Apple Chinese Language Kit - Manual (Page 10)

10 Chapter 1
Writing-Based Input Systems
Simplified Chinese uses over 6,000 characters, while Traditional Chinese uses over 16,000
characters. These characters are used individually as words. In addition, two or three
characters can be combined to form a
phrase, which represents a word.
Chinese characters have three levels: strokes used to draw the characters; combinations of
strokes which form simple graphic elements, called radicals, that make up the characters;
and the whole character.
Note: The word radical is also used to designate the root of a character.
Writing-based input modes are either stroke-based or radical-based:
m
A stroke-based input system defines the basic strokes used to write Chinese characters
and assigns the strokes to keys on the Roman-based keyboard.
m A radical-based input system defines the radicals used to write Chinese characters and
assigns the radicals to keys on the Roman-based keyboard.
To enter a character, you type the keys for the strokes or radicals in the order specified by the
input mode to compose the characters. This order is based on the way Chinese characters
are written. To use a stroke or radical input system, you must know how to write Chinese, as
well as understand how the input mode works.
Stroke and radical input modes are popular with Chinese speakers because they are based on
writing the characters. They allow you to enter Chinese characters rapidly and without
converting them to a foreign writing system, as the Pinyin input mode does.
Because these input modes define a limited number of strokes or radicals, they do not
include all the elements used in Chinese characters. In addition, it may not be clear which
stroke or radical to use for a character in some cases.
These input modes limit the number of strokes or radicals you can use to designate a
character. The limit can be less than the number of elements actually used to write the
character. For example, the Wubi Hua input mode, which is a stroke input system, allows up
to five strokes for a character, but many Chinese characters require more than five strokes.
Because of these limitations, you may have to select the character you want from several
alternatives after you type the keys for the strokes or radicals that make up the character.