Online pinyin keyboard: type pinyin to Chinese characters
To type Chinese on a computer without a Chinese keyboard, open Chinput, click the editor, type nihao, and press Space to select 你好. Copy the result into your document or message. Core pinyin typing needs no account or installation.
What does “pinyin to Chinese” mean?
Pinyin writes Mandarin pronunciation with Latin letters. An online pinyin input method uses those letters to suggest Chinese characters; it does not translate English. For example, nihao represents the sound of 你好. If you type an English sentence, the pinyin keyboard will not translate its meaning. Translation is a separate optional AI feature and is currently disabled.
Try these examples
| Type | Look for | What to do |
|---|---|---|
nihao | 你好 | Press Space if it is the first candidate; otherwise choose its number. |
lvse | 绿色 | Use v for the ü sound. |
xi'an | 西安 | An apostrophe separates xi and an, rather than xian. |
ggqc | 公共汽车 | Initials can find a longer word; check the candidate before selecting. |
Selecting and correcting characters
Pinyin often has several possible readings. Space selects the first candidate; 1–9 select numbered alternatives. Use the arrow keys or − and = to move through candidate pages. Enter keeps the Latin letters, and Escape cancels the current pinyin. Shorter words can be easier to check than a whole sentence.
If an unexpected candidate comes first, check the scene next to Quick phrases. Scene vocabulary affects ranking. Choose a scene appropriate to your text, or select a different candidate.
Typing Traditional Chinese
Choose 繁體 台 for Taiwan or 繁體 港 for Hong Kong at the top of the editor. 简体 selects Simplified Chinese. These options change character forms and conversion conventions; they do not teach pronunciation or turn Mandarin pinyin into Cantonese romanization.
Chinese keyboard online: copy and paste
After selecting your characters, click Copy and paste the text into Word, email, or a message. Chinput writes ordinary Unicode Chinese text, so the destination does not need to use Chinput. If the destination cannot display Chinese, check its font and language support. On shared computers, review the clipboard and clear site data when appropriate.
Using a phone or shared computer
On a phone, use the PINYIN field below the editor and tap a candidate. On a shared computer, avoid typing confidential information. Chinput can remember preferences and candidate choices in browser storage; clear site data when you finish if you do not want these retained.
Is this a Chinese course?
No. It is an input tool. Candidate suggestions and offline proofreading can be wrong. Check unfamiliar words with a teacher or dictionary before using them in important text.