<p>You don't need an app for this, it's a built-in feature in iOS. To enable Chinese handwriting input, do the following steps:</p>

<ol>
<li>Go to <strong>Settings</strong> &rarr; <strong>General</strong> &rarr; Keyboard.</li>
<li>Go <strong>Keyboards</strong> and tap <strong>Add New Keyboard</strong>...</li>
<li>Tap on the name of the keyboard you want to add: e.g., <strong>Chinese (Simplified) - Handwriting</strong>.</li>
<li>Optional: Tap <strong>Edit</strong> and drag on the handles to rearrange the keyboard list into the order you'd like.</li>
</ol>

<p>To use:</p>

<ol>
<li>Go to whatever app you want to enter Chinese text into (e.g., Pleco).</li>
<li>Get to a place in the app where it expects keyboard input (e.g., in Pleco, tap in the search text box).</li>
<li>In the keyboard, there is a globe-icon key (it becomes a happy face key in the emoji keyboard), which allows you to cycle through your keyboards. Tap it until you reach the Chinese handwriting input you added. </li>
<li>Draw the strokes and select your character from the proposed characters that appear at the top of the keyboard.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-02T23:42:41.270Z
2016-04-02T23:42:41.270Z
inkista
<p>This <a href="http://youtu.be/PfOw02IixOI" rel="nofollow">Youtube video</a> shows how to enable iPad's builtin system chinese hand writing keyboards. Once you enable one of them, you can use it not only for Pleco but also for any apps.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T08:45:57.350Z
As currently Youtube is blocked in Mainland China, it would be better to post some screenshots instead of a single link – and welcome to Chinese SE :)
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-30T19:25:51.997Z
2016-01-30T19:38:57.303Z
2016-01-30T19:38:57.303Z
Jake
<p>The real thing you need is an input method supporting stroke input. A <strong>Sogou</strong> input method is recommended. You can download it on its website. Use this input method to input the character you have seen, and look it up in any Chinese dictionary app. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-25T09:57:37.093Z
2016-01-25T09:57:37.093Z
Winfred Huang
<p>I am trying to find an Apple tablet dictionary that supports drawing input.</p>

<p>What I mean by that Is that you are able to draw the character you are looking for and then it suggests a number of characters this drawing of yours looks like. </p>

<p>I have noticed that android Pleco has this function but not for Iphone Pleco.</p>

<p>Can anyone point to another app that works for IOS? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:10:43.687Z
When you mention characters are you referring to letters, CJK ideographs or something else like pictures?
Tommie C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:11:43.553Z
You don't need any third-party app to support "drawing input" – iOS itself has such an input method: Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> Keyboards -> Add New Keyboard... -> Chinese (Simplified) / Chinese (Traditional) -> Handwriting. Then it's done.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:11:49.730Z
I am reffering to Chinese Characters. 汉字 not 母子。
Nulle
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:15:13.040Z
Omg！！ you are absolutely right!!! if you make an official answer instead of a comment then I will mark you as the correct answer. Else I will make an answer myself later.
Nulle
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:21:52.117Z
I'm glad it helped :) But anyway as this question is not about the Chinese language but iOS settings, it will be closed soon as per the "off-topic" rules (so I just put it as a comment).
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:23:52.917Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it should belong to [the Ask Different website](http://apple.stackexchange.com).
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T14:34:58.040Z
I simply don't agree Stan. It has taken me months to find a solution for this  drawing input subject. This is an important tool and a HUGE time safer for people who wants to look up Chinese Characters. IOS users now know they are not screwed when it comes to using Pleco or other app based dictionaries. Which is to my understanding what this website is about. Helping people studying chinese whatever their twist might be. Now if you don't want the credit for your solution then I will take it. Once again thank you very much for your help Stan!
Nulle
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-07T15:13:58.190Z
You're welcome :) Just take it by yourself. BTW, closing a question doesn't mean making it unavailable to users (i.e. the question will be available in the search results) – it just suggests the question may not fit the topic of the site well.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-08T01:40:45.120Z
This is completely wrong, iOS can do this out-of-the-box, **and** iOS Pleco also has the functionality for handwriting input, as a paid addon. It might've taken you months, but a simple Google search or checking Pleco's instruction manual would've yielded you the result you were looking for.
Ming
<mandarin><simplified-characters><dictionary><technology>
Apple Tablet Dictionary that Supports Drawing Input
# Apple Tablet Dictionary that Supports Drawing Input

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-07)

I am trying to find an Apple tablet dictionary that supports drawing input.

What I mean by that Is that you are able to draw the character you are looking for and then it suggests a number of characters this drawing of yours looks like.

I have noticed that android Pleco has this function but not for Iphone Pleco.

Can anyone point to another app that works for IOS?

**Tags:** mandarin, simplified-characters, dictionary, technology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: When you mention characters are you referring to letters, CJK ideographs or something else like pictures?  
> **username_2**: You don't need any third-party app to support "drawing input" – iOS itself has such an input method: Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> Keyboards -> Add New Keyboard... -> Chinese (Simplified) / Chinese (Traditional) -> Handwriting. Then it's done.  
> **username_0**: I am reffering to Chinese Characters. 汉字 not 母子。  
> **username_0**: Omg！！ you are absolutely right!!! if you make an official answer instead of a comment then I will mark you as the correct answer. Else I will make an answer myself later.  
> **username_2**: I'm glad it helped :) But anyway as this question is not about the Chinese language but iOS settings, it will be closed soon as per the "off-topic" rules (so I just put it as a comment).  
> **username_2**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it should belong to [the Ask Different website](http://apple.stackexchange.com).  
> **username_0**: I simply don't agree username_2. It has taken me months to find a solution for this  drawing input subject. This is an important tool and a HUGE time safer for people who wants to look up Chinese Characters. IOS users now know they are not screwed when it comes to using Pleco or other app based dictionaries. Which is to my understanding what this website is about. Helping people studying chinese whatever their twist might be. Now if you don't want the credit for your solution then I will take it. Once again thank you very much for your help username_2!  
> **username_2**: You're welcome :) Just take it by yourself. BTW, closing a question doesn't mean making it unavailable to users (i.e. the question will be available in the search results) – it just suggests the question may not fit the topic of the site well.  
> **username_3**: This is completely wrong, iOS can do this out-of-the-box, **and** iOS Pleco also has the functionality for handwriting input, as a paid addon. It might've taken you months, but a simple Google search or checking Pleco's instruction manual would've yielded you the result you were looking for.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-04-02. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

You don't need an app for this, it's a built-in feature in iOS. To enable Chinese handwriting input, do the following steps:

1. Go to **Settings** → **General** → Keyboard.
2. Go **Keyboards** and tap **Add New Keyboard**...
3. Tap on the name of the keyboard you want to add: e.g., **Chinese (Simplified) - Handwriting**.
4. Optional: Tap **Edit** and drag on the handles to rearrange the keyboard list into the order you'd like.

To use:

1. Go to whatever app you want to enter Chinese text into (e.g., Pleco).
2. Get to a place in the app where it expects keyboard input (e.g., in Pleco, tap in the search text box).
3. In the keyboard, there is a globe-icon key (it becomes a happy face key in the emoji keyboard), which allows you to cycle through your keyboards. Tap it until you reach the Chinese handwriting input you added.
4. Draw the strokes and select your character from the proposed characters that appear at the top of the keyboard.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-01-30. Score: 1

This [Youtube video](http://youtu.be/PfOw02IixOI) shows how to enable iPad's builtin system chinese hand writing keyboards. Once you enable one of them, you can use it not only for Pleco but also for any apps.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: As currently Youtube is blocked in Mainland China, it would be better to post some screenshots instead of a single link – and welcome to Chinese SE :)  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-01-25. Score: -1

The real thing you need is an input method supporting stroke input. A **Sogou** input method is recommended. You can download it on its website. Use this input method to input the character you have seen, and look it up in any Chinese dictionary app.


---

