Add Chinese pinyin input with iBus on Ubuntu 16.04

Abstract

This article aims at adding Chinese pinyin input with iBus on Ubuntu 16.04.

Note: Though this is for Ubuntu 16.04.6, it may still adapt to the similar version like Ubuntu 18.04.

Step 1. Add Chinese language environment in settings.

To install Chinese pinyin input, Chinese language environment is required to be installed at first. Go to System Settings/Language Support, click “Install/Remove Languages…” button.

Select Chinese(Simplified), and click “Apply” to add Chinese language environment.

Step 2. Install Chinese pinyin input with iBus.

Open a terminal run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install ibus-pinyin

Step 3. Reboot

Step 4. Add Chinese pinyin to input lists.

Choose the “Text Entry Settings” as shown below:

Click “+” to search and add Chinese pinyin input:

Step 5. Fix input error bug.

In some situation, a input error bug may cause incorrect input with pinyin. Set the preferences as shown below:

And run the command below in terminal:

sudo ibus-daemon -drx

All finished and the input will work correctly.