Guide
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Practice HSK 1 vocabularyThe Quick input method—called Sucheng (速成) on macOS and in Cantonese usage—is a shape-based way to type Traditional Chinese. It uses a reduced form of Cangjie: typically the first and last Cangjie codes of a character, followed by candidate selection.
Quick is useful when you want shape-based Traditional Chinese input without memorizing every full Cangjie code. The tradeoff is more duplicate codes and more candidate selection.
Compare all options in the Chinese keyboard and input method guide.
Quick uses the same root-key system as Cangjie, but usually keeps only the first and last code. That makes codes shorter. Because many characters share the same shortened code, the candidate list becomes a larger part of typing.
The basic flow is:
Exact behavior can vary by operating system and input method version. Treat the candidate list and settings on your own device as the source of truth.
| Question | Quick / Sucheng | Full Cangjie |
|---|---|---|
| Code length | Usually shorter | Uses fuller decomposition |
| Learning curve | Lower | Higher |
| Duplicate codes | More | Fewer |
| Candidate selection | More frequent | Often less frequent |
| Best fit | Occasional or developing shape-based typists | People seeking precise, sustained typing |
Quick is not automatically faster. A shorter code can be offset by searching candidates. Its main advantage is a lower barrier to useful shape-based input.
Quick is especially relevant if you type Hong Kong Traditional Chinese, recognize character shapes more easily than Mandarin pronunciation, or need to enter characters you cannot pronounce.
It is less suitable if you already type Pinyin or Jyutping fluently and rarely encounter unknown pronunciations. Switching methods only helps when it solves a real problem.
On Windows, add a Traditional Chinese language option and select Microsoft Quick where available. See the Windows Chinese keyboard guide.
On macOS, add Sucheng - Traditional in Keyboard settings. See the Mac Chinese typing guide.
Names and availability differ across Android and iPhone keyboards. Check whether your keyboard provides Quick, Sucheng, Simplified Cangjie, or a similar Traditional shape-based method.
TypeChinese accepts text produced by your system Quick/Sucheng keyboard. It does not currently show Quick codes, so use your input method’s candidates and reference materials while you practice.
Start with 100 common Traditional characters, repeat difficult characters, then move to vocabulary and short passages. Follow the Quick input practice plan for a structured first two weeks.
If your goal eventually becomes full Cangjie, use Quick to learn the root-key map, then study the complete decomposition rules in the Cangjie guide.
They generally refer to the same shortened Cangjie-style idea. “Quick” is common in Microsoft English labels; “Sucheng” is common on Apple platforms, while 速成 is the Chinese name.
No. It is based on character shape, not pronunciation. It is popular in Hong Kong, but anyone who types Traditional Chinese can learn it.
That is the usual explanation, but implementation details and candidate behavior can vary. Learn the root map and test examples in the input method installed on your device.
