Chinese input method: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:56, 26 August 2022

Revision as of 23:47, 5 September 2022

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[[Image:2008 Taipei IT Month Day1 InstantDict MD6800.jpg|200px|thumb|An electronic dictionary with Cangjie keyboard]]

Despite its steeper learning curve, this method remains popular in Chinese communities that use [[traditional Chinese character]]s, such as [[Hong Kong]] and [[Taiwan]]; the method allows very precise input, thus allowing users to type more efficiently and quickly, provided they are familiar with the fairly complicated rules of the method. It was the first method that allowed users to enter more than a hundred Chinese characters per minute. Its popularity is also helped by its omnipresence on traditional Chinese computer systems, since Chu has given up its patent in 1982, stating that it should be part of the cultural asset. Developers of Chinese systems can adopt it freely, and users do not have the hassle of it being absent on devices with Chinese support.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://epaper.naer.edu.tw/edm.php?grp_no=2&edm_no=33&content_no=875|title=教育科技的專利與普及|author=朱麟華|journal= 國家教育研究院電子報|year=2012|issue=33}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.cw.com.tw/index.php/article/5036251?from=search|title=朱邦復的人文科技夢|year=1999|issue=219|journal=天下雜誌|author=藍麗娟|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref> Cangjie input programs supporting large [[CJK Unified Ideographs|CJK character]] set have been developed.<ref>{{cite websiteweb|url=https://rime.im/|title=中州韻輸入法引擎|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite websiteweb|url=https://www.chinesecj.com/|title=倉頡之友|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mingpaomonthly.com/article/details/%E6%80%9D%E6%BD%AE%EF%BC%8E%E5%8B%95%E5%90%91%2F2012-03%2F1590998177213%2F%E9%8C%A2%E9%8D%BE%E6%9B%B8%E5%85%88%E7%94%9F%E8%88%87%E3%80%8C%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%8F%A4%E5%85%B8%E6%95%B8%E5%AD%97%E5%B7%A5%E7%A8%8B%E3%80%8D%E3%80%80%EF%BC%88%E7%94%B0%20%E5%A5%95%EF%BC%89|title=錢鍾書先生與「中國古典數字工程」|author=田奕|date=2012-03-02|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref>

All methods have their strengths and weaknesses. The [[pinyin method]] can be learned rapidly but its maximum input rate is limited. The ''[[Wubi method|Wubi]]'' takes longer to learn, but expert typists can enter text much more rapidly with it than with phonetic methods. However, Wubi is proprietary, and a version of it has become freely available only after its inventor lost a patent lawsuit in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ciplawyer.cn/html/plcyzl/20090517/121932.html|title=王永民王码五笔字型专利纠纷案|website= 中国知识产权律师网|date=2009-05-17|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref>

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Due to these complexities, there is no "standard" method.

In mainland China, the [[Wubi method|wubi]] (shape-based) and pinyin methods such as [[Sogou Pinyin]] and [[Google Pinyin]] are the most popular; in [[Taiwan]], [[Cangjie method|Cangjie]], [[Dayi method|Dayi]], [[Boshiamy method|Boshiamy]], and [[Bopomofo|zhuyin]] predominate; and in [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]], the [[Cangjie method|Cangjie]] is most often taught in schools, while a few schools teach [[CKC Chinese Input System]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.dsedj.gov.mo/cre/tmag/07/9-2.htm|title=倉頡以外的另一個選擇 ─“─"縱橫輸入法”"|journal=教師雜誌|issue=7|year=2004|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref>

Other methods include [[handwriting recognition]], [[Optical character recognition|OCR]] and [[Speech recognition|voice recognition]]. The computer itself must first be "trained" before the first or second of these methods are used; that is, the new user enters the system in a special "learning mode" so that the system can learn to identify their handwriting or speech patterns. The latter two methods are used less frequently than keyboard-based input methods and suffer from relatively high error rates, especially when used without proper "training", though higher error rates are an acceptable trade-off to many users. In recent years, online IME have become more scarce, owing to the proliferation of cellphones and apps.<ref>[https://www.chineseconverter.com/en/convert/type-in-chinese-online-ime Type in Chinese Online (IME)]</ref>