Best Chinese dictionary apps and tools
Published: April 29, 2026
Short Answer
Pleco is the undisputed king of Chinese dictionary apps, offering powerful features like handwriting recognition, OCR camera lookup, and excellent free and paid dictionaries. For web-based tools, MDBG and LINE Dict are strong choices. The right combination of tools depends on your level, but every Chinese learner should have Pleco on their phone as their primary dictionary.
A smartphone displaying a dictionary app next to Chinese books on a desk
Deep Dive
Pleco: The Gold Standard
Pleco is a free Chinese dictionary app available on iOS and Android that has been the industry standard for over a decade. Its core features are free, and premium add-ons make it an all-in-one learning platform.
Free features:
- Comprehensive dictionary with entries from multiple sources
- Character lookup by pinyin, English, handwriting, or radical
- Stroke order animations for every character
- Audio pronunciation (both male and female voices)
- Clipboard reader -- paste any Chinese text and tap to look up words
- Flashcard system built in
- Color-coded tones on all pinyin
Premium add-ons (one-time purchases):
- OCR Camera ($15): Point your phone camera at Chinese text and get instant translations. Works on signs, menus, books, and screens.
- Document Reader ($10): Import PDFs and EPUBs, tap any word for instant lookup.
- Professional Bundle ($30): Includes premium dictionaries like the ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary and the Oxford Chinese Dictionary.
- Text-to-Speech ($5): Natural-sounding audio for full sentences.
- Stroke Order Quiz: Test yourself on writing characters correctly.
Pleco's OCR camera alone justifies the price. Walking through a Chinese city and being able to instantly translate any sign or menu is transformative for learners and travelers.
MDBG
MDBG (mdbg.net) is the best free web-based Chinese dictionary. It offers:
- Character decomposition (showing the components of each character)
- Sentence examples from real-world sources
- HSK level indicators for vocabulary
- Handwriting input via mouse or touch
- Cantonese pronunciation in addition to Mandarin
MDBG is especially useful at a desktop when you are reading Chinese websites or documents and need quick lookups.
LINE Dict (Naver Chinese Dictionary)
LINE Dictionary offers a clean interface with:
- Extensive example sentences
- Audio from multiple speakers
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Related words and collocations
- HSK vocabulary tagging
It is particularly strong for intermediate learners who need context and usage examples rather than just definitions.
Handwriting Input
For typing characters you do not know the pronunciation of, handwriting input is essential.
On iOS: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Chinese (Simplified) > Handwriting. Draw the character with your finger and select it from the suggestions.
On Android: Google's Gboard keyboard includes Chinese handwriting input. Enable it in Gboard settings > Languages > Add Chinese.
In Pleco: The built-in handwriting input is one of the best available, with excellent recognition even for messy handwriting.
OCR and Camera Translation
Pleco OCR (recommended): The most accurate and fastest option for Chinese text recognition. Works offline once downloaded.
Google Translate Camera: Free and works for quick translations. Less accurate than Pleco for Chinese but supports many languages.
Google Lens: Can identify and translate Chinese text from photos. Useful for sharing translations with others.
Recommended Dictionary Stack by Level
Beginner (HSK 1-3):
- Pleco (free version) -- for basic lookups and pinyin
- Google Translate -- for quick sentence translations
- Your phone's built-in handwriting input
Intermediate (HSK 4-5):
- Pleco with OCR Camera and Professional Dictionary bundle
- MDBG for desktop use
- LINE Dict for example sentences
Advanced (HSK 6+):
- Pleco with all premium add-ons
- 汉语大词典 (Hanyu Da Cidian) for classical and literary Chinese
- Pleco's Document Reader for reading novels and articles
Tips for Using Dictionaries Effectively
- Look up words in context, not isolation. When you encounter an unknown word in a sentence, look up the whole sentence first, then the individual word.
- Pay attention to example sentences. A word's definition tells you what it means; example sentences tell you how to use it.
- Use the flashcard export feature. When you look up a new word, add it to your flashcard deck directly from the dictionary entry.
- Learn to love character decomposition. Understanding the components of a character (radical + phonetic) makes it easier to remember and guess the meaning of unfamiliar characters.
- Bookmark frequently looked-up words. If you look up the same word three times, it is time to study it more deliberately.