Type Traditional Chinese On Windows (Without Losing Your Mind)
Traditional Chinese: 繁體中文 Fántǐ Zhōngwén / 正體中文 Zhèngtǐ Zhōngwén
You want to type Traditional Chinese on Windows. Cool. You also want it to stay Traditional (not randomly flip to Simplified), and you want the keyboard to actually switch when you tell it to. Also cool.
This guide shows the best Windows input methods (IME), the fastest setup path, and the fixes that solve 90% of “why is this broken?” moments.
Yak Snark Box: If you install one input method and actually learn it, your typing speed will jump. If you install five and “test them later,” you’ll just collect settings like Pokémon. Choose one.
Fast Setup On Windows (10/11)
The Windows menus change a bit between versions, but the idea is always the same: add a language, then add a keyboard/input method.
The Menu Words You’re Looking For (So You Don’t Panic)
設定 Shèdìng — Settings
語言 Yǔyán — Language
鍵盤 Jiànpán — Keyboard
輸入法 Shūrùfǎ — Input method (IME)
Example:
請到設定把中文鍵盤加進去。
Qǐng dào shèdìng bǎ Zhōngwén jiànpán jiā jìnqù.
Please go to Settings and add the Chinese keyboard.
- Step 1: Open Settings (設定 Shèdìng).
- Step 2: Find Time & language (時間與語言 Shíjiān yǔ yǔyán) or Language (語言 Yǔyán).
- Step 3: Add Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) (中文（台灣） Zhōngwén (Táiwān) / 繁體中文 Fántǐ Zhōngwén).
- Step 4: Add the input method you want (see the next section), then set it as default if you like.
Quick switch shortcut: Win + Space to cycle keyboards. (You can also see the language icon on the taskbar.)
Best Input Methods On Windows (Pick One)
Here are the best options for Traditional Chinese on Windows, with who they’re best for and what the names look like in Chinese.
Microsoft Pinyin
微軟拼音 Wēiruǎn Pīnyīn — Pinyin IME
Best for: learners who already use pinyin
Example:
我用微軟拼音打繁體字。
Wǒ yòng Wēiruǎn Pīnyīn dǎ fántǐ zì.
I type Traditional characters with Microsoft Pinyin.
Microsoft Bopomofo (Zhuyin)
注音 Zhùyīn — Bopomofo/Zhuyin IME
Best for: Taiwan-style typing (and if you’re learning 注音符號 zhùyīn fúhào)
Example:
在台灣，很多人用注音打字。
Zài Táiwān, hěn duō rén yòng zhùyīn dǎzì.
In Taiwan, many people type using Zhuyin.
Cangjie / Quick
倉頡 Cāngjié — shape-based IME
速成 Sùchéng — “Quick” (simplified Cangjie)
Best for: speed + precision (after a learning curve)
Example:
他用倉頡打字很快。
Tā yòng Cāngjié dǎzì hěn kuài.
He types very fast with Cangjie.
Handwriting
手寫 Shǒuxiě — handwriting input
Best for: rare characters, names, “I know what it looks like” moments
Example:
這個字我不會拼音，我用手寫。
Zhège zì wǒ bú huì pīnyīn, wǒ yòng shǒuxiě.
I don’t know the pinyin for this character, so I use handwriting.
Traditional Vs. Simplified Labels
繁體中文 Fántǐ Zhōngwén — Traditional Chinese
簡體中文 Jiǎntǐ Zhōngwén — Simplified Chinese
中文（台灣） Zhōngwén (Táiwān) — the one you usually want
Example:
我要繁體中文，不要簡體中文。
Wǒ yào fántǐ Zhōngwén, bú yào jiǎntǐ Zhōngwén.
I want Traditional Chinese, not Simplified Chinese.
Must-Know Windows/IME Words (So The Menus Make Sense)
These are the words you’ll see when adding keyboards, switching IMEs, or fixing issues. Learn them once, and you’ll stop guessing.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 新增 | Xīnzēng | Add | 我把中文鍵盤新增了。 | Wǒ bǎ Zhōngwén jiànpán xīnzēng le. | I added the Chinese keyboard. |
| 移除 | Yíchú | Remove | 我把不用的輸入法移除了。 | Wǒ bǎ bú yòng de shūrùfǎ yíchú le. | I removed the IME I don’t use. |
| 預設 | Yùshè | Default | 我把注音設成預設輸入法。 | Wǒ bǎ zhùyīn shè chéng yùshè shūrùfǎ. | I set Zhuyin as the default IME. |
| 切換 | Qiēhuàn | Switch | 我用 Win+Space 切換語言。 | Wǒ yòng Win+Space qiēhuàn yǔyán. | I switch languages with Win+Space. |
| 語言列 | Yǔyán liè | Language bar | 語言列不見了。 | Yǔyán liè bú jiàn le. | The language bar disappeared. |
| 候選字 | Hòuxuǎn zì | Candidate list | 候選字沒有跳出來。 | Hòuxuǎn zì méiyǒu tiào chūlái. | The candidate list didn’t pop up. |
| 選字 | Xuǎn zì | Select characters | 我用數字選字。 | Wǒ yòng shùzì xuǎn zì. | I select characters using numbers. |
| 全形 | Quánxíng | Full-width | 標點變全形了。 | Biāodiǎn biàn quánxíng le. | The punctuation became full-width. |
| 半形 | Bànxíng | Half-width | 我把符號改成半形。 | Wǒ bǎ fúhào gǎi chéng bànxíng. | I changed the symbols to half-width. |
| 重新啟動 | Chóngxīn qǐdòng | Restart | 重新啟動後就正常了。 | Chóngxīn qǐdòng hòu jiù zhèngcháng le. | After restarting, it worked normally. |
| 更新 | Gēngxīn | Update | 更新之後輸入法變好了。 | Gēngxīn zhīhòu shūrùfǎ biàn hǎo le. | After updating, the IME improved. |
| 驅動程式 | Qūdòng chéngxù | Driver | 鍵盤驅動程式需要更新。 | Jiànpán qūdòng chéngxù xūyào gēngxīn. | The keyboard driver needs an update. |
| 字型 | Zìxíng | Font | 這個字型顯示不出來。 | Zhège zìxíng xiǎnshì bù chūlái. | This font can’t display it. |
Common Problems And Fixes (The Stuff That Actually Happens)
Here are the most common IME issues on Windows and the fixes that usually work. Bonus: you’ll learn useful “tech support Chinese” as you go.
| Problem | Quick Fix | Useful Chinese Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| It types Simplified, not Traditional | Make sure you installed/selected 中文（台灣）Zhōngwén (Táiwān) / 繁體中文 Fántǐ Zhōngwén, not 简体中文 jiǎntǐ Zhōngwén. Remove the Simplified keyboard if it keeps “winning.” | 怎麼變簡體了？ Zěnme biàn jiǎntǐ le? Why did it turn into Simplified? |
| Can’t switch keyboards / it won’t stay on Chinese | Use Win+Space, and also check the taskbar language icon. If it keeps switching back, set your preferred IME as 預設 yùshè (default). | 它一直切回英文。 Tā yìzhí qiē huí Yīngwén. It keeps switching back to English. |
| Candidate list doesn’t show up | Click inside a text field first. If still gone, toggle the IME options (look for 候選字 hòuxuǎn zì settings). Restart (重新啟動 chóngxīn qǐdòng) often fixes it. | 候選字不見了。 Hòuxuǎn zì bú jiàn le. The candidate list disappeared. |
| Punctuation looks “wide” or weird | You may be in 全形 quánxíng (full-width). Switch to 半形 bànxíng (half-width). Many IMEs let you toggle this in the IME toolbar or settings. | 標點怪怪的。 Biāodiǎn guài guài de. The punctuation is weird. |
| Some characters show as squares (□) | Install a font that supports Traditional Chinese, or change 字型 zìxíng. Also run Windows updates (更新 gēngxīn). | 這個字顯示不出來。 Zhège zì xiǎnshì bù chūlái. This character won’t display. |
| Typing feels “laggy” or incorrect suggestions | Update (更新 gēngxīn) Windows, then check IME settings. If it’s still bad, remove and re-add the IME. | 輸入法怪怪的。 Shūrùfǎ guài guài de. The IME is acting weird. |
Extra Troubleshooting Phrases You’ll Actually Use
不見了 Bú jiàn le — It’s gone/disappeared
語言列不見了。
Yǔyán liè bú jiàn le.
The language bar is gone.
卡住了 Kǎzhù le — It’s stuck/frozen
輸入法卡住了。
Shūrùfǎ kǎzhù le.
The IME is stuck.
重開 Chóngkāi — Restart (casual)
我重開一下電腦。
Wǒ chóngkāi yíxià diànnǎo.
I’ll restart the computer.
設定一下 Shèdìng yíxià — Adjust settings a bit
我設定一下輸入法。
Wǒ shèdìng yíxià shūrùfǎ.
I’ll tweak the IME settings.
選不到 Xuǎn bù dào — Can’t select it
我選不到我要的字。
Wǒ xuǎn bù dào wǒ yào de zì.
I can’t select the character I want.
切成 Qiē chéng — Switch into (a state)
幫我切成繁體。
Bāng wǒ qiē chéng fántǐ.
Help me switch to Traditional.
Quick Practice: Type These Without Copy/Paste
If you’re using pinyin or zhuyin, this tiny drill helps you learn the “feel” of selecting characters and handling candidates.
- 台灣 Táiwān — Taiwan
- 繁體中文 Fántǐ Zhōngwén — Traditional Chinese
- 輸入法 Shūrùfǎ — input method
- 鍵盤 Jiànpán — keyboard
- 設定 Shèdìng — settings
- 更新 Gēngxīn — update
- 重新啟動 Chóngxīn qǐdòng — restart
- 候選字 Hòuxuǎn zì — candidate list
- 全形 Quánxíng — full-width
- 半形 Bànxíng — half-width
Mini sentence:
我在 Windows 用注音打字。
Wǒ zài Windows yòng zhùyīn dǎzì.
I type on Windows using Zhuyin.
Quick Reference
Handy Shortcuts And What They Mean
| What You Want | Shortcut / Action | Chinese Term |
|---|---|---|
| Switch keyboards | Win + Space | 切換 qiēhuàn |
| Set your main IME | Make it default in Settings | 預設 yùshè |
| Pick characters from list | Use numbers / arrow keys | 候選字 hòuxuǎn zì |
| Fix “it’s weird” fast | Restart + update | 重新啟動 chóngxīn qǐdòng / 更新 gēngxīn |
FAQ: “Should I Learn Zhuyin Or Pinyin For Taiwan?”
Short answer: If your goal is daily life in Taiwan and you want to read local keyboard labels, learning 注音 Zhùyīn helps a lot. If you already know pinyin and want to start typing immediately, 微軟拼音 Wēiruǎn Pīnyīn is the fastest on-ramp.
Useful sentence:
我先用拼音，之後再學注音。
Wǒ xiān yòng pīnyīn, zhīhòu zài xué zhùyīn.
I’ll use pinyin first, then learn Zhuyin later.
Final Yak Box: Your “Do This, Not That” Plan
- Pick one IME: 微軟拼音 Wēiruǎn Pīnyīn or 注音 Zhùyīn.
- Remove the extras (移除 yíchú) so Windows stops switching you at random.
- Learn candidate selection (候選字 hòuxuǎn zì) and you’ll feel 10× more “in control.”
- When things go sideways: 重新啟動 chóngxīn qǐdòng + 更新 gēngxīn. It’s boring. It works.
One-liner you can say while fixing it:
我先重開再看看。
Wǒ xiān chóngkāi zài kànkan.
I’ll restart first and see.
Once you can add 繁體中文 Fántǐ Zhōngwén, switch with Win+Space, and control 候選字 hòuxuǎn zì, you’re basically unstoppable. (Okay, fine—still stoppable. But you’ll type faster while being stopped.)
