Software for Learning Chinese (学汉语软件)

Table of Contents

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1. iPod/iPhone
2. Other Mobile Phones
3. Computer Programs

iPod / iPhone

• Pleco — If you can afford all of the wonderful features,  Pleco is the best Chinese-English Dictionary for the iPod/iPhone.  Instantaneous start-up, handwriting (and camera-based) character recognition, stroke order diagrams, multiple dictionaries to choose from, flashcards: this thing really does have it all.  Just be ready
• iCED — A solid Chinese-English dictionary for Apple devices, a much cheaper than Pleco.  Pinyin and hand-writing input for Chinese characters.  Ability to look-up via radicals.  Zoom function for getting an detailed view how characters are written.  Free and one-time payment options.
• nciku  — At $4.99, a great value.  Clean design, snappy search results, in-depth entries (especially example sentences).  If you dig this, be sure to check out nciku.com
• Pleco — Some say better than iCED.  Pleco has been around for a long, long time.  For years, it was the ONLY Chinese-English dictionary for the mobile phone.
• KTdict C-E – Runner-up to iCED.  Lacks some of iCED’s features (namely, hand-writing input), but is FREE. (NOTE: KTdict uses the CC-CEDICT dictionary software.  For more information on CC-CEDICT, see the Computer Programs section below.)
• Learn Chinese from ChinesePod — This app takes ChinesePod lessons, adds in some visual elements, and customizes it all for the iPhone.  The lessons include vocabulary, pictures, example sentences, and background information.  I’ve never used this app, but it looks slick (it’s on the iPhone, after all, I suppose).
• 10 Great iPhone apps for living in China, from Lost Laowai

Other Mobile Phones

• Pleco — In addition to the iPhone, Pleco is available for Windows Mobile, Android, and Palm OS phones.
• Learn Chinese from ChinesePod — As well as the iPhone, this app is available for Android phones.
• MDBG Chinese-English Mobile Dictionary — This is a mobile-version website.  It cannot be downloaded to your phone.
• nciku mobile — Just like the MDBG service.
• dict.cn mobile — Again, just like MDBG and nciku services.

Computer Programs

• Chinese Perapera-kun — A free add-on for Mozilla Firefox web browser; just scroll over a Chinese word and the definition automatically pops up.  Works on Windows and Mac computers.
•  nciku Toolbar  —  A free Chinese dicationary and search tool for web browsers.  Compatible with Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer.  Like Chinese Perapera-kun, just scroll over a Chiense word and the definition automatically pops up.  Dig this?  Check out nciku.com and the nciku iPhone app.
• Wenlin (文林) — Dictionary, pop-up translator (like Perapera-kun), and more; with a quick scroll of the mouse, you can define any word in any program; great features, but very, very expensive ($200).  Available for Windows and Macs.
• CC-CEDICT — A offline/hard-disk Chinese-English dictionary for Windows.  Available for free download from the CEDICT project.
• MDBG Chinese Reader — A free offline/hard-disk Chinese-English dictionary for Windows.  (Note: This program is powered by CC-CEDICT.)
• MSN Messenger —  MSN Messenger is and has always been the #1 instant-messaging service in China.  It’s free to sign up, and in no time you’ll be chatting with native speakers.  This is a wonderful way to work on your conversational Chinese — and to meet Chinese friends.  (Note: To use the Chinese version of MSN Messenger, you’ll need to download the Chinese version.  This is much easier than downloading the American version and then searching out the Chinese features.  Also, the Chinese version has English language settings.)
• QQ Chat –In the past five or so years, QQ Chat has begun to rival MSN in terms of popularity.  Unlink MSN, QQ is a web-based system.  But, like MSN, it is a free and incredibly-useful tool for learning Chinese and meeting Chinese friends.
• Skype —  Skype is blocked in China, but that hasn’t stopped many Chinese from using the service (via VPNs, etc.).  If you’re very comfortable with Skype, use it instead of MSN or QQ to find Chinese conversation partners/friends.
• Audacity — A free voice recording and editing software.  Works on Macs and Windows.  Record yourself speaking Chinese, then use (by yourself or with a friend, teacher, etc.) Audacity to pinpoint your strengths/weaknesses.
• Vtunnel —   Website-based VPN (Virtual Private Network).  Many websites are blocked in China.  YouTube, the New York Times, and the BBC are often censored.  In fact, all WordPress blogs — including this one!! — are blocked in China.  Don’t worry, though.  With a virtual private network (VPN) you can access any of these sites from China.
• Hotspot Shield — Provides the same features as Vtunnel, as well as some not offered on Vtunnel.  Also, Hotspot is a piece of software and not — as Vtunnel is — a web service.
• List of VPN sites/software