CantoIME is a Windows 11 Chinese input method with a customizable romanization-to-character dictionary. Type romanized text, then choose Chinese characters from the candidate list.
Requires Windows 11 x64.
- In Settings > Time & language > Language & region, select Add a language and add the Chinese language you want to use, if it is not already installed. CantoIME supports Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, and Macao SAR) and Simplified Chinese (China and Singapore).
- Download
CantoIME-Setup.exefrom Releases and run it. Allow administrator access when prompted. - Choose one of your installed Chinese languages. The installer registers CantoIME under that language; it does not add it to your available keyboards.
- Click Open language settings on the final installer page, or open Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Open Language options for the language you chose, then select Add a keyboard > CantoIME.
- Switch to CantoIME with Win + Space or the taskbar input selector. Try typing in a text box, such as Notepad.
Run the newer CantoIME-Setup.exe. You do not need to uninstall first.
Windows may ask you to restart if an application is using CantoIME during the update.
Type romanized text to see matching Chinese characters. Partial spellings also show suggestions.
- Space / Enter accepts the selected candidate; 1-9 or a click chooses one directly. With no candidates, Space / Enter inserts the text you typed.
- Up / Down moves through candidates; PgUp / PgDn changes pages. You can also scroll over the candidate list.
- Right expands the list into columns; Left / Right moves between them.
- Backspace removes a letter; Esc cancels the current input.
- Tap Shift, or click 中 / 英 in the taskbar, to switch between Chinese and English input.
Double-click 中 / 英 in the taskbar to open Options. You can:
- Choose the stock Traditional or Simplified dictionary, or a custom file.
- Choose which Shift key toggles Chinese/English, or disable the shortcut.
- Change the candidate font size.
- Add or remove custom candidates for a spelling. These additions are saved separately for each dictionary and appear after its stock candidates.
Click OK to apply your changes. Other open applications pick them up when CantoIME regains focus. For bulk dictionary changes, see Custom dictionary files.
- No tone input or spelling correction.
- When typing several syllables together, only the final segment offers a choice of candidates; earlier segments use their first match.
- Candidate sizing and positioning may not suit every display or application.
See BUILD.md for build instructions and implementation details.
MIT. See LICENSE. Author: AbyxDev.