Real-Time Chinese Interpreter Apps & Tools
Understand spoken Chinese as it happens with tools for two-way conversations and live listening during conversations, classes, meetings, and more.
Need text, image, and speech translation too? See our Chinese Translation Tools page.
Keep Expectations Realistic: Even the best interpreter tools can make mistakes with accents, background noise, fast speech and context.
Conversation Interpreters
★ Works as a free two-way conversation interpreter with automatic language detection and spoken translations. Apple Translate lets Mandarin and English speakers have in-person conversations by speaking naturally and receiving translated text and audio in the other language. Its Conversation mode can automatically detect which of the two selected languages is being spoken, while Auto Translate lets each person respond without repeatedly tapping the microphone. A face-to-face view displays each side of the conversation for the person speaking, and downloaded languages can be used offline. It supports both Simplified and Traditional Mandarin Chinese.
Free
★ Provides real-time voice and conversation translation for communicating with Chinese speakers on the spot. Baidu Translate (百度翻译, Bǎidù Fānyì) is a free translation app with optional in-app purchases that can act as a real-time Chinese interpreter, translating spoken conversations and offering simultaneous voice translation for live communication. It also includes text, photo, document, and offline translation tools, making it useful for travel, everyday conversations, and situations where typing is impractical. Note: Live conversation interpreting requires the mobile app. Available on iOS.
Free / Paid
★ Provides two-way spoken Chinese translation with automatic speaker detection and a face-to-face conversation mode. Google Translate is a free translation app with Live Translate for real-time bilingual conversations, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese. In Conversation mode, two people can take turns speaking while the app automatically detects when each language stops and starts and plays the translations aloud. Face-to-face mode splits the screen so each person can view the transcription and translation from their side. Note: Live conversation interpreting requires the mobile app. Available on Android and iOS.
Free
★ Turns a phone into a free two-way conversation interpreter with real-time speech translation. Microsoft Translator is a free translation app that can help Mandarin and English speakers communicate face to face using spoken translation and a split-screen conversation mode for two people sharing one device. It also translates typed text and images in more than 100 languages and can read many translations aloud. Learn more on their website. Available on Android and iOS.
Free
★ Provides real-time 1:1 conversation translation so two people can speak in their own languages. Papago Plus is NAVER’s AI translation service with conversation and voice translation, including support for Simplified and Traditional Chinese, plus text, image, document, and website translation. It is a paid service with a one-month free trial, with subscription levels offering different amounts of voice translation time and other features. Note: Live conversation interpreting requires the mobile app. Available on Android and iOS.
Free / PaidLive Listening Interpreters
★ Provides real-time simultaneous interpretation that listens to speech and translates it as someone speaks. LingoCloud is an AI translation tool with live voice interpretation that can automatically detect languages and translate spoken Chinese and other supported languages in real time, making it useful for listening to conversations, travel, meetings, and face-to-face communication. It also includes voice, text, document, webpage, image, and screen translation. The app is free to download with optional in-app purchases and paid memberships. Note: Live conversation interpreting requires the mobile app. Available on iOS.
Free / Paid
★ Provides real-time listening interpretation for lectures, meetings, speeches, and other situations when paired with compatible translator earbuds. Timekettle is a companion app for Timekettle translation devices that can listen to live speech, translate it in real time, and play the translation through compatible earbuds. Depending on the device, its Listen or Listen & Play modes can be used for one-way listening in classes, meetings, presentations, and conversations, with some models also offering saved transcripts and offline translation. The app is free to download with optional in-app purchases, but compatible Timekettle hardware is required for its translation-earbud features. Learn more on their website. Available on Android and iOS.
Paid