Android can type Traditional Chinese out of the box… but the exact taps depend on your keyboard: Gboard (Google), Samsung Keyboard, or Microsoft SwiftKey. This guide shows the cleanest setup paths, then teaches the must-know UI words so you can actually find the settings you need.

Yak Snark Box: If your phone says “Chinese” but only gives you Simplified, it’s not mocking you. It’s just… being Android. We’ll fix it.

Quick Setup Overview

• Step 1: Add a Traditional Chinese keyboard: 中文（繁體） (Zhōngwén (fántǐ)) or 中文（台灣） (Zhōngwén (Táiwān)).
• Step 2: Choose an input method: 注音 (zhùyīn) (Taiwan favorite), 拼音 (pīnyīn), 手寫 (shǒuxiě), or 語音輸入 (yǔyīn shūrù).
• Step 3: Learn the switching move: tap/hold the 地球圖示 (dìqiú túshì) 🌐 or swipe the 空白鍵 (kōngbái jiàn) (depends on keyboard).

Visual Mini-Cards: The 8 Words You’ll See Everywhere

Method 1: Add Traditional Chinese On Gboard (Google Keyboard)

Gboard is the most common “works on almost everything” option.

Path A: Add It From Android Settings

• Open Settings（設定 shèdìng）.
• Go to System（系統 xìtǒng） → Languages & input（語言與輸入法 yǔyán yǔ shūrùfǎ）.
• Tap On-screen keyboard（螢幕鍵盤 yíngmù jiànpán） → Gboard（Google 鍵盤 Gǔgē jiànpán）.
• Tap Languages（語言 yǔyán） → Add keyboard（新增鍵盤 xīnzēng jiànpán）.
• Pick Chinese (Traditional)（中文（繁體） Zhōngwén (fántǐ)） or Chinese (Taiwan)（中文（台灣） Zhōngwén (Táiwān)）.
• Choose the layout you want: 注音 (zhùyīn), 拼音 (pīnyīn), 手寫 (shǒuxiě), etc. Then tap Done（完成 wánchéng）.

Path B: Add It From Inside The Keyboard

Already typing somewhere? This is often faster.

• Open any app where you can type (Messages, Notes, browser search bar).
• On the keyboard, long-press 長按 (cháng àn) the globe icon 地球圖示 (dìqiú túshì) or language key.
• Tap Language settings（語言設定 yǔyán shèdìng） → add 中文（繁體） and choose 注音/拼音.

Method 2: Add Traditional Chinese On Samsung Keyboard

If you’re on a Galaxy phone, Samsung Keyboard is already there—you just need to turn the right language on.

• Open Settings（設定 shèdìng）.
• Go to General management（一​​般管理 yìbān guǎnlǐ） → Language and input（語言與輸入 yǔyán yǔ shūrù）.
• Tap On-screen keyboard（螢幕鍵盤 yíngmù jiànpán） → Samsung Keyboard（三星鍵盤 Sānxīng jiànpán）.
• Tap Languages and types（語言與類型 yǔyán yǔ lèixíng） → Manage input languages（管理輸入語言 guǎnlǐ shūrù yǔyán）.
• Turn on 中文（繁體） / 中文（台灣） / 中文（香港） (choose what you want).
• Switch languages with the 地球圖示 (dìqiú túshì) or by swiping the 空白鍵 (kōngbái jiàn) (depends on your Samsung model/settings).

Method 3: Add Traditional Chinese On Microsoft SwiftKey

SwiftKey is popular for Traditional Chinese. For Taiwan, it commonly defaults to 注音 (zhùyīn) layouts, and you can also pick Stroke/other options depending on region.

• Install Microsoft SwiftKey (if you don’t have it) and enable it as a keyboard.
• Open SwiftKey settings → Languages（語言 yǔyán）.
• Add Chinese (Taiwan)（中文（台灣） Zhōngwén (Táiwān)） for Traditional.
• Pick a layout like 全鍵盤 (quán jiànpán) or 九宮格 (jiǔgōnggé), and choose your input method (often 注音 by default for Taiwan).

Pro Tip: If you want Traditional characters but you only see Simplified options, look for region labels like 台灣 (Táiwān) or 香港 (Xiānggǎng), or anything that explicitly says 繁體 (fántǐ).

How To Actually Type: Zhuyin, Pinyin, Handwriting, Voice

Useful Phrases You’ll Actually Use While Setting This Up

Vocabulary Tables: The Words That Unlock The Menus

Settings & Navigation

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
設定	shèdìng	Settings	我在設定裡找鍵盤。	wǒ zài shèdìng lǐ zhǎo jiànpán	I’m looking for the keyboard in Settings.
系統	xìtǒng	System	系統裡有語言選項。	xìtǒng lǐ yǒu yǔyán xuǎnxiàng	There’s a language option in System.
一般管理	yìbān guǎnlǐ	General management	三星手機常在一般管理裡設定。	Sānxīng shǒujī cháng zài yìbān guǎnlǐ lǐ shèdìng	On Samsung phones, settings are often under General management.
語言	yǔyán	Language	我把語言加成中文。	wǒ bǎ yǔyán jiā chéng Zhōngwén	I added Chinese as a language.
輸入法	shūrùfǎ	Input method (IME)	我用注音輸入法。	wǒ yòng zhùyīn shūrùfǎ	I use the Zhuyin input method.
螢幕鍵盤	yíngmù jiànpán	On-screen keyboard	螢幕鍵盤可以換成 Gboard。	yíngmù jiànpán kěyǐ huàn chéng Gboard	You can switch the on-screen keyboard to Gboard.
下載	xiàzǎi	Download	這個語言需要下載。	zhège yǔyán xūyào xiàzǎi	This language needs to be downloaded.
啟用	qǐyòng	Enable	請先啟用這個鍵盤。	qǐng xiān qǐyòng zhège jiànpán	Please enable this keyboard first.
完成	wánchéng	Done	選好之後按完成。	xuǎn hǎo zhīhòu àn wánchéng	After choosing, tap Done.
更新	gēngxīn	Update	更新鍵盤後再試一次。	gēngxīn jiànpán hòu zài shì yí cì	Update the keyboard, then try again.

Switching & Typing Controls

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
切換	qièhuàn	Switch	我切換到繁體中文了。	wǒ qièhuàn dào fántǐ zhōngwén le	I switched to Traditional Chinese.
長按	cháng àn	Long-press	長按空白鍵看選單。	cháng àn kōngbái jiàn kàn xuǎndān	Long-press the spacebar to see the menu.
地球圖示	dìqiú túshì	Globe icon	按地球圖示換語言。	àn dìqiú túshì huàn yǔyán	Tap the globe icon to change languages.
空白鍵	kōngbái jiàn	Spacebar	我用空白鍵切換鍵盤。	wǒ yòng kōngbái jiàn qièhuàn jiànpán	I use the spacebar to switch keyboards.
候選字	hòuxuǎnzì	Candidate characters	從候選字選正確的字。	cóng hòuxuǎnzì xuǎn zhèngquè de zì	Pick the correct character from the candidate bar.
刪除	shānchú	Delete	打錯就刪除重打。	dǎ cuò jiù shānchú chóng dǎ	If you typed wrong, delete and retype.
貼上	tiēshàng	Paste	我把內容貼上去。	wǒ bǎ nèiróng tiēshàng qù	I paste the content.
剪貼簿	jiǎntiēbù	Clipboard	剪貼簿裡有我剛複製的字。	jiǎntiēbù lǐ yǒu wǒ gāng fùzhì de zì	The clipboard has what I just copied.
選單	xuǎndān	Menu	選單裡可以換輸入法。	xuǎndān lǐ kěyǐ huàn shūrùfǎ	You can change input methods in the menu.
搜尋	sōuxún	Search	在設定裡搜尋「鍵盤」。	zài shèdìng lǐ sōuxún “jiànpán”	Search “keyboard” in Settings.

Input Methods & Scripts

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
繁體中文	fántǐ zhōngwén	Traditional Chinese	我用繁體中文回訊息。	wǒ yòng fántǐ zhōngwén huí xùnxí	I reply in Traditional Chinese.
簡體中文	jiǎntǐ zhōngwén	Simplified Chinese	這不是繁體，是簡體。	zhè bú shì fántǐ, shì jiǎntǐ	This isn’t Traditional, it’s Simplified.
注音	zhùyīn	Zhuyin	注音很適合台灣。	zhùyīn hěn shìhé Táiwān	Zhuyin is great for Taiwan.
拼音	pīnyīn	Pinyin	我也會用拼音選字。	wǒ yě huì yòng pīnyīn xuǎn zì	I can also choose characters using Pinyin.
手寫	shǒuxiě	Handwriting	不會讀的字就用手寫。	bú huì dú de zì jiù yòng shǒuxiě	If you can’t read it, use handwriting.
語音輸入	yǔyīn shūrù	Voice input	開會時我用語音輸入。	kāihuì shí wǒ yòng yǔyīn shūrù	During meetings, I use voice input.
麥克風	màikèfēng	Microphone	點麥克風開始說。	diǎn màikèfēng kāishǐ shuō	Tap the mic to start speaking.
倉頡	cāngjié	Cangjie	有人用倉頡打很快。	yǒu rén yòng cāngjié dǎ hěn kuài	Some people type very fast with Cangjie.
筆劃	bǐhuà	Stroke input	筆劃輸入也能打字。	bǐhuà shūrù yě néng dǎzì	Stroke input can also type characters.
台灣	Táiwān	Taiwan (region option)	選「中文（台灣）」通常是繁體。	xuǎn “Zhōngwén (Táiwān)” tōngcháng shì fántǐ	Choosing “Chinese (Taiwan)” is usually Traditional.

Practice: Make Sure Your Setup Works

Do these mini tasks. If you can type all three lines, you’re officially set.

1. Switch to 繁體中文 (fántǐ zhōngwén) and type: 你好！
   nǐ hǎo
   Hello!
2. Type: 我在用 Android 打繁體中文。
   wǒ zài yòng Android dǎ fántǐ zhōngwén
   I’m typing Traditional Chinese on Android.
3. Type: 今天晚上吃什麼？
   jīntiān wǎnshàng chī shénme
   What are we eating tonight?

Common Problems & Fast Fixes

Problem: I Only Get Simplified Characters

You likely added 簡體中文 (jiǎntǐ zhōngwén). Add 繁體中文 (fántǐ zhōngwén) instead—often shown as 中文（繁體）, 中文（台灣）, or 中文（香港）.

Problem: I Can’t Find “Languages & Input”

Android brands rename menus. Use 搜尋 (sōuxún) inside 設定 (shèdìng) and search: 鍵盤 (jiànpán), 語言 (yǔyán), or 輸入法 (shūrùfǎ).

Problem: I Added Chinese But Can’t Switch While Typing

Look for the 地球圖示 (dìqiú túshì) key, or try 長按 (cháng àn) / swiping the 空白鍵 (kōngbái jiàn). Some keyboards hide switching in a menu (three dots ⋯).

Quick Reference Summary

What You Want	Look For (ZH)	Pinyin	What It Does
Traditional output	繁體 / 台灣 / 香港	fántǐ / Táiwān / Xiānggǎng	Ensures characters are Traditional
Zhuyin typing	注音	zhùyīn	Taiwan-style phonetic keyboard
Pinyin typing	拼音	pīnyīn	Type letters → pick characters
Handwriting	手寫	shǒuxiě	Draw characters to input
Voice input	語音輸入 / 麥克風	yǔyīn shūrù / màikèfēng	Speak → text appears
Switch keyboards	切換 / 地球圖示 / 空白鍵	qièhuàn / dìqiú túshì / kōngbái jiàn	Change language while typing

Want a cheat sheet for 注音鍵盤 (zhùyīn jiànpán) layout basics or the most useful texting shortcuts in Taiwan? Your yak has many opinions.