Dictionary Apps & Websites

★ Search both English and Chinese with bilingual definitions, pinyin and detailed example sentences. Bing Dictionary is a free Microsoft reference tool for English-Chinese and Chinese-English lookups, with definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, antonyms, collocations and bilingual example sentences. Chinese entries include pinyin, and example sentences can be filtered by category, source and difficulty.

★ Provides 90,000+ Chinese-English translations with Pinyin, example sentences, and pronunciation support. Collins Mandarin Chinese Dictionary is a professionally edited Chinese-English and English-Chinese dictionary with Simplified and Traditional characters, Pinyin throughout, phrases, idioms, examples, images, and audio and video pronunciations. Created by Chinese and English language experts, it offers up-to-date vocabulary for learners who want a traditional dictionary-style reference alongside translation tools. The online dictionary is free to use on their website. Separate Collins Chinese dictionary apps are available on Android and iOS.

★ A powerful offline Chinese dictionary with handwriting, audio, example sentences and detailed character tools. Hanping Chinese Dictionary lets you search Mandarin by English, Pinyin, Zhuyin or Chinese characters and includes native-speaker audio, thousands of example sentences, HSK vocabulary lists, stroke-order animations, character decomposition, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese support. The browser version is free and provides a streamlined Chinese-English lookup, while the mobile apps are free with optional paid add-ons for expanded dictionaries, additional stroke animations, audio and other features. Available on the web, Android and iOS.

★ Combines dictionary tools, translation, vocabulary study, and exam practice in one place. Hanzii is a Chinese dictionary and learning app with searches by characters, pinyin, English, or handwriting, along with sentence and image translation, stroke order, radicals, flashcards, HSK vocabulary, and practice tests. It is free to use with optional paid upgrades and premium features. Use it on their website. Available on Android and iOS.

★ A useful free dictionary for Chinese-English lookups, pronunciation, and offline reference. NAVER English-Chinese Dictionary is the free successor to the discontinued LINE Dictionary, offering English-Chinese and Chinese-English lookup tools for learners. It includes pronunciation support, offline access on mobile, and access to additional dictionary content through NAVER’s broader dictionary service. Use it free on the web. Also available on Android and iOS.

★ A feature-rich dictionary with detailed word and character tools for Chinese learners. MDBG is a free Chinese-English dictionary that lets you search by Chinese, Pinyin or English and provides Simplified and Traditional characters, Pinyin, definitions, HSK information and pronunciation audio. It also includes character decomposition, stroke-order animations, radical and stroke lookup, text annotation and other useful study tools.

★ Combines a powerful Chinese dictionary with handwriting, OCR, flashcards, and reading tools. Pleco is a Chinese-English dictionary and study app with simplified and traditional characters, Pinyin and Zhuyin support, example sentences, audio, character lookups and stroke-order tools. The free app includes core dictionaries and useful basic features, while additional dictionaries and advanced features such as OCR, enhanced handwriting, document reading, flashcards and expanded stroke-order diagrams are available through paid add-ons. Learn more on their website. Available on Android and iOS.

★ A Traditional Chinese-English dictionary with offline lookup. Taiwan Dictionary provides detailed word definitions, examples, English and Traditional Chinese pronunciation, and a broad vocabulary that includes everyday terms, idioms, slang and specialized words. The dictionary can be used offline, although an internet connection is required for pronunciation and its web browser features. It is free to download with ads and in-app purchases. Available on Android.

★ Combines a learner-focused dictionary with measure words, character animations and handwriting-based flashcard practice. Train Chinese combines a detailed Chinese-English dictionary with built-in study tools for learners who want to do more than simply look up words. Search 130,000+ entries with example sentences, measure words, audio, character breakdowns, stroke-order animations, and support for simplified and traditional Chinese. You can save words directly to vocabulary lists and study them with spaced-repetition flashcards using reading, translation, listening and handwriting-focused training modes. The app also includes thousands of ready-made vocabulary lists and OCR for looking up Chinese from images. The dictionary is free to use, while some study features and higher usage limits require a subscription. Available on the web, Android and iOS.

★ Especially useful for detailed character analysis and in-depth dictionary research. Wenlin is Chinese-learning software for Mac and Windows that combines ABC dictionary data with instant word lookup, extensive character information, stroke order, historical character forms, text reading and editing, flashcards, and pronunciation tools. A free edition is available, while the paid Deluxe edition includes additional dictionaries and advanced features. The current desktop version dates from 2016, so the interface may feel dated compared with newer dictionary apps.

★ A free reference for checking Chinese meanings, pronunciation, character forms and word origins. Wiktionary is a free, community-built multilingual dictionary with detailed Chinese entries that may include English definitions, Mandarin pinyin, pronunciation information, simplified and traditional forms, etymology, synonyms, related terms, translations and usage examples. Because it is collaboratively edited, the amount of detail can vary from one entry to another.

★ Especially useful for learners who want dictionary lookups combined with character details, stroke order, etymology and word relationships. YellowBridge Chinese Dictionary is a Chinese-English and English-Chinese dictionary with more than 200,000 entries. Search by Chinese, pinyin or English and access example sentences, pronunciation audio, handwriting recognition, animated stroke order, word decomposition, synonyms, antonyms and character information. Many dictionary features are free, while a Premium subscription adds tools such as fuzzy pinyin search, expanded thesaurus results, topical vocabulary lists and additional character and etymology information.

★ A powerful Chinese-first dictionary with detailed definitions, pronunciation, example sentences and translation tools. Youdao Dictionary (网易有道词典) is a comprehensive dictionary and translation service with Chinese-English lookups, pronunciation, bilingual example sentences, word usage, and entries drawn from several established dictionaries. The interface is largely in Chinese, so it is especially useful for intermediate and advanced learners who are comfortable navigating Chinese-language tools. The dictionary can be used for free on the web, while the mobile app is free to download with optional paid memberships and in-app features. Available on iOS.