<p>I wrote the PinyinTones IME a couple of years ago to do exactly what the OP was asking about:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pinyintones.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.pinyintones.com/</a></li>
</ul>

<p>PinyinTones a Windows IME that outputs Pinyin with tone marks, rather than Chinese characters.  Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 after each syllable to add a tone mark -- just as people have been entering Pinyin since the days of ASCII characters.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RWnvo.png" alt="PinyinTones allows the user to type Pinyin with tone marks into any Windows program"></p>

<p>PinyinTones will automatically place the tone mark on the correct vowel in a combination, according to the rules of Pinyin orthography.  For example,  becomes hǎo -- with the tone mark on the "a" rather than on the "o")</p>

<p>How is PinyinTones different from other Pinyin tone entry IMEs?</p>

<ol>
<li>There are no ads, toolbars, or popups.</li>
<li>It uses in-line text composition, just like the Microsoft IMEs.  This means that in most applications, text will reflow as you type.</li>
<li>It works fully in Windows 8 and 10 -- including Windows Store applications.</li>
<li>It was intentionally written to be very simple.  That means less that can potentially break with changes in system configuration.</li>
<li>I use Windows as my primary OS.  Thus, if something does break, I'll personally get very annoyed, and I'll fix it.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-01T11:21:59.267Z
Just installed this, and it works great for inputting Pinyin :)
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-10T01:01:28.587Z
I am actually not sure this is actually what OP wanted. I have the same problem where I would like to type pinyin with tone marks, but I actually want the actual characters showing up, not the literal English characters with tone marks.

The default Windows 10 PinYin lacks tone marks, so I'd be forced to look through a whole list of characters before settling down on one. It would narrow down the selection more if Pinyin allows me to set tone mark.
Antony
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-30T19:28:26.680Z
2017-09-28T21:52:30.477Z
2017-09-28T21:52:30.477Z
Tao Yue
<p>Besides Windows OS-included IME's, there's:</p>

<p><strong>搜狗 Sou Gou Pin Yin</strong> is my favorite by far.
<a href="http://pinyin.sogou.com/" rel="noreferrer">http://pinyin.sogou.com/</a></p>

<p>You can switch easily between simplified and traditional (if that matters to you), and you can download from several skins.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pbGOl.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p><strong>南極星 NJ Star</strong> is one I used for a while: <a href="http://www.njstar.com/cms/" rel="noreferrer">http://www.njstar.com/cms/</a></p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9fnRW.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Allows you to type in the tones (so you're forced to remember them)</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZymAi.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>I really don't think you need to look much further than that.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-01T17:06:31.223Z
2012-12-01T17:06:31.223Z
user3871
<p>I found this site, robrohan.com, that has <a href="http://robrohan.com/2007/02/11/typing-pinyin-on-windows/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a page</a> with a tutorial on how to set and use an application that remaps your keyboard.</p>

<p>See also this question on Superuser SE, <em>"<a href="https://superuser.com/questions/27743/how-to-type-pinyin-text-with-tone-marks-in-windows">How to type pinyin text with tone marks in Windows?</a>"</em>, there are various resources in the answers, especially the main one.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:25:00.540Z
Have you used any pinyin input methods yourself?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:32:50.550Z
Honestly? No, I don't have to type it a lot, so I haven't looked into that... I simply drag the characters with the marks I don't have on my keyboard, which means first and third tone, from a character palette on my system. :)
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:33:53.193Z
Heh, fair enough :)
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:19:38.007Z
2011-12-13T22:19:38.007Z
2017-03-20T10:18:35.557Z
Alenanno
<p>I would like to add new information to this post. I used 搜狗 Sou Gou Pin Yin as Growler suggest in his answer for this question. And now I really think that this is the best IME I ever used. But just a few weeks ago I installed the new Windows 8 and was pleased to find a new improved IME from Microsoft. It is pretty good, much better than the previous versions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-22T12:07:14.317Z
2013-01-22T13:42:23.653Z
2013-01-22T13:42:23.653Z
Denis Kucherov
<p>I use the Taiwan Pinyin.. You just have to add "Chinese (traditional, Taiwan)". It is by default set to bopomofo, so when you add the keyboard, you just have to go to properties, then to the last tab and change it to 漢語拼音. </p>

<p>You can decide when you want to type with tones or not. If for example you want to type a sentence with a name on it, you just type without the tones, and for it to be more accurate with some words or names, you just type the number of the tone at the end of the syllable. </p>

<p>It's the most convenient Typing method that I have found until now.　For those of you who would like to type in Simplified Chinese, I think there's a way to change it, but I'm not sure because I never done it before. Good luck!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-13T10:00:02.977Z
I don't just get one Taiwan keyboard option, I get severak, including ChangJie, New ChangJie, New Phonetic, New Quick, Phonetic, Quick, US Keyboard, Array, DaYi.... which one do you use to type with tones?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-12T17:32:33.030Z
2012-11-12T23:23:32.947Z
2012-11-12T23:23:32.947Z
Sebastian
<p>Try <a href="http://www.unispim.com/software/index.php" rel="nofollow">ZiGuang</a>; you can use Shift + 1, 2, 3, 4 after typing a word to select the tone you want.</p>

<p>If you want to find a Pinyin typing method in daily life, I recommend <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/zh-CN/ime/pinyin/" rel="nofollow">Google Pinyin</a> and <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/china/pinyin/" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Pinyin 2010</a> (a significant improvement over the one built-in to Windows)</p>

<p>As far as I know, Microsoft Pinyin also supports typing with tones. However, I am currently using Mac OS X. If you have any more question, please feel free to comment.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T01:09:17.033Z
2011-12-14T19:32:26.480Z
2011-12-14T19:32:26.480Z
Alex Chen
<p>As an alternative if to stay stick to Microsoft IME you can add Alphabetical Style Input Method Microsoft Pinyin. With that IME you can input pinyin with tone number. Although it's not perfect and not really convinient in Microsoft realization.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-01T11:26:04.810Z
Not sure if you are referring to the 'Microsoft ABC Pinyin Input Style'? I've tried that, and I'm not sure how it's supposed to work, but while it displays characters based on Pinyin you enter, it doesn't seem to use the tones you enter (at least not how I would expect!). For example, wo3 displays `肟`, which isn't what I would expect
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-01T11:40:01.253Z
Not sure about it precise english spelling, I have russian Windows 7 so it is a translation from russian. I just check it for wo3 it gives me 我 character in a first place of the list.
Denis Kucherov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-01T11:48:34.907Z
Yes, it gives me 我 as first too... but then it lists another 2 characters that don't have the 3rd tone
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-01T07:37:18.123Z
2012-12-01T07:37:18.123Z
Denis Kucherov
<p>Usually most input methods used for Chinese (and thus used by Chinese) are not based on tones. For Pinyin it is really rare that you input a single character at a time; you usually input a word composed of at least two characters or a sentence directly.</p>

<p>According to the IM you use you will have to choose from a list of propositions for different possible characters matching the Pinyin. I use <a href="http://pinyin.sogou.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Sogou Pinyin</strong></a> daily and for this kind of situation it is very rare that I have to choose characters not already "pre selected".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T07:19:57.273Z
I approve this suggestion. Sogou also learns your preferences, so it gets smarter as you use it.
Orion
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T07:39:17.157Z
Yep Sogou Pinyin is the IM that most of the Chinese people I know and work with are using. Also, I guess it uses stats from other users to provide you good propositions, kind of like a "collective" sharing of input and global stats server behind this I. (my own opinion, I didn't checked this).
Vincent B.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-15T08:23:56.400Z
I don't want to type pinyin to get Chinese characters - I want to type pinyin and get pinyin with tone marks
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T00:35:46.563Z
2011-12-14T19:32:01.813Z
2011-12-14T19:32:01.813Z
Vincent B.
<p>You can type Toned-Pinyin at: <a href="http://www.TypingChinese.com/main.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">www.TypingChinese.com/main.htm</a></p>

<p>Pinyin with tone marks can be type in SHIFT-style in 1-step.</p>

<p>I invented/implemented this tone pinyin input method and hope this helps.</p>

<p>Documentation:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.typingchinese.com/TypingTonedPinyin.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.typingchinese.com/TypingTonedPinyin.htm</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-22T20:11:32.093Z
Sorry, I was looking for something to let me type Pinyin in *all* Windows applications - I don't want to have to open a website, type there, then copy and paste that into whatever program I was using
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-22T15:53:02.783Z
2018-03-22T15:53:02.783Z
Yi Jiang
<p>Suggestion: you can try using this input method.</p>

<p>software name：‘百度输入法’</p>

<p>Open this web site download install package</p>

<p></p>

<p>After installation can be found in the lower right corner and open or press </p>

<p>Shift+Ctrl to open the input method.</p>

<p>He is like this.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/X13Ln.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/X13Ln.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>You can get Chinese characters by typing pinyin.</p>

<p>If you want to say 'hello'.</p>

<p>Enter Ni Hao in turn in the case of open input method "</p>

<p>There will be the Chinese characters you want.</p>

<p>Then look at the Chinese characters you want, click on the corresponding Chinese characters you can。</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4P7cA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4P7cA.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>This is also the input method used by many Chinese netizens！</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-27T14:22:47.597Z
2016-12-27T14:30:46.997Z
2016-12-27T14:30:46.997Z
月亮岛腐竹
<p>I just created <a href="https://www.pinyin-editor.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.pinyin-editor.com/</a> a couple of days ago, that might help especially if you try to do things on mobile.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T04:36:01.440Z
2017-09-14T04:36:01.440Z
Wolfgang
<p>I like the <a href="http://pinyinput.sourceforge.net/">pinyinput</a> input method editor. Just type the letters for the syllable followed by a tone number, and it will combine them in the usual way.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T01:12:09.323Z
Nice input method, I wasn't aware of this one. It seems like Cocowalla found the right IM.
Vincent B.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T00:45:08.897Z
2011-12-14T00:45:08.897Z
Don Kirkby
<p>What is the best way for me to type pinyin using a keyboard on Windows?</p>

<p>I've tried the built-in IMEs, but... they don't feel very intuitive to me. For example, if I want to get <code>wǔ</code>, I need to type <code>wu</code>, then select from a list of possible options.</p>

<p>Instead, I'd like to type something like <code>wu3</code> to get <code>wǔ</code></p>

<p>Is there anything built in to Windows to allow that? Or are there any suggestions for applications to let me input pinyin like this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-13T10:10:23.653Z
Actually, I wanted a method to write Pinyin, *not* Chinese characters
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:21:16.240Z
The Windows IME is actually quite intuitive for typing long sentences, it relies on context so is not suited for typing single words, but if you are typing emails it works fine.
going
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:22:09.750Z
@xiaohouzi79 Note that he's not asking how to type chinese, but how to type pinyin with tones (just saying in case you didn't understand). :)
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-13T22:28:44.583Z
@Alenanno - Sorry, my bad!!! I skimmed the question :(
going
<pinyin><input-methods>
Chinese input on Windows based on pinyin and tones
# Chinese input on Windows based on pinyin and tones

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-13)

What is the best way for me to type pinyin using a keyboard on Windows?

I've tried the built-in IMEs, but... they don't feel very intuitive to me. For example, if I want to get `wǔ`, I need to type `wu`, then select from a list of possible options.

Instead, I'd like to type something like `wu3` to get `wǔ`

Is there anything built in to Windows to allow that? Or are there any suggestions for applications to let me input pinyin like this?

**Tags:** pinyin, input-methods

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The Windows IME is actually quite intuitive for typing long sentences, it relies on context so is not suited for typing single words, but if you are typing emails it works fine.  
> **username_2**: @xiaohouzi79 Note that he's not asking how to type chinese, but how to type pinyin with tones (just saying in case you didn't understand). :)  
> **username_1**: @username_2 - Sorry, my bad!!! I skimmed the question :(  
> **username_0**: Actually, I wanted a method to write Pinyin, *not* Chinese characters  

---

## 12 answers

### Answer by username_14 on 2011-12-14. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

I like the [pinyinput](http://pinyinput.sourceforge.net/) input method editor. Just type the letters for the syllable followed by a tone number, and it will combine them in the usual way.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: Nice input method, I wasn't aware of this one. It seems like username_0 found the right IM.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-11-30. Score: 8

I wrote the PinyinTones IME a couple of years ago to do exactly what the OP was asking about:

* [https://www.pinyintones.com/](http://www.pinyintones.com/)

PinyinTones a Windows IME that outputs Pinyin with tone marks, rather than Chinese characters. Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 after each syllable to add a tone mark -- just as people have been entering Pinyin since the days of ASCII characters.

![PinyinTones allows the user to type Pinyin with tone marks into any Windows program](https://i.sstatic.net/RWnvo.png)

PinyinTones will automatically place the tone mark on the correct vowel in a combination, according to the rules of Pinyin orthography. For example, becomes hǎo -- with the tone mark on the "a" rather than on the "o")

How is PinyinTones different from other Pinyin tone entry IMEs?

1. There are no ads, toolbars, or popups.
2. It uses in-line text composition, just like the Microsoft IMEs. This means that in most applications, text will reflow as you type.
3. It works fully in Windows 8 and 10 -- including Windows Store applications.
4. It was intentionally written to be very simple. That means less that can potentially break with changes in system configuration.
5. I use Windows as my primary OS. Thus, if something does break, I'll personally get very annoyed, and I'll fix it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Just installed this, and it works great for inputting Pinyin :)  
> **username_4**: I am actually not sure this is actually what OP wanted. I have the same problem where I would like to type pinyin with tone marks, but I actually want the actual characters showing up, not the literal English characters with tone marks.  The default Windows 10 PinYin lacks tone marks, so I'd be forced to look through a whole list of characters before settling down on one. It would narrow down the selection more if Pinyin allows me to set tone mark.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-12-01. Score: 5

Besides Windows OS-included IME's, there's:

**搜狗 Sou Gou Pin Yin** is my favorite by far.
<http://pinyin.sogou.com/>

You can switch easily between simplified and traditional (if that matters to you), and you can download from several skins.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pbGOl.jpg)

**南極星 NJ Star** is one I used for a while: <http://www.njstar.com/cms/>

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/9fnRW.jpg)

Allows you to type in the tones (so you're forced to remember them)

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZymAi.jpg)

I really don't think you need to look much further than that.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-12-13. Score: 4

I found this site, robrohan.com, that has [a page](http://robrohan.com/2007/02/11/typing-pinyin-on-windows/) with a tutorial on how to set and use an application that remaps your keyboard.

See also this question on Superuser SE, *"[How to type pinyin text with tone marks in Windows?](https://superuser.com/questions/27743/how-to-type-pinyin-text-with-tone-marks-in-windows)"*, there are various resources in the answers, especially the main one.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Have you used any pinyin input methods yourself?  
> **username_2**: Honestly? No, I don't have to type it a lot, so I haven't looked into that... I simply drag the characters with the marks I don't have on my keyboard, which means first and third tone, from a character palette on my system. :)  
> **username_0**: Heh, fair enough :)  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-01-22. Score: 2

I would like to add new information to this post. I used 搜狗 Sou Gou Pin Yin as Growler suggest in his answer for this question. And now I really think that this is the best IME I ever used. But just a few weeks ago I installed the new Windows 8 and was pleased to find a new improved IME from Microsoft. It is pretty good, much better than the previous versions.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2012-11-12. Score: 2

I use the Taiwan Pinyin.. You just have to add "Chinese (traditional, Taiwan)". It is by default set to bopomofo, so when you add the keyboard, you just have to go to properties, then to the last tab and change it to 漢語拼音.

You can decide when you want to type with tones or not. If for example you want to type a sentence with a name on it, you just type without the tones, and for it to be more accurate with some words or names, you just type the number of the tone at the end of the syllable.

It's the most convenient Typing method that I have found until now.　For those of you who would like to type in Simplified Chinese, I think there's a way to change it, but I'm not sure because I never done it before. Good luck!

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I don't just get one Taiwan keyboard option, I get severak, including ChangJie, New ChangJie, New Phonetic, New Quick, Phonetic, Quick, US Keyboard, Array, DaYi.... which one do you use to type with tones?  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2011-12-14. Score: 1

Try [ZiGuang](http://www.unispim.com/software/index.php); you can use Shift + 1, 2, 3, 4 after typing a word to select the tone you want.

If you want to find a Pinyin typing method in daily life, I recommend [Google Pinyin](http://www.google.com/intl/zh-CN/ime/pinyin/) and [Microsoft Pinyin 2010](http://www.microsoft.com/china/pinyin/) (a significant improvement over the one built-in to Windows)

As far as I know, Microsoft Pinyin also supports typing with tones. However, I am currently using Mac OS X. If you have any more question, please feel free to comment.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2012-12-01. Score: 1

As an alternative if to stay stick to Microsoft IME you can add Alphabetical Style Input Method Microsoft Pinyin. With that IME you can input pinyin with tone number. Although it's not perfect and not really convinient in Microsoft realization.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Not sure if you are referring to the 'Microsoft ABC Pinyin Input Style'? I've tried that, and I'm not sure how it's supposed to work, but while it displays characters based on Pinyin you enter, it doesn't seem to use the tones you enter (at least not how I would expect!). For example, wo3 displays `肟`, which isn't what I would expect  
> **username_6**: Not sure about it precise english spelling, I have russian Windows 7 so it is a translation from russian. I just check it for wo3 it gives me 我 character in a first place of the list.  
> **username_0**: Yes, it gives me 我 as first too... but then it lists another 2 characters that don't have the 3rd tone  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2011-12-14. Score: 0

Usually most input methods used for Chinese (and thus used by Chinese) are not based on tones. For Pinyin it is really rare that you input a single character at a time; you usually input a word composed of at least two characters or a sentence directly.

According to the IM you use you will have to choose from a list of propositions for different possible characters matching the Pinyin. I use [**Sogou Pinyin**](http://pinyin.sogou.com/) daily and for this kind of situation it is very rare that I have to choose characters not already "pre selected".

> **Comments:**
> **username_10**: I approve this suggestion. Sogou also learns your preferences, so it gets smarter as you use it.  
> **username_9**: Yep Sogou Pinyin is the IM that most of the Chinese people I know and work with are using. Also, I guess it uses stats from other users to provide you good propositions, kind of like a "collective" sharing of input and global stats server behind this I. (my own opinion, I didn't checked this).  
> **username_0**: I don't want to type pinyin to get Chinese characters - I want to type pinyin and get pinyin with tone marks  

---

### Answer by username_11 on 2018-03-22. Score: 0

You can type Toned-Pinyin at: [www.TypingChinese.com/main.htm](http://www.TypingChinese.com/main.htm)

Pinyin with tone marks can be type in SHIFT-style in 1-step.

I invented/implemented this tone pinyin input method and hope this helps.

Documentation:

<http://www.typingchinese.com/TypingTonedPinyin.htm>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Sorry, I was looking for something to let me type Pinyin in *all* Windows applications - I don't want to have to open a website, type there, then copy and paste that into whatever program I was using  

---

### Answer by username_12 on 2016-12-27. Score: 0

Suggestion: you can try using this input method.

software name：‘百度输入法’

Open this web site download install package

After installation can be found in the lower right corner and open or press

Shift+Ctrl to open the input method.

He is like this.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/X13Ln.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/X13Ln.png)

You can get Chinese characters by typing pinyin.

If you want to say 'hello'.

Enter Ni Hao in turn in the case of open input method "

There will be the Chinese characters you want.

Then look at the Chinese characters you want, click on the corresponding Chinese characters you can。

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4P7cA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/4P7cA.png)

This is also the input method used by many Chinese netizens！


---

### Answer by username_13 on 2017-09-14. Score: -1

I just created <https://www.pinyin-editor.com/> a couple of days ago, that might help especially if you try to do things on mobile.


---

