A keypad is used to enter complex characters using a phonetic input method editor (IME). The user may enter complex characters by combining consonants, vowels, mid-vowels and tones by selecting keys on a the keypad instead of using a full size keyboard. Instead of a one-to-one mapping between the symbols and keys on a full size keyboard, multiple symbols are assigned to single keys on the keypad. For example, on a keypad having ten keys an average of four phonetic symbols are mapped to each of the ten keys on the keypad. The phonetic symbols are applied to the keypad in layers. For example, the symbols may be may be mapped to a consonant layer; a middle vowels+vowels layer; a vowels layer and a tone layer. Phonetic symbols with similar readings may also be mapped to the same key.