A computer receives incomplete entry of an intended ideographic language multi-character phrase via user input tool, The incomplete entry is incomplete in at least the following respect: the incomplete entry includes less-than-all strokes of one or more characters of the intended phrase. The computer receives user designation of one or more delimiters indicating an order of intended characters inthe intended phrase and any skipped characters in the incompletely entered phrase. The computer compares the incompletely entered phrase as represented by the received user input and any skipped characters to a prescribed vocabulary of reference phrases, and identifies any reference phrases that include the incompletely entered phrase in the indicated order of intended characters. The computer presents human-readable output of the identified reference phrases to the user.