As a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, I have to admit that learning the language from scratch is a long and oftentimes difficult process.
However, just because you’re not fluent in Mandarin doesn’t mean you have to put off that long-awaited trip to China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong. Just use some of the Chinese translator apps in the list below!
Right off the bat, I have to admit that there aren’t a lot of reliable apps that can translate Chinese to English (or vice versa) perfectly. That said, the 10 Chinese translator apps on this list are arguably some of the best you can find, especially if you’re keen on learning Chinese yourself.
Why use Chinese translator apps?
I think with smartphones being so prevalent in our daily lives these days, it’s only natural to rely on apps and online translators rather than conventional phrasebooks and dictionaries. For one, translator apps weigh a lot less and are easy to carry around.
More importantly, having grown up using a Chinese dictionary to look up words, I can tell you that using Chinese translator apps is far more effective and efficient.
What’s more, unlike printed translation books, translator apps are constantly improving in terms of accuracy and user experience, with many featuring useful tools like voice-to-text translation, picture translation, and more.
What makes a good Chinese translator app
Given how complex the Chinese language is (referring to Mandarin in this case), it’s hard to find a translator app that provides perfect translations. Instead, consider the reason for downloading or using a Chinese translator app.
If it’s for traveling, get one that offers simple but accurate translations that make it easy to communicate with locals. If you need one to help you in your studies, consider a translator app that doubles up as a dictionary. However, as a rule of thumb, these three factors are the most basic things to consider:
Coverage: Can your Chinese translator app be used anywhere in the world? For example, Google Translate might not work properly in Mainland China. What’s more, does the app offer offline accessibility in case you’re visiting an area with limited Internet connectivity? These are all important questions to address.Â
Usability: Does the translator app require prior knowledge of Mandarin to be properly used? Can you use it even if you don’t speak a single word of Mandarin? Different apps cater to different people. Make sure that the one you use is suitable for your level of language proficiency!
Functionality: Is your Chinese translator app simply a word-for-word translator or can you use it to actually engage in a conversation? Again, it all depends on what you want out of your translator app.
Now then, let’s take a look at the best Chinese translator apps you can download right now!
1. Google Translate
While it’s true that Mandarin translations on Google Translate can sometimes be comically bad, I still say that it is one of the most reliable free Chinese translator apps you can use. The key is actually in HOW you use it.
As a native speaker who sometimes uses Google as a Chinese English translator, I’ve noticed that Google is capable of providing accurate translations for words most of the time. Or at least to the point of making things easier to understand. It’s when you try translating longer sentences or complicated phrases that it starts to break down.
If you want to use Google translate, simply break the sentences into smaller parts and try to stitch the meaning together using individual words. Yes, it’s not perfect, and sometimes the final product gets taken out of context, but if you’re traveling to Taiwan, for example, Google Translate CAN actually still prove to be a useful tool.
What I like about Google Translate:
- Free to use and easily accessible
- Improve its translations via user feedback
- Provides instant translations via camera and photos
For iOS, Android, and web browser
Price: Free
2. Yandex
Speaking of Google Translate, another commonly-used app to translate English to Mandarin (and vice versa) is Yandex, a translation software that relies mainly on information from Google Translate and Bing to produce understandable translations.
Like Google Translate, most translations on Yandex can be a bit literal. So despite having a 10,000-character limit that allows you to translate large chunks of text, I still recommend sticking to just basic words and phrases for the most accurate results.
In addition to text translation, Yandex also offers image-based translations and comes with computer-generated audio pronunciations. One plus point for Yandex though is its autocorrect system which makes it just a touch easier to use.
What I like about Yandex:
- Combines the translation databases of Google and Bing
- Offers the function to translate large chunks of text
- Comes with autocorrect for both English and Mandarin text
For iOS, Android, and web browser
Price: Free
3. Baidu Translate
As most people will know, Baidu is China’s version of Google. Unsurprisingly, like Google, Baidu has its own Chinese translation app with roughly the same functions and features as Google Translate.
However, I will have to say that Baidu serves better as an app for Chinese-to-English translation rather than the other way around. That’s exemplified by the fact that the voice translation function only translates Mandarin to English.Â
There’s also a phrasebook that contains the most common sentences in Mandarin. However, like all the other functions, it works better for those who are translating from Mandarin to English.
What I like about Baidu Translate:
- Offers accurate Chinese to English translations
- More easily accessible in China compared to Google
For iOS, Android, and web browser
Price: Free
4. Microsoft Translator
When it comes to Chinese translator apps that work perfectly offline, my personal favorite is Microsoft Translator. While not as popular as Google, Baidu, or maybe even Bing, Microsoft Translator really delivers when it comes to English to Chinese translations.
Apart from offline text translations, Microsoft Translator also has its own conversation translator which transcribes and translates audio in real-time! However, the one downside to this nifty feature is that you’ll need your conversation partner to also have the app for it to work seamlessly.
Despite that minor hiccup, I found the Chinese translations on the app to be pretty decent. Like Google and Yandex, it won’t be able to transcribe Romance of the Three Kingdoms perfectly, but it will certainly get you by on your trip to a Chinese-speaking country for sure!
What I like about Microsoft Translate:
- Facilitates bilingual conversations with real-time translation
- Downloaded language packs for offline usage
- Provides accurate English to Chinese translations
For iOS, Android, and web browser
Price: Free
5. Pleco
When it comes to Chinese translator apps, Pleco is arguably one of the best. However, I would say that Pleco is better suited for those who already have a decent command of Mandarin to start with.
That’s because, while Pleco offers the same services as most other Chinese translator apps, where it truly shines is its ability to translate tricky words and more complicated phrases.
You can do this via a number of ways on Pleco: Pinyin, stroke order, writing, and more. Basically, if you can read Mandarin but occasionally stumble when you see new words you don’t recognize, Pleco is the best app to solve that issue.
What I like about Pleco:
- Functions more like a dictionary than a conventional translation tool
- Offers a variety of ways to translate words and phrases
- Highly accurate translation even for complicated words
Price: Free with in-app purchases (such as Cantonese – English dictionary) starting from $4.99.
6. Waygo
Instant character translation using a camera is still a rather new feature despite being around for a while. Perhaps the most challenging issue I have with camera-powered translations is that apps aren’t actually able to accurately recognize certain characters.
Waygo seems to be positioning itself to be the game-changer in that aspect for Chinese translator apps. Engineered specifically to work on IOS smartphones, Waygo offers instant, accurate translations, even when you don’t have Internet connectivity!
From experience, Waygo is best used on printed characters. Think restaurant menus, signage, posters, and more. That’s because while it’s great with printed fonts, it can sometimes fail to recognize hand-written words.
What I like about Waygo:
- Quick, instant translations using cameras
- Offers core functionality even without Internet connectivity
- Provides fairly accurate translations
For iOSÂ
Price: The basic version is free but you can unlock all features for either $2/month or a one-time $7 fee.
7. Papago
Papago is another Chinese translator app that works in a similar way to Waygo, except this one is available to both iPhone and Android users.
Developed by the popular Korean navigation app, Naver, Papago offers instant English to Chinese using pictures and videos. The translations may not be the most accurate, especially if there are any Chinese idioms involved, however, it certainly does the job in terms of basic communication.
What’s more, like Waygo, Papago doesn’t need any internet connection to function. This makes it the ideal choice for travelers who may be visiting areas with limited Wi-Fi connectivity.
What I like about Papago:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Offers Mandarin translations from multiple languages
- Works without Internet connectivity
Price: Free
8. iTranslate
For those who are trying to strike up a conversation with a friendly local, iTranslate is the go-to Chinese translation app for you. While it also supports text and image translation, iTranslate’s biggest strength is its instantaneous voice translation.
It’s super simple: Just press the microphone button and speak. Once you’re done, the app will transcribe your words and provide an accurate English-to-Chinese (or the other way around) translation!Â
What I like about iTranslate:
- Offers accurate voice-to-text translation
- Facilitates conversations using instant transcription and translation
- Comes with a Favorites section which users can use to save particular phrases
For iOS, Android, and web browser
Price: The basic app is free to use. However, you can upgrade to the premium version for just $3/month for extra features and an ad-free experience.Â
9. Purple Culture
Another one of the Chinese translator apps that I recommend for language learners is Purple Culture. Like Pleco, Purple Culture allows users to use their own handwriting for instant character translations.
That said, Purple Culture is more beginner-friendly. Apart from Chinese to English translations, it also includes dictionary entries for a large archive of Chinese characters, including Pinyin, radicals, and usage examples.
It also has the nifty function of transcribing spoken Mandarin to written text in the form of both Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
What I like about Purple Culture:
- Let’s you practice writing in Chinese while translating
- Comes with comprehensive dictionary entries
- Easy and fun to use
For web browser
Price: The app itself is free to use. However, you can purchase books and add-ons from the website.
10. Trainchinese
Another Chinese translator app that works well for students is Trainchinese. No prizes for guessing what the main goal of the app is!
Rather than just acting as a translator between languages, Trainchinese is a holistic platform that looks and feels more like a study companion and dictionary.
When you look up a word or phrase on the app, you’ll get to see the meaning of the word, ways to use it in a sentence, and more. You can even learn how to write the character yourself!
What I like about Trainchinese:
- Useful translator tool that also acts as a study companion
- Has stroke-by-stroke writing instructions
- Teaches the true meaning of a word rather than providing simple translations
For iOS, Android, and web browser
Price: Free
Conclusion
And that’s it folks: 10 of the best Chinese translator apps that you can download and use right now!
Again, for the best results, I would suggest using these apps mainly to translate simple words and phrases. While you won’t be able to avoid sounding awkward at times, these will certainly help you communicate better, especially if you’re planning a trip to a Mandarin-speaking country soon.
If you’re serious about improving your Chinese proficiency, check out these apps for learning Mandarin, or pick up a reliable book to start on your journey!