8.2. How to write in Chinese

To write in Simplified Chinese with Smart Pinyin, start the application you wish to write in and press CTRL and SPACE keys simultaneously to display the SCIM toolbar. Click on the language toolbar and select Chinese (simplified) and Smart Pinyin from the list of languages displayed. If Chinese is not displayed, this is an indication that you have not added Chinese language support in your system. For more information on adding language support, please read Section 2.2, “Adding language support after installation”.

On selecting Smart Pinyin, you can then start typing. A look up window will be displayed as you type your words with suggestions which you can select from. Press the number keys to select your preferred phrase and the SPACE key to add it to your document. For more shortcuts and descriptions of the input method options, click on the SCIM help icon on the toolbar.

Start the application you wish to write in and press CTRL and SPACE simultaneously to start SCIM. The SCIM tool bar will be displayed on the bottom right corner of your screen from which you can select your desired input method. To write with Chewing, select Chinese (traditional) from the list of languages displayed and select Chewing. If Chinese is not displayed, this is an indication that you have not added Chinese language support in your system. For more information on adding language support, please read Section 2.2, “Adding language support after installation”. You can then start typing using your desired input method. If you press space, a look up window will be displayed with suggested phrases which you can select from.

Press the <number> key to select your preferred phrase (where <number> is the number of the word from the list displayed). Press the RETURN key on your keyboard to select the selected phrase and add it to your document.

For more shortcuts and descriptions of the input method options click on the SCIM help icon on the toolbar.