Chinese Keyboard?

duffyhaha
 October 28, 2009, 05:46 PM posted in General Discussion

Hey everyone,

I have an English keyboard on my computer but would like to type/write in Simplified Chinese.  Is this possible and how do I do it?

Thanks!

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simonpettersson
 October 28, 2009, 06:11 PM

Are you using Windows or do you have a Mac? The methods differ. Also, which version of the operating system (WinXP, OSX Leopard, and so on)?

If you just want to write a little and only sometimes, you could just go to http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/ime.html, which lets you input Chinese without the need to do anything at all, and then copy-paste.

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duffyhaha
 October 28, 2009, 08:22 PM

I have a PC with Vista on it.  I would like to use it to write a bunch if possible.

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deadman88
 October 29, 2009, 03:21 AM

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A CHINESE INPUT TOOL .IT WILL BE OK.

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simonpettersson
 October 29, 2009, 04:05 AM

OK, try this site. :)

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duffyhaha
 October 29, 2009, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the link!  It looks like it will be a little bit more work than I thought.

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JasonSch
 October 29, 2009, 08:13 PM

@duffyhaha

Hey,

Basically, you have 'enable' the windows' IME (input method editor) for pinyin in order to type Chinese.

You can do that in the control panel in the 'regional and language' options, then by 'adding' the keyboard, Chinese. (simplified, traditional or both)

After that's added, a language bar should appear somewhere near the panel at the bottom. You can click it change between languages and go from there. (the default hot-key to change should be ctrl + space)

If you want, you can also download google's sperate IME here :

http://www.google.com/ime/pinyin/

It's a bit smoother than the windows' default and maybe a bit easier to use, but both are okay.

Hope that helps!