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Bopomofo Master

Day 7 of 7 · about 15 minutes

Typing, and the final test

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The last piece is typing, which is the most immediately practical thing zhuyin gives you. If you are going to message anyone in Taiwan, this is how it is done.

The standard layout is called Dai Chien (大千), and it is on every phone and computer in the country. You already know the symbols, so you already know most of the keyboard.

What to notice

  • How typing actually works

    Type the symbols of a syllable in order, then the tone, then space. The input method offers every character with that sound and you pick the one you meant. It is spelling by sound, then choosing.

  • The layout is not random

    The 37 symbols sit across the keyboard roughly in their traditional order, so ㄅㄆㄇㄈ run down the left. Knowing the order you learned this week is most of knowing the layout.

  • Turning it on

    It is built into iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. No download, just a keyboard to add in settings.

The final test

Ten questions drawn at random from all 37 symbols. Nothing is saved and there is nothing to sign up for.

Practice today’s symbols

Sentence Typer in the app puts a real zhuyin keyboard in front of you with sentences to type, which is the only way the layout becomes muscle memory.

Back to the program →

Want to hear when the app gets better?

Occasional email about new features and new material, from the person who builds it. No newsletter schedule to keep up with, and nothing sold to anyone else.

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