This guide is always evolving. Suggestions for software or resources to link to are welcome.
Tonals and Diacritical Marks
Software for Macs
Software for PCs
Setting Up Foreign Language Keyboards
The following shortcuts work with most applications and browsers, including Microsoft Word and Gmail. Note: these shortcuts may not work unless you enable and switch to an Extended Keyboard Layout; see "Setting Up Foreign Language Keyboards" below for more information.
Typing Chinese tonal & diacritical marks on a Mac:
| Macron | ā, ē, ī, ō, ū | Option + a, then the letter |
| Circumflex | â, ê, î, ô, û | Option + 6, then the letter |
| Acute | á, é, í, ó | Option + e, then the letter |
| Grave | à, è, ì, ò, ù | Option + `, then the letter |
| Umlaut | ü | Option + u, then u |
Typing Chinese tonal & diacritical marks on a PC:
| Macron | Ā Ē Ī Ō Ū |
alt + 0256 alt + 0274 alt + 0298 alt + 0332 alt + 0362 |
ā ē ī ō ū |
alt + 0257 alt + 0275 alt + 0299 alt + 0333 alt + 0363 |
| Circumflex | Â Ê Î Ô Û |
alt + 0194 alt + 0202 alt + 0206 alt + 0212 alt + 0219 |
â ê î ô û |
alt + 0226 alt + 0234 alt + 0238 alt + 0244 alt + 0251 |
| Acute | Á É Í Ó Ú |
alt + 0193 alt + 0201 alt + 0205 alt + 0211 alt + 0218 |
á é í ó ú |
alt + 0225 alt + 0233 alt + 0237 alt + 0243 alt + 0250 |
| Grave | À È Ì Ò Ù |
alt + 0192 alt + 0200 alt + 0204 alt + 0210 alt + 0217 |
à è ì ò ù |
alt + 0224 alt + 0232 alt + 0236 alt + 0242 alt + 0249 |
| Umlaut | Ü | alt +0220 | ü | alt + 0252 |
For additional information, see the Penn State "Computing with Accents, Symbols, and Foreign Scripts" pages.
The Microsoft Office suite supports Chinese spell check. You can set it as your default language in Office for Mac using these instructions.
Gmail does not support Chinese spell check, nor do other Google applications. However, most browsers offer Chinese as a default language option.
To change your browser language:
Firefox: In the Preferences window go to the Content tab and set the Language.
Chrome: Settings -> Advanced settings -> Languages
The Microsoft Office suite supports Chinese spell check. You can set it as your default language using these instructions.
Gmail does not support Chinese spell check, nor do other Google applications. However, most browsers offer Chinese as a default language option.
To change your browser language:
Firefox: In the Options window go to the Content tab and set the Language.
Chrome: Settings -> Advanced settings -> Languages
Research and Instruction Technologist
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