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Chinese Characters typing methods | ||
Tags: Chinese Characters | Mandarin | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Questions About Your Target Languages |  | |
| delectric Diglot Senior Member China Joined 7189 days ago 608 posts - 733 votes  Speaks: English*, Mandarin Studies: German | Message 1 of 8 14 May 2005 at 12:00am | IP Logged |
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I've just set my computer up so that I can type simplified Chinese characters using pinyin.
However, computers over here in China have many different ways of typing in Characters. Can anyone give a layman description of: 1) The various methods for typing chinese characters. 2) The various benefits of each method. 3) How to set up your computer to use these methods. 4) How to switch between typing simplified and traditional characters. For me at the momment using just pinyin is good. But I hear there are faster and better ways. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| zack Tetraglot Senior Member United States Joined 7217 days ago 122 posts - 127 votes Speaks: German*, English, Spanish, French Studies: Mandarin | Message 2 of 8 14 May 2005 at 9:38am | IP Logged |
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One method for typing characters in MS Windows is to use an "Input Method Editor" (IME, look for it on the Microsoft website or do a Google-search). This allows you to type in pinyin (without tone-markers) and have the software transcribe it into (either simplified or traditional) characters (suggesting the most likeley but offering you a choice sound-alike characters). I've found this to work quite well in all programs thjat run in Windows. Switching between simplified and traditional just requires a mouse-click.
Similar systems should exist for other operating systems. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| victor Tetraglot Moderator United States Joined 7326 days ago 1098 posts - 1056 votes 6 sounds Speaks: Cantonese*, English, FrenchC1, Mandarin Studies: Spanish Personal Language Map | Message 3 of 8 14 May 2005 at 8:07pm | IP Logged |
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Delectric, I have been a long time fan of using pinyin as an input method, simply because it's the easiest to grasp. My family is quite amazed at how fast I can type Chinese, while they have to think for every character they type.
I must say that I am much more familiar with typing systems for traditional characters but I'll give it a try to explain some of the other methods for simplified Chinese. Standard Pinyin -nothing new to learn if you know pinyin -software changes characters accordingly to match vocabulary -some characters need to choose from a huge list Wubi - certain keys correspond to a radical (part of character) - fewer "choices" of characters (this is a good thing) -need to learn the system -don't think it comes with Windows Shuangpin - quite similar to standard pinyin, only certain keys replace the few letters you would normally type (e.g. q replaces iu) -much faster than pinyin -takes time to learn system IME Pad/ Writing Pad -IME Pad is writing characters with a mouse on the computer -Writing pad is an external accessory you must purchase (but much more easier and convenient to write) -recognizes your writing and converts into computer characters -easy to learn -maybe a bit slow, but good practice for beginner If you want to work with Microsoft (which has the best Chinese inputting methods - the results are simply superior to other programs), switching from simplified to traditional is not as simple as a button. If you want to know about how to input pinyin to get traditional characters, feel free to PM me. For ANY language keyboard installation, try this site, the explanation is very detailed: Keyboard/IME installation for users of Windows XP Keyboard/IME installation for users of Windows 2000 The NJStar program is designed for computers without Chinese support and has many input methods. It's worth a try. (But be warned, there are many problems when using it, and it's only shareware.) NJStar 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| timinstl Triglot Groupie United States timsviajes.com Joined 7125 days ago 88 posts - 92 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Italian, Mandarin | Message 4 of 8 31 May 2005 at 6:14pm | IP Logged |
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Although I don't know a lot about it, I see a lot of companies asking for the ability to type Big 5. Edited by timinstl on 01 June 2005 at 12:56pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vincenthychow Tetraglot Senior Member Hong Kong Joined 7112 days ago 136 posts - 145 votes Speaks: Cantonese, English, GermanB1, Japanese Studies: French | Message 5 of 8 13 June 2005 at 2:26pm | IP Logged |
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The fastest method is undoutedly "cong1 xie2"(倉頡) which is named after the person who is believed to invent the Chinese Characters.
Inputing using 倉頡 allows you to type Chinese as fast as English, since you do not have to choose the correct words for almost all words you type. However, 倉頡 is a input method depending on the actual shape of the Chinese character. Hence, if you are not that familiar with written Chinese, Pinyin is a most handy and reasonbly fast method. In fact, many Chinese people enjoy using Pinyin instead of 倉頡 because we do not need to learn the complicated inputing principles. In fact, I found some my friends are using Pinyin as fast as I am using 倉頡. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| victor Tetraglot Moderator United States Joined 7326 days ago 1098 posts - 1056 votes 6 sounds Speaks: Cantonese*, English, FrenchC1, Mandarin Studies: Spanish Personal Language Map | Message 6 of 8 13 June 2005 at 5:52pm | IP Logged |
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Vincent, I know a lot of friends who prefer other methods, but it takes ages to select the correct character. I see why you would prefer Cangjie in that case. Pratice makes perfect - the speed sometimes depend on the amount of time you have spent on it.
I'm sure it is possible to attain English-like typing speed with any given method; so none should be considered superior to another. Edited by victor on 13 June 2005 at 5:55pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| zenmonkey Bilingual Tetraglot Senior Member Germany Joined 6560 days ago 803 posts - 1119 votes 1 sounds Speaks: EnglishC2*, Spanish*, French, German Studies: Italian, Modern Hebrew | Message 7 of 8 11 May 2009 at 9:31pm | IP Logged |
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Hi all,
I'm using a French keyboard and working with Vista and have installed the Chinese entry method (Microsoft Pinyin IME) and I'm wondering if I can get it to work with my keyboard or do I need a US one. When I type "ni hao ma" I actually get "ni hqo ;q". Edited by zenmonkey on 11 May 2009 at 9:31pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Z.J.J Senior Member China Joined 5616 days ago 243 posts - 305 votes Speaks: Mandarin* | Message 8 of 8 08 August 2009 at 1:48pm | IP Logged |
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http://www.google.com/ime/pinyin/
Please click on 「下载谷歌拼音输入法」 to download google chinese pinyin. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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