A character input method, implemented by a terminal, comprising: displaying (S101) a character input box in a first area of a display screen of the terminal, wherein the character input box is oriented in a first direction, and the display screen comprises a touchscreen; displaying the first character with a cursor at a right side of the first character in the character input box; displaying a candidate character box in a second area of the display screen, wherein the candidate character box is oriented perpendicularly to the first direction, and the candidate character box is a sliding display box displaying a preset quantity of candidate characters, a different candidate character is displayed in the candidate character box in response to a slide operation of a user on the second area of the display screen, the candidate character box comprises a selection box, and a candidate character that enters the selection box in response to the slide operation of the user is a character pre-selected by the user, wherein the sliding operation of the user is performed on the candidate character box; receiving (S102) an operation instruction that the user selects the candidate character in the selection box and is triggered when a time for which the candidate character stays in the selection box exceeds a preset time after the candidate character enters the selection box in response to the slide operation of the user; and displaying (S102), in the character input box according to the operation instruction, the first character and the candidate character selected by the user; wherein the terminal is a smart band or a smartwatch. displaying (S101) a character input box in a first area of a display screen of the terminal, wherein the character input box is oriented in a first direction, and the display screen comprises a touchscreen; displaying the first character with a cursor at a right side of the first character in the character input box; displaying a candidate character box in a second area of the display screen, wherein the candidate character box is oriented perpendicularly to the first direction, and the candidate character box is a sliding display box displaying a preset quantity of candidate characters, a different candidate character is displayed in the candidate character box in response to a slide operation of a user on the second area of the display screen, the candidate character box comprises a selection box, and a candidate character that enters the selection box in response to the slide operation of the user is a character pre-selected by the user, wherein the sliding operation of the user is performed on the candidate character box; receiving (S102) an operation instruction that the user selects the candidate character in the selection box and is triggered when a time for which the candidate character stays in the selection box exceeds a preset time after the candidate character enters the selection box in response to the slide operation of the user; and displaying (S102), in the character input box according to the operation instruction, the first character and the candidate character selected by the user; wherein the terminal is a smart band or a smartwatch. <EOS>