Where X is character codepoint #x6a58 #x6a59 with chinese-ctlaub set the current input method, quail-show-key has #x6a58 => X can’t be input by the current input method #x6a59 => To input ‘X’, type "chaang" Steps to reproduce - emacs -Q - switch to buffer in plain Fundamental mode, C-x b bbb - M-x set-input-method RET chinese-ctlaub - mouse copy, paste the two symbols from chart at row 1, column 2 and 3 - put cursor over symbol and apply M-x quail-show-key chart from Shuowen's tree section - https://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/shuowenRadical.php?rad=%E6%9C%A8 unexpected result - the current input method won't learn new input key sequence for symbol expected result - the current input method learns new input key sequence for symbol The current input method being chinese-ctlaub learns a new input key sequence for symbol flowing the way a word that does not occur in the wordlist can be added for future personal spell checking.