Best Chinese to English Translation Apps and Websites
Raise your hand if you have once seen written Chinese on a sign and immediately needed to understand it. Or, you heard native Chinese people speaking Chinese and wondered what they were saying. What if I told you there are Chinese-to-English translation apps and websites that can have you navigate China without a language barrier?
Yes. The best Chinese to English translation apps provide an immediate and efficient translation, promoting communication and comprehension. They also offer romanization and can be used offline.
Whether you are planning a trip to China or are working on your multilingualism for other benefits, these should be your go-to Chinese-to-English translation apps and websites in 2022 and beyond:
Baidu Translate
Baidu Translate is often referred to as China’s version of the popular web browser Google. Just as Google has Google Translate, it is not surprising that it has its translation application. It is also certified by the Chinese government; hence it works while you are there as it has never been prohibited in China.
Baidu works when the user speaks Chinese into the microphone feature, prompting it to provide an English translation of mandarin. The translation happens when Baidu Translate transcribes the correct characters before translating Chinese to English.
In addition, it has its phrasebook that includes common Chinese phrases plus their meanings in English. It also works for Android and iOS.
The only downside of Baidu Translate is that it also translates Chinese to English and not the other way around. Also, the translation is only available in written form. Such can inconvenience users who cannot read English. However, its Korean and Japanese language translation features can benefit multilingual users.
iTranslate
Available for (Android and IOS)
iTranslate is by far the most user-friendly Chinese-to-English translation app. It implies that it is the distant cousin to Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. Its immediate voice translation feature allows users to communicate easily with native Chinese speakers.
Travelers in China find it convenient since all they have to do is have Chinese speakers speak into the microphone, which yields an English translation and vice-versa. Its voice-only Converse app is revolutionary and works in over 100 languages.
In addition, iTranslate provides image and voice-to-text translation. You can use these features to read signposts while traversing China. iTranslate also has a Favorite Section that lets users save selected words and phrases they need later.
The only downside to iTranslate is that most of its great features are only available in the paid version.
Google Translate
Available for (Android and IOS)
Google Translate is the world’s most extensive and commonly used language translation app. Even though some users get terrible results when using Google to translate Mandarin to English, experts recommend using short sentences for more accurate translations.
Thankfully, Google Translate is free and works for iOS, Android, and web browsers. Besides, you could also use feedback to better your translations and get direct translations via photos or camera.
WayGo
Available for (Android and IOS)
Waygo provides the translation in Chinese and other Asian languages like Japanese and Korean. It has superb user efficiency since it allows users to translate Chinese words and images using their phone camera.
Its winning feature is its offline usability, making it reliable and convenient on the go. You get up to 10 free translations each day on its free feature.
However, the main downside of WayGo translate is that it provides unreliable translations for textbooks and advanced-style Chinese. It is also only available for iOS. Still, it is a reliable tool for beginners or those that need help understanding Chinese.
Papago
Available for (Android and IOS)
Developed by the renowned Korean navigation application Naver, Papago is a famous translation app that supports over 13 languages, including Chinese. It provides immediate voice, text, handwriting, and website translation. Besides, it provides a dictionary, a phrasebook, and offline Chinese-to-English translations, making it convenient for travelers or places without reliable internet connectivity.
Another cool feature of Papago translate is its kid’s section which makes it comprehensive, as the whole family can benefit from it. Its history section also comes in handy when referring to a Chinese word or phrase later.
However, the main disadvantage of Papago is that there is no romanization, making it harder for users who need help to read Mandarin. It also does not include sample sentences or context. Still, it is one of the best Chinese-to-English translation apps and websites in Android, Ios, and web browsers.
Pleco
Available for (Android and IOS)
Pleco is that Chinese-to-English translation app ideal when dealing with complicated words and Characters. Look at it as a free handy form of a dictionary that provides accurate translations for tricky Chinese words and characters.
The only major downside of Pleco is that it is ideal for users with intermediate to advanced Mandarin language understanding since it primarily targets the translation of tricky words, phrases, and characters. Luckily, it works for both Android and iOS.
Yandex
Available for (Android and IOS)
Yandex is a famous translation software that relies significantly on Bing and Google Translation for reasonable translations. Besides text, you could also get image-based translations that often have reliable computer-generated voice translations. Its autocorrect is a game changer in the translation space.
Another feature that makes it one of the best Chinese-to-English translation tools is its ability to provide accurate results when translating large chunks of text. It is also free and offers Chinese to English and English to Chinese translations for iOs, Android, and web browsers.
Purple Culture
Available for (Web)
Purple Culture is among the most recommended Chinese-to-English translation apps since it is convenient and user-friendly. Experts refer to it as a more beginner-friendly version of Pleco.
It has multiple learning benefits since it lets users practice Chinese while translating it into English. Besides, you could also use its dictionary entries to access Chinese characters, including radicals, Pinyin, and reliable examples.
Purple Culture also has the nifty function. Pro account users also listen to audio and download it when necessary.
Conclusion
These eight are among the best Chinese-to-English translation apps and websites available today. However, even with high levels of accuracy and precision, we still recommend that you counter-check to avoid messing up the translation and meaning.
Also read: Best 8 Vietnamese to English Translation Apps and Websites
Remarkable!