Real-Time Chinese Interpreter Apps & Tools
Real-time Chinese interpreters can help when you need to understand spoken Chinese as it happens. Here you’ll find two-way conversation interpreters for speaking back and forth with someone and live listening interpreters for following conversations, classes, meetings, and other spoken Chinese.
Many general translation apps also include conversation and speech features, so there is some overlap. For more all-purpose tools that handle text, images, and speech, 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
Apple Translate is a free option for Apple users who want help with two-way Mandarin conversations. Its Conversation mode automatically detects which of the two selected languages is being spoken, and Auto Translate lets the conversation continue without tapping the microphone before every turn. A face-to-face view makes it easier for both people to read their side of the conversation. It supports Mandarin for both Mainland China and Taiwan and can even handle downloaded conversations offline. Download Apple Translate for iPhone or iPad.
Apple users with compatible newer devices can also use Live Translation for Mandarin in Phone calls and other supported Apple features. Apple Translate is not available for Android.
Baidu Translate is a strong choice for two-way English–Chinese conversations, with voice translation that lets two people speak back and forth when language becomes a barrier. It is particularly useful for Mandarin because Baidu is a Chinese-developed service and is frequently recommended by people communicating in China. The app is available for iPhone and iPad in the U.S., but the interface is heavily Chinese-oriented. U.S. Android users should note that Baidu Translate is not currently available through the Google Play Store, making it less convenient unless you are comfortable installing apps from outside Google Play.
Free / Paid
Microsoft Translator is a free app that supports real-time speech translation for Mandarin and English, making it useful for face-to-face conversations when you get stuck. Its conversation mode can automatically detect which of the two selected languages is being spoken, and the split-screen display lets each person read the translation from their side of the phone. It supports both Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese translations can also display pinyin. Microsoft Translator is available for Apple devices and Android.
Note: Voice and conversation translation require an internet connection; downloaded offline language packs only work with text and camera translation.
Naver Papago is a free translation app with a dedicated Conversation mode that is especially useful when you need help communicating directly with a Mandarin speaker. Choose English and Chinese, then take turns speaking into the phone; Papago displays the translation and reads it aloud for the other person. It supports both Simplified and Traditional Chinese and is available for iPhone and iPad and Android.
For heavier use, Papago Plus offers paid plans with higher translation limits and additional features. Its real-time voice translation plans currently provide 60, 120, or 180 minutes per month depending on the plan, along with expanded document and image translation, glossaries, and other advanced tools.
Live Listening Interpreters
Lingocloud is a live translation app with a Simultaneous Interpretation feature that can continuously listen to spoken Chinese and translate it in real time. This makes it useful for following conversations, meetings, lectures, videos, and other situations where stopping after every sentence isn't practical. Lingocloud is currently available for iPhone and iPad; an official Android version could not be verified. You can also visit the Lingocloud website.
Free / Paid
Timekettle combines dedicated translator earbuds with its companion app to provide hands-free, real-time spoken translation, including Chinese. Depending on the Timekettle device, it can be used for two-way conversations or listening to someone speak in situations such as meetings, classes, and travel. It is especially useful when you want translated speech delivered directly through an earbud rather than repeatedly passing a phone back and forth.
Timekettle isn't perfect. Translation speed and accuracy can vary, particularly with background noise, accents, fast speech, or complicated conversations, and user reviews of the app itself are mixed. The app is free to download, but it is designed primarily for use with Timekettle's separate translation hardware, and some features or services may require additional purchases.
Download: Apple App Store | Google Play | Official App Page
