How to type 《 》and 〈〉efficiently on Mac OS X?

Question

How to type 《 》and 〈 〉efficiently (such as with a simple key combination) on Mac OS X?

Answer 1

For « and »

OPTION + \
OPTION + SHIFT + \

For ‹ and ›

OPTION + SHIFT + 3
OPTION + SHIFT + 4

Answer 2

Solution 1: using Emacs

If you have an Emacs window open almost all the time like I do, you can use Emacs to do it, on macOS or other OSs. Specifically, Ctrl-x, Enter, then start typing the character's name, namely, "LEFT DOUBLE ANGLE BRACKET". As you finish typing more and more letters, type Tab to prompt a list of matching characters, until it auto-completes it to the unique one.

Solution 2: using Chinese input method

These characters are CJK book quotation marks. Many Chinese input methods map < to 〈 and Shift+< to 《, respectively. So, if you install a Chinese input method, switch to Chinese mode, and type < or Shift+<, you will get 〈 and 《. To type the normal English keyboard <, just switch the input method back to English.

Answer 3

I'm writing from the year 2021, using macOS 11.1 on an American English keyboard.

name	character	keypress
left single guillemet	‹	Option Shift 3
right single guillemet	›	Option Shift 4
left double guillemet	«	Option \
right double guillemet	»	Option Shift \

This is the same content as a 2018 answer, with better markup.

Answer 4

If you are in the Telegram Mac desktop client (possibly, but not verified) you can type two <s and it will substitute the left Guillemet (and like«wise for two >s, the right Guillemet). I found this by accident, not being able to get them in otherwise, and was going to use << but I to the proper mark, the left Guillemet, «

That's a lot simpler than doing it here on FF where I had to use the "Symbols and Emoji" option under edit, and find them under the "Parentheses" option. Or do and HTML edit if the application allows and use e.g., &laquo;. Find a chart for "HTML Entities".

Edit, (2021.09.03 19.41h PDT [GMT -7]): This no longer appears to be the case. Two < will just give you << and not «.

Answer 5

For me, as of January, 24, 2024. I had to press ALT + SHIFT + V or B. Hope this helps

Answer 6

Import a file like this to TextExpander:

ldab,《
rdab, 》
lab,〈
rab, 〉