Quick Setup
SCIM is the name of the program that will allow you to input a CJK language in Ubuntu.
1)Open System>Administration>Language Support
2)and install the support package corresponding to the language you want to input
3)under Ubuntu 8.10, 8.04, 7.10 and 7.04, you will have to check the box at the bottom (Input Method) to activate complex characters input. You might have to uncheck it, click Apply, then check it again and click Apply
4)then log out (System>Quit>Log Out), and login again.
5)Open Applications>Accessories>Terminal
a) : sudo gedit /etc/environment
b) : add LC_CTYPE=zh_CN.UTF-8
6) then log out(System > Quit > Log Out),and login again
SCIM should now start along with every application. To trigger it, use any of these shortcut keys : Control+Space, Shift+Space, the SCIM input method bar is showed bottom of screen.