Hi,
I’m using Microsoft Windows 7. Just wondering if there is any way to change my settings so that I can input using Zhuyin Fuhao WITHOUT tones? To give an example, can I make it so that inputting “ㄨ” and “ㄛ” causes “我” to be displayed WITHOUT having to specify the third tone “ˇ”? I want to make this change because there are many characters the sound of which I am familiar with, but not the tone.
Thanks! 
Not AFAIK. Think of it as a way to force you to learn the tones, which are quite important. 
Change the input to Hanyu Pinyin, so you just need to input ‘w’ and ‘o’. It’s much easier than inputting zhuyin. The computer predicts what you want, but you get better results (a narrower list of options).
For example. w-o-space gets 我 and enter to confirm.
s-h-i-space gets 是 (enter to confirm)
b-u-space gets 不 so I hit the down arrow key and choose the 3rd option 布 (enter to confirm) - but the options change according to how often you use them, so the next time 布 will be first choice
l-a-i-space-down arrow - 3rd option gets 萊
e-n-space gets 恩
But the best part is that it will predict whole ‘words’, so instead of choosing the characters one by one:
b-u-l-a-i-e-n-space gets 布萊恩 enter to confirm, and I’ve got the lot without having to input a single tone.
Its pretty easy.
Here’s how to set up Hanyu Pinyin:
Rightclick your keyboard icon in the language bar (or go through the control panel) to get ‘Text services and input languages’
On the general tab, highlight keyboard and add ‘Chinese (traditional) new phonetic’. If you’re inputting bopomofo, you’ve probably already got that.
Now highlight the ‘Chinese (traditional) new phonetic’, click properties, go to the ‘keyboard’ tab and under ‘keyboard layout’ select hanyu pinyin.
On my Mac I installed QIM Sogou Dict. It works brilliantly - I can type “woshiwaiguoren” and it gives me 我是外國人, with no need to choose numbers (just press space to accept).
Of course, that’s on a Mac. But maybe the same program is available in the Windows world.
Mind you, as Dragonbones says, typing this way also means I’m not as sure about tones as I should be.
[quote=“Bu Lai En”]Change the input to Hanyu Pinyin, so you just need to input ‘w’ and ‘o’. It’s much easier than inputting zhuyin. The computer predicts what you want, but you get better results (a narrower list of options).
For example. w-o-space gets 我 and enter to confirm.
s-h-i-space gets 是 (enter to confirm)
b-u-space gets 不 so I hit the down arrow key and choose the 3rd option 布 (enter to confirm) - but the options change according to how often you use them, so the next time 布 will be first choice
l-a-i-space-down arrow - 3rd option gets 萊
e-n-space gets 恩
But the best part is that it will predict whole ‘words’, so instead of choosing the characters one by one:
b-u-l-a-i-e-n-space gets 布萊恩 enter to confirm, and I’ve got the lot without having to input a single tone.
Its pretty easy.
Here’s how to set up Hanyu Pinyin:
Rightclick your keyboard icon in the language bar (or go through the control panel) to get ‘Text services and input languages’
On the general tab, highlight keyboard and add ‘Chinese (traditional) new phonetic’. If you’re inputting bopomofo, you’ve probably already got that.
Now highlight the ‘Chinese (traditional) new phonetic’, click properties, go to the ‘keyboard’ tab and under ‘keyboard layout’ select hanyu pinyin.[/quote]
Thanks for this. I was just wondering how to set up my computer to do this. Not that I can actually use much Chinese but I’m starting to learn and wanted to know how to type chinese to make flashcards.
Again Thanks
actually, you can do it without tones
there are two possibilites: either you have a “all tones”-key (which is the method I prefer). On my german keyboard it is on the # key (you have several options to select).
e.g. if I want to enter “wǒ shì deguorén”, I just type
ji3 g4 2k#eji#bp6
You can also set the option that every tone key acts as this key, so it also works with space or the 3467 key.
Just check in the options under “Toneless key” or “Toneless”
Actually I am using Bopomofo input in order to have to type the tones: I think it really helped me to remember many tones. Pinyin’s word seperation is also nice, but I think, tones are a bit more important.
I agree with Hellstorm, it is very important to use the tones. I am an American learning Mandarin and I used to use Sogou’s Pinyin IME, but recently changed to Windows Zhuyin IME. I type a lot more slowly, but I prefer it for two main reasons. One, it forces me to remember the tone, if I don’t remember it I use the toneless key. Two, it uses the pronunciation that Taiwan uses, so I type “she me/ㄕㄜˊㄇㄜ˙” instead of “shen me/ㄕㄣˊㄇㄜ˙” for 什麼.
It takes a lot of time and practice to get good at typing in Zhuyin, but I think it’s worth it. Besides, Zhuyin is more accurate when it comes to the pronunciation of Mandarin.