The Input Sources pane of Keyboard preferences, where you can add or remove input sources for different languages (U.S., Pinyin - Simplified, Shuangpin - Traditional, and Sucheng are shown in the list on the left) and choose other options.

One keyboard, different languages

With macOS, you can use a standard keyboard to type in Chinese and Cantonese—just add an input source for the language you want to use, then switch to it whenever you need to.

How to add a Chinese or Cantonese input source

After you type kaixin (happy), the Candidate window displays possible matching characters in Simplified or Traditional Chinese.

Get suggestions from the Candidate window

As you type text, the Candidate window shows all the possible characters for the text, including emoji for certain languages.

How to use the Candidate window

The Trackpad Handwriting window showing possible matching characters for “handwriting” above the written characters in Simplified (top) or Traditional Chinese (bottom).

Write it yourself

Don’t feel like typing? Use Trackpad Handwriting to write Chinese or Cantonese characters with your finger.

How to use Trackpad Handwriting to write Chinese and Cantonese

To explore the Chinese and Cantonese Input Method User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page, or enter a word or phrase in the search field.

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Character limit: 250
Maximum character limit is 250.
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