Type in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese

Typing in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese requires the use of an “input method” that translates physical key-presses into the right characters on the screen. This page describes how to set up the popular “Fcitx 5” input method and use it.

Installation

First, install Fcitx 5 using Discover.

While on that the page for Fcitx5 in Discover, Click the Add-Ons button in the toolbar, and install the required add-on for the language you want to use. For example:

• Chinese (Pinyin, Wubi, and others)
• Chinese (Zhuyin)
• Chinese (Bopomofo)
• Japanese
• Korean
• Vietnamese

Configuration

Launch System Settings. Navigate to Keyboard > Virtual Keyboard > click “Fcitx 5” > click Apply.

At this point, a keyboard icon has appeared in the System Tray. Right-click it, and then click Input Method Settings.

In the window that appears, select the input method plug-in for the desired language, plus a matching keyboard layout. After selecting each one, click the arrow pointing towards the list on the left to move the selected option into that list.

• For Chinese, add “Keyboard - Chinese” first, then add any of the options listed under “Chinese (China)” or Chinese (Taiwan)”.
• For Japanese, add “Keyboard - Japanese” first, then add “Mozc”.
• For Korean, add “Keyboard - Korean” first, then add “Hangul”.
• For Vietnamese, add “Keyboard - Vietnamese” first, then add “Unikey”.

If you are prompted to change your system layout to match the input method, click Yes.

Use

Type as expected.

To type Latin characters instead of using the input method and, press Ctrl+Space while a text field is focused, or click the symbol for the active input method in the System Tray. Do the same thing a second time to return to using the input method.

Article contributed by Nate Graham under the CC-BY-4.0 license.