleted from the beginning or the end of the string based on the deletion direction information of the deletion character information storage means (13, 23) when a match has been determined, the displayed portion of the deletion character string including the inputted character on the end of the deletion character string as an input candidate, when determining that the deletion character string has been deleted from the beginning, and the displayed portion of the deletion character string including the inputted character on the beginning of the deletion character string as an input candidate, when determining that the deletion character string has been deleted from the end.