Using QQ -- Login & Setup

Sign in to QQ using your QQ number. Use "Normal Mode" as your login mode. If you don't want people to see you online, you can check the "Invisible" checkbox. If you are using a proxy, click on "Network Settings" to configure it.

Once you have signed in, you will need to configure your audio and video. Click on Menu -> Tools -> Video Settings then follow the prompts. Make sure you can hear yourself speak when you test your microphone. If you can't, enable the Microphone Boost in Windows Recording Control. I found that helps a lot.

When you finish, if you have a webcam on your computer, exit QQ, then log back in again (so your friends will see that you have a webcam)

Using QQ -- Searching for people

Even if you have "国外" as your provence, it may take some time before people start adding you. So if you want to get started right away, you'll need to find some people on your own. It's fairly easy, just click on Find -> Advanced Search, select your search parameters, then click on Find. You will see a list of QQ users, double click to view a user's information, and click on "Add Buddy" to add a user to your friends list.

You will then be prompted to enter a message. Use this to introduce yourself, whatever. A good one is "你好， 可以交个朋友吗？" = Hello, can we be friends?

Now you have to wait for the person to accept your invitation. If they accept, you should hear a coughing sound, and the speaker will start flashing on your QQ. Click on it, and you will see something like this:

Just click OK. The person should appear in your buddy list. Now you can start chatting!

Sometimes you will not get the above screen. Instead you will get a screen with "Accept" and "Decline", etc. Just click on "Accept", then click on "Add buddy".

Using QQ -- Chatting with people in Chinese

I know what you are thinking -- "I don't know any Chinese, so how can I chat with someone using Chinese!!".....It is really easy!! Because the chinese is written, you can translate it. I'll take you through the procedure, step by step.

You can use this website to do your translations. Before you start chatting, open up the Chinese to English Translator Window and the English to Chinese Translator Window.

You are now ready to start chatting with your friend. How should you start a conversation? Try translating "Hello, where are you from?" in the English to Chinese translator. Then open up a chat room with your friend (double click on their avatar) and using your IME (Input method) TYPE the chinese from the translator into the chat window (do not just copy it). Then send it to your friend.

It worked! She has replied. But what does "你是问我是哪里的吧？" mean? Translate it with the Chinese to English Translator!

OK. The translator said: "You are ask where I am?" Maybe the message we gave her (是你何处从? ) is not very clear (the translation is not perfect!) But it is a start, at least a conversation has been started!

Let's make an excuse. Translate "Yes, sorry, My chinese is very poor!" in the English to Chinese translator, and send it.

She has replied! Do you know what "为什么？你不是中国人吗？" means? Translate it to find out!!

Using QQ -- Where to from here??

Keep chatting! The more you chat, the better you will get.

• Try NOT to use the English to Chinese translator. The translations are very poor and it will not help you learn chinese.
• Don't copy the chinese text from the translation window. Read the pinyin for the translation and type it instead, using your input method.
• When you translate chinese, make sure you understand every word in the sentence. Don't just read the translation!!
• Read the pinyin for each character. DO THIS EVERY TIME! It is more important than remembering the chinese characters.

Have fun!! My QQ number is 452181109, you can add me if you have any questions.

Using QQ -- FAQ