<p>This question was asked some time ago, and the answer still seems tricky to find.
In Windows 8 this can be achieved without installing anything extra by going to the settings for the "Microsoft Bopomofo" input method and adding a "Toneless key" which acts as a tone wildcard, that is to say you press the key if you don't know which tone to enter.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/i27GV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/i27GV.png" alt="Microsoft Bopomofo Settings dialogue window"></a></p>

<p>This isn't quite as convenient as the iPhone keyboard which allows you to skip tones altogether (or, even, to just type initial sounds) but it can get you by as a learner.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T01:12:27.527Z
2018-10-26T01:12:27.527Z
mendosi
<p>At least on Windows 7 you can configure the New Phonetic IME to not require tones, although you will still need to press the space bar to separate characters.</p>

<ol>
<li>Go to Control Panel - Region and Language - Keyboards and Languages - Change Keyboards</li>
<li>Choose the New Phonetic IME and click Properties</li>
<li>On the Advanced tab, switch the "Toneless" option to ON</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-21T14:55:35.427Z
2015-01-21T14:55:35.427Z
Leo supports Monica Cellio
<p>Rime IME's zhuyin allows toneless phrase input, just like pinyin.</p>
<p>Unlike most pinyin IME's, however, it will require you to make some list selections and will not be as accurate -- I guess because its zhuyin is inherently designed to work with tones.</p>
<p>I tried typing a phrase without tones and selecting the right characters. It didn't remember the phrase the next time and I had to select them again.</p>
<p>However, after entering the phrase with all tones and selecting the correct characters, I was able to type the phrase without tones and even type it with just initials.</p>
<p>So, it seems Rime might provide the fuctionality you want if you're willing to type full zhuyin with tones the first time you use a phrase.</p>
<p><a href="https://rime.im/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://rime.im/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://rime.im/download/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://rime.im/download/</a></p>
<p>I've used some phones that allow zhuyin w/o tones, which seemed to have the same intelligent phrase selection as their pinyin IMEs.  But I can't remember the names of those specific IMEs and you're wanting this for a windows computer anyway. (I'm pretty sure those were proprietary IME's available only on that manufacturer's phones)</p>
<p>I guess rime is the only Windows option I know of for that, though it's not great.</p>
<p>I've become a cangjie typist myself, so I've long since abandoned phonetic IMEs.</p>
<p>But I wish you good luck with that and I will be interested to see if someone else knows of a better option!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-14T16:54:12.560Z
2021-08-18T04:34:16.723Z
2021-08-18T04:34:16.723Z
YQ002lc2
<p>When I type Chinese via a Pinyin IME, I can write "nihao" to get "你好". Writing out "ni3hao3" is not required.</p>

<p>But when I try to write "ㄋㄧㄏㄠ", the IME interprets this as "ㄏㄧㄠ". Basically I'm forced to type out the tone for every single character: "ㄋㄧˇㄏㄠˇ" before the IME will give me "你好", and I find this too cumbersome.</p>

<p>Is there some kind of setting to change this IME behaviour? If there's an IME for Windows that supports this, I be happy to learn about it.</p>

<p><em>Side note: I know that Linux Zhuyin IMEs support this "optional tone" behaviour, and I was quite surprised to find that Windows Zhuyin IMEs are so pedantic by default.</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-11T21:08:16.843Z
You can look for some IMEs labelled ciyin (詞音), which will enable you input in words instead of single characters. Some of such IMEs provide toneless input mode.
shouya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-12T13:38:51.487Z
I looked the settings inside my 新自然輸入法 IME for something called "詞音", but didn't find anything. I also did a Google search for "詞音 输入法" and only found 1 IME called "gcin".

Is there really only one IME that supports this feature for Zhuyin?
Dan Cecile
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-12T17:56:25.890Z
Microsoft New Phonetic Input Method allows you type in words instead of characters. Not sure if it has toneless mode.
shouya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-12T17:58:23.670Z
Oh, just reminded. Why don't you try out rime? It has a port to Windows and allows "optional tone" in Zhuyin mode. You may download it at: https://code.google.com/p/rimeime/wiki/Downloads (Chinese)
shouya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-12T20:54:29.350Z
I use Rime on Linux, and it works fine on Windows too, thanks! (I'll wait a few days to see if anyone else has any other suggestions.)
Dan Cecile
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-21T17:17:50.120Z
@Shou Ya it seems to me that you should write this as an answer.
Leo supports Monica Cellio
<tones><input-methods><zhuyin-fuhao>
Zhuyin IME setting to make tones optional
# Zhuyin IME setting to make tones optional

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-10)

When I type Chinese via a Pinyin IME, I can write "nihao" to get "你好". Writing out "ni3hao3" is not required.

But when I try to write "ㄋㄧㄏㄠ", the IME interprets this as "ㄏㄧㄠ". Basically I'm forced to type out the tone for every single character: "ㄋㄧˇㄏㄠˇ" before the IME will give me "你好", and I find this too cumbersome.

Is there some kind of setting to change this IME behaviour? If there's an IME for Windows that supports this, I be happy to learn about it.

*Side note: I know that Linux Zhuyin IMEs support this "optional tone" behaviour, and I was quite surprised to find that Windows Zhuyin IMEs are so pedantic by default.*

**Tags:** tones, input-methods, zhuyin-fuhao

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You can look for some IMEs labelled ciyin (詞音), which will enable you input in words instead of single characters. Some of such IMEs provide toneless input mode.  
> **username_0**: I looked the settings inside my 新自然輸入法 IME for something called "詞音", but didn't find anything. I also did a Google search for "詞音 输入法" and only found 1 IME called "gcin".  Is there really only one IME that supports this feature for Zhuyin?  
> **username_1**: Microsoft New Phonetic Input Method allows you type in words instead of characters. Not sure if it has toneless mode.  
> **username_1**: Oh, just reminded. Why don't you try out rime? It has a port to Windows and allows "optional tone" in Zhuyin mode. You may download it at: https://code.google.com/p/rimeime/wiki/Downloads (Chinese)  
> **username_0**: I use Rime on Linux, and it works fine on Windows too, thanks! (I'll wait a few days to see if anyone else has any other suggestions.)  
> **username_2**: @Shou Ya it seems to me that you should write this as an answer.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-26. Score: 1

This question was asked some time ago, and the answer still seems tricky to find.
In Windows 8 this can be achieved without installing anything extra by going to the settings for the "Microsoft Bopomofo" input method and adding a "Toneless key" which acts as a tone wildcard, that is to say you press the key if you don't know which tone to enter.

[![Microsoft Bopomofo Settings dialogue window](https://i.sstatic.net/i27GV.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/i27GV.png)

This isn't quite as convenient as the iPhone keyboard which allows you to skip tones altogether (or, even, to just type initial sounds) but it can get you by as a learner.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-21. Score: 1

At least on Windows 7 you can configure the New Phonetic IME to not require tones, although you will still need to press the space bar to separate characters.

1. Go to Control Panel - Region and Language - Keyboards and Languages - Change Keyboards
2. Choose the New Phonetic IME and click Properties
3. On the Advanced tab, switch the "Toneless" option to ON


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-08-14. Score: 1

Rime IME's zhuyin allows toneless phrase input, just like pinyin.

Unlike most pinyin IME's, however, it will require you to make some list selections and will not be as accurate -- I guess because its zhuyin is inherently designed to work with tones.

I tried typing a phrase without tones and selecting the right characters. It didn't remember the phrase the next time and I had to select them again.

However, after entering the phrase with all tones and selecting the correct characters, I was able to type the phrase without tones and even type it with just initials.

So, it seems Rime might provide the fuctionality you want if you're willing to type full zhuyin with tones the first time you use a phrase.

<https://rime.im/>

<https://rime.im/download/>

I've used some phones that allow zhuyin w/o tones, which seemed to have the same intelligent phrase selection as their pinyin IMEs. But I can't remember the names of those specific IMEs and you're wanting this for a windows computer anyway. (I'm pretty sure those were proprietary IME's available only on that manufacturer's phones)

I guess rime is the only Windows option I know of for that, though it's not great.

I've become a cangjie typist myself, so I've long since abandoned phonetic IMEs.

But I wish you good luck with that and I will be interested to see if someone else knows of a better option!


---

