If you can type English on the computer, can you type Chinese, too?
This is a very good question.
Chinese does have input methods for computers just by using 25 alphabetical
keys on the keyboard (not using "z").
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| Chinese Word Translation |
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There are 4 main (or most popular) methods:
a) "Cangjie" -
a method named after a legendary figure credited with the invention of the written Chinese language.
b) Simplified
c) "Pinyin"
d) Written
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| Chart Showing Each Key Representing the Stroke of "Cangjie" & "simplified" Methods |
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a) "Cangjie"
This method is the basic of almost every Chinese
input method. Here is how it works:
Each Chinese symbol/character has only one key input or up to 5 maximum. It depends on how that particular character was created.
To be perfect and efficient, you have to know every stroke and their orders very well. I mean...very well. One
stroke or an order is wrong, you could never find that word. That is the reason why you have to learn the Chinese writing by practising each stroke's order.
But if you excel this method, you can type the Chinese faster than using
any other method, including those mentioned here.
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b) Simplified
It was developed out of the "Cangjie" method.
One Chinese symbol needs one key input up to 2 maximum, instead of 5 with the "Cangjie" method.
For instance, a Chinese
character required 5 keys input with "Cangjie". The "Simplified" input would take the first key
and the last key input out of the "Tsang Chi" method.
Then, the computer will bring up a drop-down menu
for you choose from the list of Chinese words. It will take some time for you to pick your desired character out of the list.
This method may also rely
on your knowledge of the strokes and orders of the Chinese symbols. But with only 2 keys, you sometimes can guess to find your word. It is only good for amateur.
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c) "Pinyin"
It may be the best way for western learner.
It relies on the English spelling of the pronounciation of a Chinese word.
There are Mandarin and Cantonese "pinyin" methods.
Although Cantonese is my mother languages,
I still highly recommend you to choose the Mandarin one. It is because the Mandarin has the standardized spelling on
the pronounciation, unlike Cantonese.
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d) Written
It is the best way for any Chinese that he/she does not want
to learn any input method or for any children whom are below 10. Why? All they need to do is to pick up a pen
and write.
With this method, you need to plug in a pen and a writing pad, about the size of a mouse pad, to the
computer.
By using the pen to write on the pad, the computer will recognize the character for you. The amazing
thing with this method is that even if you have the strokes order wrong, the computer is somehow can figure it out.
And it is 95-98% accurate of doing the guess work for you.
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