Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cangjie Workbook and the Cangjie (倉頡) input method: how it works, how long it takes to learn, what it costs, and how it compares to other input methods.
What is Cangjie Workbook?
Cangjie Workbook is a practical, hands-on way to learn the Cangjie input method for Traditional Chinese. You learn by typing: progressive lessons guide you through it, instead of asking you to memorize rules and code tables.
What is the Cangjie input method?
The Cangjie input method lets you type Chinese characters by their shape rather than their sound. Each character is broken down into one to five Cangjie codes based on how it looks, so you can type it without knowing how it is pronounced. It is unrelated to stroke order or a character's origin.
Who is Cangjie Workbook for?
Cangjie Workbook is for anyone interested in written Chinese. You don't have to be a native speaker, but you do need at least an intermediate grasp of written Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, and/or Classical Chinese), because you have to recognize a character before you can type it.
How much does Cangjie Workbook cost?
You can try the demo for free, no login required. A subscription unlocks the full course: the complete set of lessons, common-character lists, Modern and Classical Chinese text practice, and custom texts. A subscription is $5 USD a month or $50 USD a year (you can also pay in HKD, JPY, or TWD).
How do I cancel my subscription or get a refund?
You can cancel anytime from your account. Cancelling stops future renewals, and you keep access until the end of the current paid period. We also offer a 30-day refund: if you are not satisfied, email support@cangjieworkbook.com within 30 days of your first purchase for a full refund.
Do I need a special keyboard or to install anything?
No. Cangjie uses a standard QWERTY keyboard: each key maps to a Cangjie code, and most operating systems already include a Cangjie input method. To practice you don't even need to set that up, because Cangjie Workbook has its own typing field in the browser, so you can start learning right away and configure your device's input method later.
Which version of Cangjie does this teach, version 3 or version 5?
The lessons currently teach Cangjie version 5, the most widely supported version today, and support for version 3 is planned for the future. The two share the same ideas and most codes, so learning version 5 first transfers well.
Is Cangjie hard to learn?
Cangjie has a real learning curve: you have to learn where the codes sit on the keyboard, what shapes each code stands for, and the rules for decomposing characters into codes. That said, if you follow the course and don't rush, most people find it very manageable. Learning by practice, rather than memorizing tables, is what makes it click.
How long does it take to learn Cangjie?
It varies from person to person, but with about 30 minutes of practice a day most learners can type slowly within one to two months and reach a comfortable speed by around six months. Cangjie Workbook is built to streamline that process.
Is Cangjie worth learning today?
Yes, if you write Traditional Chinese and want to type by shape. Cangjie lets you input characters without knowing their pronunciation, seldom stops you to pick from a candidate list, and reinforces how characters are written, which helps with character amnesia. Pronunciation methods like pinyin or zhuyin are easier to start with, but many people find Cangjie faster and more precise once they learn it, and it is built into every major operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android).
Why use Cangjie instead of pinyin, jyutping or zhuyin?
Cangjie lets you type by shape, so you don't need to know how a character is pronounced, which is handy for names, rare characters, or characters you can read but not say. It is also fast: unlike pronunciation-based methods you usually don't stop to pick a character from a list, because most codes map to a single character. Where a code is shared you choose from a small set, and there are ways to make even those unambiguous.
How is Cangjie different from Simplified Cangjie?
Simplified Cangjie uses the same code shapes as Cangjie but only the first and last code of each character, and then you pick from a candidate list. It is quicker to learn but you select a character almost every time. Full Cangjie takes more study yet lets you type most characters without picking, and learning Cangjie teaches you Simplified Cangjie for free.
Does Cangjie work on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Cangjie ships as a built-in input method on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, so once you've learned it you can type on any of them. To practice, you can use Cangjie Workbook in any modern web browser without changing your system settings.
Can I practice on my phone?
Yes. Cangjie Workbook runs in any modern mobile browser, so you can practice on a phone or tablet as well as a computer. Your progress follows you across devices when you are signed in.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
Your progress is always saved in your browser, so you can start learning right away without an account. Creating an account adds cloud sync: your progress is stored online and follows you across devices, so you can switch between your phone and computer and pick up where you left off.
Can I use Cangjie to type Simplified Chinese?
Cangjie was designed for Traditional Chinese, and Cangjie Workbook teaches the Traditional forms throughout. Cangjie codes exist for Simplified characters too, but the shapes, and therefore the codes, often differ, so we recommend Cangjie mainly if you write Traditional Chinese.
Does learning Cangjie have other benefits?
Yes. Because you type a character by visualizing and decomposing its shape, Cangjie reinforces how characters are written. Over time many typists build muscle memory: they think of a character and their fingers find the keys. It can also help with 'character amnesia', the common experience of forgetting how to hand-write characters you rarely produce from memory, though it won't cure it entirely. It is also good exercise for your memory in general.
I don't know much Chinese yet. Should I learn Cangjie?
If you're still a beginner, we suggest waiting. Cangjie requires you to already recognize and mentally picture characters, since you have to know a character to type it, so aim for at least an intermediate level of Chinese first. If you're learning Chinese and Cangjie together, though, it can actually reinforce the characters you're studying, and it lets you look up and type characters you can recognize but can't yet pronounce.
Why is a Chinese input method site available in English?
Cangjie Workbook is fully bilingual, and you can switch between English and Chinese at any time. We offer English because not every Chinese speaker is comfortable studying in Chinese, many grew up or were educated outside Chinese-speaking regions, and because we want to help Chinese learners use Cangjie to reinforce the characters they're studying. Typing by shape also lets learners look up characters they can recognize but haven't yet learned to pronounce.
Still have questions? Reach out to us at support@cangjieworkbook.com.