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= Good News = 

   You don't need to install the Chinese Input Software to input Chinese! We have provided an online tool, which allows you to enter Chinese characters through your web browser with the popular pinyin input method. Please take a try on our web-based free online Chinese input tool.
 

How to Input Chinese in English Windows

1. Installation
2. Summary
3. Platforms Supported
4. Introduction on Input Methods
4.1 QuanPin Method
4.2 PinYin Method

1. Installation

1.1 Installation of Quanpin Input Method

  1.1.1 Installation on English Winows 9x
Please refer to "Read and Input Chinese under English System".

  1.1.2 Installation on English WIN2000
Click on the language/keyboard indicator on the taskbar. If there is no Quanpin Input Method on the indicator, the following method should be used to install it.

  • Click Start on the taskbar and select Settings on the menu.
  • Select Control Panel on the sub-menu to activate Control Panel window.
  • Double click Keyboard icon to activate the dialogue box.
  • Select Input locale tab.
  • Click Add button, select Chinese (PRC) option from Input locale and select Chinese (simplified) - Quanpin from Keyboard layout/IME.
  • Click Apply.
  • Then click OK to confirm.
The Quanpin Input Method is successfully installed.

1.2 Installation of Microsoft Pinyin Input Method

  1.2.1 Installation on English Windows 9x
Please refer to "Read and Input Chinese under English System".

  1.2.2 Installation on English WIN2000
Click on the language/keyboard indicator on the taskbar. If there is no Microsoft Pinyin Input Method on the indicator, the following method should be used to install it.

  • Click Start on the taskbar and select Settings on the menu.
  • Select Control Panel on the sub-menu to activate Control Panel window.
  • Double click Keyboard icon to activate the dialogue box.
  • Select Input locale tab.
  • Click Add button, select Chinese (PRC) option from Input locale and select Chinese (simplified) - MS - Pinyin98 from Keyboard layout/IME.
  • Click Apply.
  • Then click OK to confirm.

  1.2.3 Installation on English Windows XP

  • On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  • Double-click the Regional Options icon.
  • After choosing "Regional and Language Options," change to the "Languages" tab then click "Details" button. 
  • From the "Installed Services" group, highlight "Microsoft New Phonetic IME 2002a". 
  • Then click "Properties..." From the "Setting" tab. 
  • Choose "Legacy IME" from the "Input Method Setup" group. 
  • Change to the "Keyboard Mapping" tab, then choose "HanYu Pinyin" and click "OK" as many times as necessary. 

  1.2.4 Installation on English Windows Vista

  • Open Regional and Language Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Clock, Language, and Region, and then clicking Regional and Language Options.
  • Click the Keyboards and Languages tab, and then click Change keyboards.
  • Under Installed services, click Add.
  • Double-click the language you want to add, double-click the text services you want to add, select the text services options you want to add, and then click OK.

2. Summary

2.1 Quanpin Input Method
If you are skillful in using Chinese pinyin, you may use this input method.

  • Quanpin Input Method built in Windows 98 is completely in line with the Scheme for Chinese pinyin.
    Quanpin Input Method supports inputting characters and words of GB2312 and all characters included in the standard for Chinese Characters extended codes - GBK.
  • Encoding rules
    Max. code length: 12 bits
    It is completely in line with the standard rules for Chinese pinyin. The characters and words can be input by typing each letter of their pinyin.
    The inputting process is exactly the same as writing the pinyin.

2.2 Microsoft pinyin Input Method

  • This is a Chinese pinyin words and sentences inputting method. Users may continuously input the pinyin of words and sentences and the system will automatically choose the most possible characters corresponding to the pinyin. This can keep users from selecting each character or word from many alternatives with the same pronunciation.
  • Microsoft pinyin has many functions, such as self-learning and self-made words by users, etc. After a short time of exchange with users, the system will get used to users' special terms and habits. And it becomes more and more easy to get the words you want by inputting only once. Thus the inputting efficiency will be greatly improved.
  • To satisfy different users' needs, Microsoft pinyin also supports various functions like indistinct pronunciation and incomplete pinyin input, etc.

3. Platforms Supported

Working with Windows 9x, WIN2000, Windows NT; 586 computers above.


4. Introductions on Input Methods

4.1 Quanpin Input Method

  4.1.1 Shift between Chinese and English

  • Icons

    Chinese
        English
  • Use the mouse
    Click the left button of the mouse on the icon to shift between English and Chinese.
  • Use the keyboard
    1. Press the Caps Lock key;
    2. Press Ctrl + Space on the keyboard.

  4.1.2 Shift between Quanjiao and Banjiao

  • Icons

    Quanjiao
       Banjiao
  • Use the mouse Click the left button of the mouse on the above icon to shift between Quanjiao and Banjiao.
  • Use the keyboard Press Shift + Space on the keyboard.

  4.1.3 Inputting Chinese Punctuation Marks


    English punctuation
      Chinese punctuation
  • use the mouse
    Click the left button of the mouse on the above icon to shift between Chinese and English punctuation marks.
  • use the keyboard
    Use Ctrl + [.] (period mark) on the keyboard.
  • Table of keys for Chinese punctuation
    1. Under the state of English punctuation, all marks shall correspond to keys on the keyboard.
    2. Under the Chinese state, all Chinese marks shall be correspond to keys as shown on the table below:

  • Tips
    1. The shift button of Quanjiao/Banjiao will not be explained as it will be mentioned in the introduction on Microsoft Pinyin input method
    2. For the first time the input method is activated, it is under the state of inputting Chinese punctuation marks.

  4.1.4 There are 13 kinds of soft keyboards provided in the Chinese input method built-in Windows 98.

  • Icon

  • Use the mouse
    1. open/close:
      Click the left button of the mouse on the above icon.
    2. 2. Select soft keyboards:
      Click the right button of the mouse on the icon to select different keyboards.

    The default condition of soft keyboards is standard PC keyboard.

  4.1.5 Set up input method

  • Steps:
    1. Click the right button of mouse on the input bar.
    2. Select Setup (Shezhi) option.

  4.1.6 Word Association (Ciyu Lianxiang)

  • Icon

  • set up steps
    1. Open the input method setup window.
    2. Mark the checkbox before "Ciyu Lianxiang (Word Association)".
    3. Click OK.
  • Example
    1. When "Ciyu Lianxiang (Word Association)" is not checked, you will see this on inputting Chinese: ang
    2. After "Ciyu Lianxiang (Word Association)" has been checked, you will see this on inputting Chinese: ang 1.昂贵2.昂然3.昂首4.昂扬

  4.1.7 Inputting words and expressions

  • Icon

  • Setup steps
    1. Open the input method setup window.
    2. Mark the checkbox before "Ciyu Shuru (Inputting words and expressions)".
    3. Click OK.
  • Example
    1. When "Ciyu Shuru (Inputting words and expressions)" is not checked, you will see this on inputting Chinese: zi 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.姿9.
    2. When "Ciyu Shuru (Inputting words and expressions)" has been checked, you will see this on inputting Chinese: ziji 1.自己2.自给3.字迹

  4.1.8 Zhujian Tishi

  • Icon

    Zhujian Tishi means all characters and words starting with the Pinyin typed will be displayed as alternatives, so as to make users easier to select.
  • Setup steps
    1. Open the input method setup window.
    2. Mark the checkbox before Zhujian Tishi.
    3. Click OK.
  • Example
    1. When Zhujian Tishi (Display on each alphabet) is not checked, you will see this on inputting Chinese: ang
    2. When Zhujian Tishi (Display on each alphabet) has been checked, you will see this on inputting Chinese: ang 1 2.3.4.鞍钢5.昂贵6.昂然7. 盎 然8.昂首9.盎司0.昂扬
  • Tips
    When Zhujian Tishi is not checked, after typing valid alphabet, characters will be directly displayed on screen if there is no other characters sharing the same pronunciation. Otherwise, all characters sharing the same pronunciation will be displayed in the window of alternatives.

  4.1.9 Set up Shougong Zaoci (Manually Making up Words)

  • Setup steps:
    1. Click the right button of mouse on the input bar.
    2. Select Shougong Zaoci (Manually Making up Words) option.

4.2 Microsoft Pinyin Input Method

   

  4.2.1 To activate the input method

  • One method is to enter your word processing environment on Chinese Microsoft Windows 95 or NT 4.0 or above and press Ctrl+Shift to activate Chinese input method. An input bar will appear on the left bottom of the screen. Keep pressing Ctrl+Shift to shift to other input methods before Microsoft Pinyin input bar appears.
  • Please note this hot-key combination can be self-defined. You may select the way you like by setting up in input method setup in Control Panel.
  • You may also use the mouse to select from language/keyboard indicator on the taskbar. Click the left button of your mouse on corresponding item to activate Microsoft Pinyin input method. If there is no language/keyboard indicator on the taskbar, you may add it from keyboard in Control Panel.

  4.2.2 Banjiao / Quanjiao

  • Icon

    Banjiao
        Quanjiao
  • Use the mouse: click the left button of your mouse on input bar to shift between Quanjiao and Banjiao.
  • Default shortcut keys: Shift + Space
Under Banjiao model, all symbols and figures input are English symbols and figures of single bit.
Under Quanjiao model, all symbols and figures input are Chines symbols and figures of two bits.

  4.2.3 To input Chinese punctuation marks

  • Icon

    Chinese punctuation English punctuation
  • Use the mouse: click the left button of the mouse on the above icon on input bar.
  • Use the keyboard: Ctrl+ [.]
  • For details, see the Table of keys for Chinese punctuation.

  4.2.4 Traditional Chinese input condition

    

The system supports inputting both Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters. Click on the above icon on input bar and the input condition will be shifted to Traditional Chinese. Type the Pinyin of a sentence, you will get the sentence in Traditional Chinese characters.

Example:
Under Simplified Chinese input state:
一支可爱的小花
Under Traditional Chinese input state: 一支可愛的小花

  4.2.5 Incomplete Input

The system supports incomplete input of Pinyin. Users can type only the consonants of Pinyin so as to reduce strokes times.

  • Set up incomplete input
    Click the left mouse button on the Setup button of input bar or just click the right mouse button on the input bar. Select "Incomplete Pinyin" option. Users may type Pinyin in incomplete manner.
  • Example
    When user types "zhhrmghg", the system will identify it as "Zhong Hua Ren Min Gong He Guo (
    中华人民共和国)".

  4.2.6 Ciyu (Word) input pattern

The system supports both whole sentence input pattern and word input pattern. In whole sentence input pattern, the input unit is a sentence, i.e. users may type the Pinyin of the whole sentence and correct the mistakes before confirming the sentence. In word input pattern, the input unit is a word. Pressing the Space key will end inputting a word. Users may confirm the words they input one by one.

  • To set up the Ciyu (word) input pattern
    Click the left mouse button on the Gongneng Shezhi (Function Setup) button on the input bar, or click the right mouse button on the input bar. Select Ciyu (Word) pattern in the Shuxing Shezhi (Properties Setup) dialogue box.
  • Input rules
    1. Type the Pinyin of a word continuously and press spacebar to stop inputting a word. At this time, the most possible word will be display highlighted and the alternatives bar will prompt out, providing alternative words of same pronunciation.
    2. If the word highlighted is right, you may continue to type the next word.
    3. If the word highlighted is wrong, you may select the correct character or word from the alternatives bar.
Note: Under the Ciyu (word) input pattern, the system will automatically define the word you input if the user self-definition function is on.

  4.2.7 To modify the incorrect characters

When users input a succession of Chinese Pinyin, Microsoft Pinyin input method will automatically choose the best result by considering the context. However, the automatically displayed result may not be what users expect. Users may modify the incorrect characters by selecting from the alternative characters/words. In addition, there are some operating techniques.

  • Operating steps:
    1. Use the mouse or keyboard to move the cursor to the incorrect character;
    2. The alternatives bar will automatically appear;
    3. Select the proper character or word by mouse or keyboard.
  • Example
    When the user types "dadihuanxinchun"(
    大地焕新春), the "大地环新春" will automatically be displayed on the input bar. Put the cursor before "", the alternative words will appear: 1.欢欣 2.欢心 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.. Select 6 with mouse or keyboard.
    Note: Microsoft Pinyin input method also has alternative punctuation marks. You may use the same method to modify incorrect punctuation.

  4.2.8 South Fuzzy Pronunciation

For those users whose pronunciation is not accurate, the system also provides support to South Fuzzy Pronunciation input.

  • Indistinct pronunciation
    Click the left mouse button on the Gongneng Shezhi (Function Setup) button on the input bar, or click the right mouse button on the input bar. Select Nanfang Mohuyin (South Fuzzy Pronunciation) pattern in the Shuxing Shezhi (Properties Setup) dialogue box.
  • The South Fuzzy Pronunciation supported by the system includes:
    consonants: z=zh
    c=chs=shn=ll=rf=hf=hu
    vowels: an=ang
    en=engin=ingwang=huang
    System default setup:
    consonants: z=zh
    c=chs=sh
    vowels: an=ang
    en=engin=ingwang=huang
  • To setup South Fuzzy Pronunciation input
    Users may choose the South Fuzzy Pronunciation as needed.
    In Shuxing Shezhi (properties setup) dialogue box, click the button of Sheshi Mohuyin (set up South Fuzzy Pronunciation) and the dialogue box will be displayed. Select the South Fuzzy Pronunciation as needed. Click Chongxin Shezhi (re-setup) will resume the defaulted setup. Click OK, the system will work according the user's self-definition.
  • Example
    For example, when the user type "wosiyigebin", "Wo Shi Yige Bing (
    我是一个兵)" will be displayed.

  4.2.9 Special character
In Microsoft Pinyin input method, the letter "v" stands for "ü" in Chinese.

  4.2.10 Tips

  4.2.10.1 Tips on modifying incorrect characters

  • The basic input unit of Microsoft pinyin input method is word and sentence. This is an important feature that is different from other methods. Therefore, when typing a word or a sentence, you do not have to modify the incorrect word as soon as you find it. It is better that you modify the whole sentence before confirming the input. During typing, the Microsoft pinyin input method will automatically make adjustment according to the context and give you the possible result. Usually, after the adjustment, most of the incorrect characters will be modified.
  • It is better to modify a sentence from the beginning of the sentence.
  • After typing a whole sentence, press the right arrow key [→] to move to the beginning of the sentence. The cursor will move circularly with each press on the right arrow key.

  4.2.10.2 Tips on "Guangbiao Gensui"

  • "Guangbiao Gensui" state (i.e. the cursor's following) makes the newly input words or sentences in the context and conforms the input habit of most persons.
  • During inputting word and sentence, when using the mouse to move the cursor, the word window will move correspondingly to the location before the cursor. Therefore, before confirming a sentence, the sentence will follow the cursor's location as a whole.
  • When moving the cursor, it is normal that the word window covers part of the word or sentence input. When the sentence is confirmed, the editor will re-arrange the input word or sentence.

  4.2.10.3 Zero initial consonant and syllable separating mark

There are some characters with zero initial consonant, i.e. without consonant, such as "ao4, ou1" etc. When typing the Pinyin of these characters, you may use syllable separating mark to make the input faster. For example, when you type "皮袄Pi Ao", you may add a space between "pi" and "ao" to avoid modification.

  4.2.10.4 Tips on confirmation

  • After inputting a valid pinyin, Microsoft pinyin input method will not close the window immediately so that users can further modify the pinyin typed. At the time, you may press the spacebar or return to confirm your input, the pinyin will be transformed into Chinese characters.
  • At the end of a sentence, you may also type a punctuation mark to confirm the pinyin and the pinyin window will disappear. The last pinyin and the punctuation mark will simultaneously be transformed into characters.
  • If the whole sentence does not need modification, type a punctuation mark (including "," "." ";" ?" "!") at the end of the sentence. On typing the first pinyin of the next sentence, the previous sentence will automatically be confirmed.
  • As soon as the sentence has been modified, you may, at any place of the sentence, directly press [Enter] to confirm the sentence.

  4.2.10.5 Input Efficiency

In order to utilize Microsoft pinyin input method more effectively, users should understand the following features.

  • The longer the sentence or the word you input, the slower the transformation of them.
  • Incomplete input may decrease the times of pressing keys and thus improve the input efficiency; but when there are too much incomplete input pinyin, the transformation will be lower.
  • When using the indistinct pronunciation function, as the amount of alternative words are big, the input will be slower.
Therefore, when using Microsoft pinyin input method, you should decide which function is to be used according to the performance of your computer and your own speaking habit, so as to reach the highest efficiency.

  4.2.10.6 Select the first word in the alternatives window

Under the "Zhujian Tishi" state (i.e. display character on typing each pinyin), press [Space] to finish the input of pinyin. When "Zhujian Tishi" is not on, press [space] to select the first word.

 

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