Quick (速成) Input Method: How Sucheng Works and When to Use It
How Quick shortens every Cangjie code to two letters, why it creates long candidate lists, and whether you should learn it or full Cangjie.
Key takeaways
- Quick (速成, Sucheng), also called Simplified Cangjie (簡易), uses only the first and last letters of a full Cangjie code.
- You type one or two letters, then choose from the candidate list with Space or the number keys.
- In our data, 989 of the 1,000 most common characters appear on the first candidate page, but only 429 are the first choice.
- Quick is easier to learn; full Cangjie is faster for heavy typists because it rarely needs choosing.
How Quick codes are formed
Take the full Cangjie code and keep its first and last letters. One-letter codes stay as they are.
| Character | Cangjie code | Radicals | Quick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | HQI | 竹H手Q戈I | HI |
| 學 | HBND | 竹H月B弓N木D | HD |
| 你 | ONF | 人O弓N火F | OF |
| 說 | YRCRU | 卜Y口R金C口R山U | YU |
| 國 | WIRM | 田W戈I口R一M | WM |
| 日 | A | 日A | A |
我 HQI竹手戈 is HQI in Cangjie and HI in Quick. 學 HBND竹月弓木 goes from HBND to HD. Because you only need the first and last radicals, you can skip the hardest part of Cangjie: deciding what goes in the middle.
The catch: candidates
With only 26 × 26 possible two-letter codes, most Quick codes are shared by many characters. The busiest codes in our dictionary, such as HU, HI and HR, each have several hundred candidates. The input method lists them nine at a time, most common first, and you select with the number keys or turn pages.
For everyday text this is less painful than it sounds, because common characters are ranked first. Still, typing Quick means reading the candidate bar constantly, which is the main reason experienced typists move to full Cangjie. Use the Quick code finder to see exactly where a character sits.
Quick vs full Cangjie
| Quick (速成) | Cangjie (倉頡) | |
|---|---|---|
| Letters per character | 1–2 | 1–5 |
| What you must know | First and last radical | All rules and shapes |
| Choosing candidates | Very often | Rarely |
| Learning time | Days | Weeks |
| Top speed | Moderate | High |
In our dictionary, 990 of the 1,000 most common characters are the first candidate for their full Cangjie code, so a Cangjie typist almost never looks at the list.
Tips for typing Quick
- Learn the first page of busy codes. Knowing that a common character is number 3 on its code lets you type it by feel.
- Use phrase input where available. Many Quick input methods suggest the next character after you type one, which saves selections.
- Learn full codes for your most-used characters. Many Quick users mix in Cangjie for their names and work vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quick the same as Simplified Cangjie (簡易)?
Yes. Quick, Sucheng (速成) and Simplified Cangjie (簡易) all refer to the two-code method. It is unrelated to Simplified Chinese characters.
Can I switch from Quick to Cangjie later?
Yes. Quick already trains you to identify the first and last radicals, so moving to full Cangjie means learning the middle codes and the rules.
Why does the order of candidates differ between devices?
Each input method uses its own frequency list, and many learn from what you type, so the positions shift over time.
Related guides
What is Cangjie?
How the shape-based Cangjie system turns any Chinese character into a code of up to five letters, and why Hong Kong typists still swear by it.
How to learn Cangjie (30-day plan)
A realistic day-by-day plan that takes you from memorising the radicals to typing everyday Chinese, with the drills that actually build speed.
Cangjie vs other input methods
An honest comparison of the main ways to type Chinese: shape-based Cangjie and Quick, sound-based Pinyin, Zhuyin and Jyutping, and handwriting and voice.
Cangjie speed tips
Practical habits that move you from hunting for codes to typing at conversation speed, from touch-typing and chunking to measuring progress.