Fcitx

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Fcitx (Flexible Context-aware Input Tool with eXtension support) [ˈfaɪtɪks] is an input method framework with support for many languages and scripts.

Installation

USE flags

USE flags for app-i18n/fcitx Fcitx 5 is a generic input method framework

+X	Add support for X11
+autostart	Enable XDG-compatible autostart of Fcitx
+emoji	Enable emoji loading for CLDR
+enchant	Enable Enchant backend (using app-text/enchant) for spelling hinting
+keyboard	Enable key event translation with XKB and build keyboard engine
+server	Build a fcitx as server, disable this option if you want to use fcitx as an embedded library
doc	Add extra documentation (API, Javadoc, etc). It is recommended to enable per package instead of globally
presage	Enable presage for word predication (not stable)
systemd	Enable use of systemd-specific libraries and features like socket activation or session tracking
test	Enable dependencies and/or preparations necessary to run tests (usually controlled by FEATURES=test but can be toggled independently)
wayland	Enable dev-libs/wayland backend

Data provided by the Gentoo Package Database · Last update: 2025-04-09 13:49 More information about USE flags

Note
It is strongly recommended to add the gtk2, gtk3, and qt4 USE flags when applications are installed that make use of these toolkits.

Emerge

root #emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx

Using Fcitx

In order to use Fcitx in X, the following environment variables must be added to start up files and exported:

When using login managers such as GDM, KDM or LightDM to start the X server add them to the ~/.xprofile file. When using the startx command or SLiM to login, add them to the ~/.xinitrc file.

If the gtk2, gtk3 or qt4 USE flags where used upon installation, <module> (in the examples below) will be fcitx, otherwise it should be xim.

FILE ~/.xprofile

export XMODIFIERS="@im=fcitx"
export QT_IM_MODULE=<module>
export GTK_IM_MODULE=<module>

Remember, make ~/.xinitrc look like the example below only if using startx or SLiM to start the X server:

FILE ~/.xinitrc

export XMODIFIERS="@im=fcitx"
export QT_IM_MODULE=<module>
export GTK_IM_MODULE=<module>

It is recommended to start the D-Bus session bus before Fcitx starts. Add these to the beginning of the X start up file (~/.xprofile or ~/.xinitrc):

FILE ~/.xprofile or ~/.xinitrc

eval "$(dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session)"

FILE ~/.xinitrc

eval "$(dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session)"

Warning
When desiring to use Fcitx in X, the system locale cannot be C or POSIX.

Configuration

Edit Fcitx's configuration file at ~/.config/fcitx/config

Also, there are GUI tools to configure Fcitx. Install app-i18n/fcitx-configtool (based on GTK2 or GTK3) or app-i18n/kcm-fcitx (based on KDE) to use them.

Frontend

Other than the built-in classic UI, there is also a frontend which integrates into KDE well called Kimpanel (included in kde-plasma/kdeplasma-addons). The dbus flag must be enabled to use Kimpanel. Once installed, add the kimpanel plasmoid to the plasma panel and fcitx will switch to it by its self.

Specific language support

Chinese

Fcitx itself has built-in pinyin support. Enabling the table USE flag will provide multiple table-based input methods such as WuBi and Ziranma.

Install app-i18n/fcitx-cloudpinyin to have better results in the candidate words list.

The built-in pinyin use a simple algorithm, and there are other pinyin input methods using other algorithms. Install app-i18n/fcitx-sunpinyin, app-i18n/fcitx-libpinyin, or app-i18n/fcitx-rime to use them.

For Bopomofo support app-i18n/fcitx-chewing or app-i18n/fcitx-libpinyin can be installed.

For Cangjie or Boshiamy support install app-i18n/fcitx-table-extra.

Japanese

Install app-i18n/fcitx-anthy:

root #emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-anthy

Korean

Install app-i18n/fcitx-hangul:

root #emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-hangul

Vietnamese

Install app-i18n/fcitx-unikey:

root #emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-unikey