Chinese Keyboard - Pinyin

Type Chinese through phonetic suggestions

Chinese Keyboard - Pinyin is a system keyboard for people who want to write Simplified Chinese using familiar Latin letters. Type a word as it sounds, then choose a Chinese suggestion from the keyboard. The suggestions are a step in the process: you still need to pick the wording you mean, rather than expect every typed phrase to turn into the right Chinese automatically.

Once enabled, it can be used in messaging and other apps that accept keyboard input. A language button switches between Chinese and English, with English suggestions available too. It suits people who regularly message in Chinese and prefer phonetic typing to selecting characters one at a time.

Extras and setup

The keyboard includes an emoji bar, themes and an option to use a photo as the keyboard background. It can also browse stickers stored on your phone for sending in messaging apps; the supplied description says this feature requires storage permission. An app-search feature can find apps already on your device and surface related apps, so the keyboard is not limited to entering text.

To use it, you must enable it in Android's keyboard settings and choose it as the active keyboard. Android may show its standard warning for downloaded keyboards. That prompt is worth reading: a keyboard is an input method, not just a visual theme.

What to weigh

The listing says the app does not collect personal information or credit-card details, while anonymous statistics may be collected. Those statements are not a substitute for checking the permissions and privacy information shown on your device. The keyboard also offers an ad-free experience through a Premium option; the supplied details do not specify its price.

Track record

Desh Global publishes the app in the Tools category. Its 4.52 rating from 12,858 reviews and 1,000,000+ installs suggest that it has reached a substantial audience, though those figures do not tell you how well its suggestions handle your own phrases. The practical test is whether its phonetic suggestions are convenient for the Chinese you actually type.