diff --git a/pubs/commands/note_cmd.py b/pubs/commands/note_cmd.py
index 6018876..cb0ddee 100644
--- a/pubs/commands/note_cmd.py
+++ b/pubs/commands/note_cmd.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def command(conf, args):
     if args.append is None:
         ui.edit_file(notepath, temporary=False)
     else:
-        latestnote = '{TXT}\n'.format(TXT=args.append)
+        latestnote = '{txt}\n'.format(txt=args.append)
         write_file(notepath, latestnote, 'a')
     NoteEvent(citekey).send()
     rp.close()
diff --git a/tests/test_note_append.py b/tests/test_note_append.py
index 7f23f8c..e83cbc1 100644
--- a/tests/test_note_append.py
+++ b/tests/test_note_append.py
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ class TestNoteAppend(DataCommandTestCase):
         self.execute_cmds(cmds)
         note_lines.append('bbb')
         self.assertFileContentEqual(fin_notes, self._get_note_content(note_lines))
+        # Test adding Chinese characters
+        cmds = [('pubs note Page99 -a \347\350\346\345')]
+        self.execute_cmds(cmds)
+        note_lines.append('\347\350\346\345')
+        self.assertFileContentEqual(fin_notes, self._get_note_content(note_lines))
         # # Test adding Japanese character
         # cmds = [('pubs note Page99 -a ソ')]
         # self.execute_cmds(cmds)
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ class TestNoteAppend(DataCommandTestCase):
     @staticmethod
     def _get_note_content(note_lines):
         """Given a list of note lines, return full note file content"""
-        return '{LINES}\n'.format(LINES='\n'.join(note_lines))
+        return '{lines}\n'.format(lines='\n'.join(note_lines))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':