A language system facilitates entry of an input string into a mobile device using discrete keys on a keypad, such as a 10-key keypad. The numeric keys have associated letters of an alphabet. The key input is representative of one or more Chinese phonetic characters. Based on this input string, the language system derives the most likely Chinese corresponding language characters intended by the user. The language system uses multiple different search engines and language models to aid in deriving the most probable Chinese language characters. When the language system recognizes possible Chinese language characters, the mobile device displays the possible Chinese language characters for user selection of the possible Chinese language characters and/or further input of one or more Chinese phonetic characters. In this manner, the language system adopts a modeless entry methodology that eliminates conventional mode switching between input and selection operations.